A Joyful New Year

 A few years ago, I was given the name "Joy" by one of my friends and mentors. This is my faery or magical name, and some people know me only by that name.  I bring this up because I've given a lot of thought to this name recently. I mean, Joy, really? Does that mean I have to run around spreading love and happiness every minute of the day? Ugh. I mean, who can carry that burden?

I suppose that if you know me as an acquaintance, you may have heard me laughing, and, apparently, I have a unique and contagious laugh. When I'm around people I'm comfortable with, I can be pretty funny and bring some light in dark moments. But is that all I am? 

What about the serious person who likes to spend a lot of time alone? How about the shy, tired person that just doesn't have energy to bring anything funny to the table? What about the sad woman grieving so many losses and dealing with complex issues that - are - not - joyful? How about that angry person that sees so much wrong with the world and how people are treated? Is that person really a "Joy"?

Well, I've just finished a few years of deep introspection or "shadow work". I think a lot of us have, even unknowingly, done this after dealing with the pandemic. The answer is, at the end of the day, I can look at all the darkness, all the problems, all the things I've done and wish I hadn't, all the things I wish I'd done and didn't. I don't feel the need to hide what I feel or who I am. I can wake up and know that this is all there, and it will all be there tomorrow. I can wake up and laugh. I really do want to make other people's lives a little easier or happier. Inside of me there is a light that won't go out. I am a "Joy". Dammit! 

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People Pics 2023

While planning my blog, I decided that every year I will post a few pictures I took of people. It was extremely hard to narrow this down. So, drumroll, these portraits were my favorites from 2023.  I feel like these memories captured happy moments where the people were truly being themselves. 

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Peabody Library - Baltimore

  The Peabody Library sits in the Mount Vernon Historic District in Downtown Baltimore.  It is an awe-inspiring place if you love books and libraries. Before you even enter the library there are some rare books displayed. Who would not be impressed with the likes of Poe and Don Quixote. If you haven't visited, then I suggest you add it to your list. 

"Persephone"

 "Persephone" painting is inspired by the striking face of a very intense flamenco dancer I saw in Barcelona in April 2023 at the Gran Gala Flamenco at Palau de la Musica Catalana. (See Blog for more about that adventure.)

Portland - Rose City

The International Test Rose Garden in Portland Oregon is about as sweet as you can get. This garden is a testing ground for new rose varieties. Their web site says that there are more than 10,000 individual rose bushes of over 610 rose varieties. The garden is laid out with walking paths and a sitting area with a modern sculpture in the center. This is not a quick stop. This is a place to take a leisurely stroll and literally stop to smell the roses. This is a poet's inspiration. In this place in time, all life is about roses! 

A rose is a rose,
And was always a rose, 
But the theory now goes, 
An apple's a rose,
The pear is, and so's
The plum I suppose.
The dear only knows
What will next prove a rose, 
You, of course, are a rose - 
But were always a rose.
~Robert Frost

After visiting this garden, you can understand why Portland is called "City of Roses". The city started being landscaped with roses for its only world fair in 1905. During WW2 hybridists sent their roses over to Porland to protect them from the bombings. The friend I was visiting had some bushes in her yard that were flourishing.  Oh, Rose City, you will be in the sweetest of my dreams. 

Powell Books - Portland, Oregon

 A bookstore the size of a city block - what?  Yes, Powell books is three stories of magnificent books for your reading pleasure. A bookstore with an elevator, now that's magical. The shelves are littered with recommendations and reviews, lovingly penned by the employees. I was hard-pressed to avoid a lot of purchases since I was traveling, but I couldn't resist buying a beautiful tarot dragon deck that was among a collection of used decks in a glass case. There is a charming cafe to grab a cuppa java or tea, and plenty of places throughout the store to sit down and browse through whatever catches your eye. If you're in Portland, don't miss this store. 

Barcelona: Flamenco Night

The journey to the Gran Gala Flamenc at Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona began with some delicious food and wine at Elsa Y Fred.  Such a welcoming little place with a warm ambiance. The weather was perfect for a walk to the music hall. The show was mesmerizing, evocative, powerful and so much more.  The intense and beautiful flamenco dancers were like a dream. 

"Sol Invictus"

 "Sol Invictus" was a project I completed not long after I read Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (amazing books). I clearly had visions of Greek warriors and golden gods in my mind's eye. Although he is an ancient Roman version of the sun god. 

"Andromeda"

 "Andromeda" watching from her final prison in the sky. Andromeda is in your dreams. You are safe. You are empowered. You are free in ways she never was. 

Nashville - Music City and Athena

 I've always wanted to visit Nashville, especially since my friend, country singer Mindy Miller, moved there. What better birthday present to myself than to finally walk the same street as music legends.   

The highlights of my visit were getting to see Mindy play, once with Natalie Brady at Redneck Riviera and once at Nashville palace with Pat Gulley. She has such an amazing set of pipes, and I really hope she goes far. So much talent. I was so choked up to get to hear Landslide played for me on my birthday.  

It was fun to visit the old Honky Tonks and imagine the singers and songwriters that played and made history in their halls. I truly enjoyed talking to the guy at Ernest Tubbs Records who sent me over to Robert's Western World for some traditional music. It did not disappoint. 

Bonus: There is a temple to Athena in Nashville! What a giant, golden, glorious surprise she was. 

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