Entries from July 1, 2012 - July 31, 2012

Friday
Jul272012

AIDS Quilt, Online

I have never had the honor of seeing the quilt in person. It is truly powerful to wander through this interactive online version of the quilt. After scrolling for a while, I felt lost, disoriented, overcome by the love and loss sewn into each panel.

Tom, I don't know if there is a panel on here for you, but there should be.

Thursday
Jul192012

Maroon Bells, 5:51 a.m.

During our trip to Aspen, we were crazy enough to wake up a 15 month old baby at 4 a.m. to drive to Maroon Bells to see it in its sunrise glory. It was worth it.

Monday
Jul162012

Words from Walker Evans

Floyd Burroughs, cotton sharecroppe

"Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long."

 

--Walker Evans

who began documenting the Great Depression in this date in 1936.

Thursday
Jul052012

Work and Life and Love, 1850 Version

I really love the Writer's Almanac. The writers on that team constantly uncover fascinating bits of history about literary works and authors.

For example -- did you know that "The Scarlet Letter" was written with the financial support of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne? Evidently, when Nathaniel Hawthorne lost his job at the Salem Custom House, his wife, Sophia, surprised him by giving him money that she had saved up from her household allowance so that he could write a book. She bought his time so that he could write the book that became "The Scarlet Letter," published in 1850.

My first thought was, "Oh look! Another invisible woman making classic art possible, her name lost to history while a man's became important." But perhaps that's a bit born-again-feminist in tone. Also, it appears that they were a very happy couple, in love with each other and satisfied with their partnership.

My second thought was, "What a beautiful example of the ebb and flow of support between work and love," and "Every high school teacher should use that factoid to introduce the book to their students." I know I would have found the book much more interesting had I known how it came about.

Tuesday
Jul032012

Opening the Way

The world will know and understand me someday. But if that day does not arrive, it does not greatly matter. I shall have opened the way for other women.

--George Sand, born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, July 1, 1804

May we all live that we open the way for other women.