Three Part Harmony
Well we finally ventured out together for more than a few
hours today after a week of contending with a version of respiratory yuk that
included rib breaking hacking, fevers and overall blah. The worst part of this particular
version of illness was the low gas mileage.
Edy had it far worse that I, but it was one of those maladies that was very
tricky. “I feel SO much better” you’d tell yourself and then by the time you
got to where ever it was you were going (the store or the bathroom) you would soon
be moving solely off of fumes so that by the time you finally returned to bed
you HAD to stay there because there was no gas to start the engines again for
anything else. Ugh.
Of course in the good news-bad news lenses which I see
things we are building up further immunities to other variations of yuk out
there and we also get to be together a lot and read more too, so it all evens
out as things tend to do in life. Harmony.
One of the books I recently read was by one of my favorite SW-USA
airplane novelists. I actually found a hard cover volume in the display in our
lobby and “checked it out”. It was a fast read as his adventures always are and
his Navajo Police Characters “got their man” as I knew they would. I was
reminded as I read the story about how enthralled I am with the different ways in
which people pray, believe and my overall fascination with “sacred places”
anywhere/anytime. Navajo have an especially lovely way of looking at things and
dealing with life I find refreshing. Granted “back in the day” they were not
all “mellow folks” they stole, raided, kidnapped and took their own form of
coup but for the most part because of their location and size of their tribe
they were more mellow than others.
Essentially they , the Hopi and most Puebloan cultures
believe that any upsets are due to an imbalance of sorts, a dis-harmony with
the natural balances and if it gets bad they call in a “sing” and gather all
the people close to that person to sing, chant, feast and pray until harmony is
restored. This goes along with sickness or a guy driving drunk into your
pick-up. You don’t sue him, you call together a “sing” and pray that he is released
from the alcoholism that has him acting in ways that are not in harmony with
his true self. Anyway, that is the Cliff Note version I encourage more study on
your own.
Another one of the books I “checked out” from our beautiful
lobby display is one from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn who I have been big fan of
since High School. I love history and am always amazed at the depths of
depravity and abuse humans can go to even in this day and age AND yet those
being oppressed by “The Man” continually find ways to survive and thrive in the
most abhorrent conditions for generations. The 3rd and 4th
eyes developing with each generation to keep watch on who’s watchin who…..or is
it whom ? I can never get that right. Anyway I have such huge respect for him
and his ability to continue to write despite imprisonment, black listing, exile
and constant arrest and harassment. A lesser man would have just gone off and
made “shoes for industry-comrade” and left the “stories and truths” for others.
One leg of the
excursion Edy and I braved today was to the Museum of Fine Arts to view an
exhibition they have from the Prado in Madrid. It was breath taking! Every one
of the finest examples of painting from the period was represented. I had
forgotten too just how itinerant the painters of Europe were during the 15th
and 16th century. “Going with the flow” …Being paid with gold from
the cconquered Incas was A-OK with all the courtly painters as they flocked to
get their piece of the New World Pie. They were prolific in their production.
Quality improved as competition from afar came “right next door” and magnificence
was de’riguer. Although our gas tanks were running low we took in the whole show
and some of the permanent collections too as we are always amazed at the
quality of the work right here in our own backyard.
We felt even more
energy when we left and despite the “fumes” continued on to make a few more
stops on the way home. I made us lunch when we got home and Edy went in to rest
while I went downstairs to work a bit on my modeling projects and some orders
for a client.
Slowly I can feel
the gas tank getting filled as I remember each of the paintings we viewed this
morning. I think that for us ART in all its forms is required for balance and
harmony. It’s not a luxury but a necessity for daily living. Note to self.
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