SEPT. NEWSLETTER

30. August 2011 by Marie Pinschmidt.

Hello again. I hope all of you are enjoying your summer. I don’t know about you, but whenever there are disasters like last week; earthquakes, hurricanes, and resultant flooding, I either go into an exaggerated state of activity, or over-activity. I just don’t function well, and it’s extremely difficult for me to morph into a creative mood when others are suffering.

Here in Florida, when Irene began accosting our shores, the rolling surf was hypnotic to watch - merging and receding myriad shades of gray with hints of pale turquoise between the racing breakers.  With the prolonged media hype one would think we could write or paint something to express our feelings of dismay. The problem with me is that I can’t dismiss the “human” element. What if that was my loved one washed away, or underneath that downed tree? Granted, a bad outcome is often due to poor judgment, wrong decision making, or just the “law of averages”, but it still spells “loss”, and my thoughts went to friends and relatives living in the storm’s path.

After being assured of their safety, still unable to write, or paint that gray seascape with the subdued shades of green, I began polishing furniture, cleaning mirrors, and trimming dead leaves from my potted plants. Hours later, I was still at it, but looking at objects in a different light. It was still just “stuff” but somehow the special table lamp or the silver crystal pyramid, (a gift from my husband) took on new meaning and I treated it with tender care. The manual labor must have worked, since I’m back at the keyboard, and a blank canvas awaits on my easel.

 To all of you affected in any way by Irene, the nasty lady who visited without prior invitation, I hope your troubles are mild and fleeting and that Irene will soon become a fading memory. I look at disasters as learning experiences as well as a challenge to fix what is wrong in our journey, realize that nothing is permanent, and to enjoy to the hilt all that we are given.

Until next time……….Marie

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