Double vision. . .

. . . of beauty. Just caught this from our balcony.

Human Females = Subspecies

Now that I have your attention, I have to ask how we can collectively eliminate this attitude toward females - around the world. Girls and women in developing countries and in some cultures considered sophisticated, often accept that they are nothing more than chatel, controlled by the boys and men in their lives. It has always been that way and always will be. Ignorance of basic science plays a huge role in this dichotomy. There are still men who believe they plant a human seed and that a woman's uterus is simply the garden where it grows. If the resulting offspring turns out to be the wrong gender (female), somehow it seems reasonable to blame the woman! Multiple generations of women suffered female genital mutilation, so their female relatives must also. It is viewed as a pious act to maintain purity, when, in fact, it is torture and often murder. Girls and women who have undergone this ritual suffer because of it throughout their lives. Being that rape is a common method of shaming and exerting power, the victim's suffering is doubled. Then, it is tripled when she is ostracized and the perpetrator/s go unpunished. Honor killing or forced suicide often is the fate of rape victims. When and how did women become so powerless?! I take comfort in the fact that women, particularly African women are stepping into leadership roles. The current president of Liberia, The Honorable Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is proving to be an admirable role model. That's a huge responsibility, but she seems to be up to it. Women there and in other African nations are picking up the reins of power and improving everyone's lives. Some of this has been out of sheer necessity as so many of their men have killed each other in power struggles. Fickle fate? I don't think so. Women leaders have a tough, uphill climb wherever they are. Religious leaders often chide them and sabotage their efforts. Still, with support, both moral and material, from other women, they are making progress. Patience and perseverance rather than rage and impulsiveness seem to be winning favor. Women understand the need for universal education in developing peaceful, productive societies. We also understand the value of tact and cooperation.

Gershwin with WOW

My mission was to buy a DVD of Finding Nemo for my nephew's birthday. Since the Borders Books in Falls Church was close to other errands I was running, I stopped in. Videos, DVDs, and CDs are on the second floor. I found Nemo [the DVD that is ;-)] then cast a glance at the CDs. Big mistake. I enjoy just about every kind of music and easily could have spent the rest of the week there. As long as I can remember I've been a huge fan of George Gershwin's music. I've even been a bit of a snob about it, preferring his arrangements to anyone else's. Phil plays Gershwin quite well as did my late Aunt Bev, who gave me a book of some of his compositions. Either her expectations were totally unrealistic or she was trying to torture me -- either way, I've forgiven her. Hours spent trying to actually PLAY his music were frustrating and largely fruitless -- he was beyond genius and I'm nowhere close. I'd heard some two piano versions of Gershwin's stuff and thought I'd try to find a CD. A nice clerk diddled on the computer and came up with Gershwin, "I Got Rhythm," Music for Two Pianos by Katia and Marielle Labèque. It was recorded in 1987 by this pair of French sisters and I regret not finding it before now. What they do with "Our Love is Here to Stay" is phenomenal! I think George would approve.

Samurai Warrior?

For those new to my blog, I make blots with dimensional paints that add some depth to the otherwise flat ink blots. This is a negative of a rather tame-looking pink and bronze blot. In these colors, it reminds me of a grimacing Samurai warrior. What do you see?

"All we need is love. . ."

Today is Loving Day. It marks the date 41 years ago today that the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a law prohibiting interracial marriage. It is an apropos name for a monumental crack in racial relations. Mildred and Richard Loving were childhood sweethearts who had to leave Virginia in order to marry each other. He was White and she was African-American. Mildred passed away last month and, sadly, Richard died years ago. They suffered indignities and hatred simply because they loved each other and wanted to sanctify their feelings by marrying. Mixed couples, married or not, are a common sight these days, certainly here in D.C. My husband and I are an example of that. He is Middle-Eastern and I am Middle-American. Our differences aren't as noticeable to the casual observer, so nasty stares are fewer, but we still get them. My own family members were wary of our intentions to marry, citing our diametrically opposed backgrounds. That was 25 years ago and our bond is stronger now than it was on the day we married. Attraction between humans is chemistry. Love at first sight is possible because of it. It's one of the animal traits humans have retained throughout evolution. Smell, touch, and physical characteristics attract long before educational achievement, wealth, social status or other acquired traits kick-in. As the world continues to get smaller and smaller, we are exposed to more and more people from opposite ends of the world. Perhaps we need to remember that the first race we are born into is the Human Race.

Life in Mid-20th Century America

-- Mascara that didn't come in a tube. It came in a tiny compact with it's own brush that had to be moistened then brushed over the hard mascara and applied to the lashes. Some girls actually used spit, but that grossed me out. -- Skorts were a practical combination of bloomer shorts attached to a short, pleated or gathered skirt that allowed us to ride bikes, climb trees and more without showing our panties. [That was a big deal when I was little. Girls almost always wore dresses and boys were always trying to see our panties.] -- Pettipants were an undergarment usually made of nylon. They were essentially loose shorts that ended above the knee then were trimmed with lace. The lace might be simple but more often we went for elaborate layers of lace with colored ribbon strung through it. [It was OK if a boy saw your pettipants.] -- Metal tricycles with rubber wheels. We had none of those brightly colored, huge wheeled, plastic tricycles. They were pretty much all alike and lacked the imagination that plastics made possible for today's designers. -- White lipstick. I still wonder how that came to be so popular. Maybe it was its contrast with heavily applied black eye-liner and mascara. I wasn't allowed eye make-up but I did use white lipstick and must have looked hideous. -- Woody Station Wagons were built during WWII to conserve metal for the war effort. My parents bought a used Woody that was white on top and green below the wide, wooden side panels. [If you want to see one, watch the original "White Christmas" movie. That one had an all-wood body.] -- 29¢ a gallon gasoline and gas prices weren't listed as they are today. Who do the dealers think they're fooling posting prices at $4.14 98/100 per gallon? -- White margarine. Yes, it was gross looking but the dairy people insisted on it. We bought blocks of white margarine that included a packet of yellow dye that had to be mixed in. Dairy producers wanted to be sure no one mistook margarine for butter. -- Speaking of butter, that and flour were often the treatments of choice for burns in the kitchen. The average cook had never heard of aloe vera and immersion in cold water had not yet been recommended. Cuts of all sorts were treated with tincture of Iodine or Mercurochrome-- OUCH!!!

More Bikes Out There Now?

Is it my imagination or are there more motorcycles out there now? I'm thinking that more guys have talked their ladies into letting them buy bikes to save gas on their commutes. The guys are smirking to themselves, thinking they pulled a fast one and finally got the transporation mode they've dreamed of since high school. However. . . I'm betting that the ladies are thinking, OK, wiseguy, wait til it gets really hot (like today!) or rains on you in your high-priced leathers. Are you still gonna love riding with the wind? Will you risk road rash and worse in an effort to stay cool yet cool? How 'bout sitting in traffic, exhaust assaulting you from every angle? No windows to close or AC to crank up on a Harley. Good luck!

City Flowers

We planted our three window boxes three weeks ago and they are really taking hold and coming into their own. Spouse checks them in the morning and evening and I water them. Janet gave us some of the petunias and several begonias. One is a gorgeous shade of deep coral.
Begonia leaves are incredibly waxy, shiny and stiff. Weird. . .

We also planted a pot each of parsley and basil. They're pretty AND smell so good. We're gonna have some delicious salads and soups this summer!

In Honor of All the Brides Out There

Life in a gilded cage -- Is it worth it?

What is about fame that makes it so appealing? Ok, many celebrities acquire fame and wealth together. But how can money make up for a total loss of privacy? And do they like being commodities whose value depends on what strangers think of them? A certain number of financially-dependent sycophants seem necessary to maintain the celebrity lifestyle -- agents, hairdressers, body guards, personal assistants and more. The verbal flotsam must be stifling. What a huge burden to think that the world revolves around you, something your sycophants make sure you remember. That's hard for a well-grounded person to handle, much less a fragile, young person. Insanity seems to be a close companion to celebrity. It explains the bizarre, often self-destructive behavior exhibited by some. Ever present, telescopic camera lenses must cause unimaginable paranoia. Many celebrities have no chance to experience the natural stages of maturation before they are overwhelmed by the artificial world of glitz and glam. Having to focus on one's appearance and popularity disallows time for intelligent, constructive thought and equally important, imagination. A life without these is trivialized and wasted.

A Ballerina's Grito*

*Spanish word meaning emphatic cry. Rosana Peñaloza nearly single-handedly is exposing Mexicans to the shame of their prejudices against people with disabilities. After an age when many ballet dancers have retired because of wear and tear on their bodies, she maintains enviable a grace and strength. She is also on a personal mission. For six months last year, she experimented with being handicapped in Mexico City. In a wheelchair, she tried to navigate the city's sidewalks, most of which have no ramps or some too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair. She felt invisible to drivers who zipped around her, narrowly missing her chair. The city's cherished and historic cobblestone streets were a nightmare. Trying to make eye contact proved immeasurably painful. She went from being an acclaimed artist to a figure of pity and disdain. She cried every day not just for herself, but for the thousands of Mexicans who were suffering the same indignities and prejudices. All of this was done to prepare for a performance piece she debuted before a Mexican audience this past Spring. She danced sitting in a wheelchair. Audience members were moved by her grace and agility. They were also forced to examine their own consciences when she locked eyes with individuals asking "will you play with me?"-- will you be my friend? -- will you give me work?" Ms. Peñaloza was inspired by handicapped students to whom she taught dance in a Mexican center for children with disabilities. She was impressed with their abilities, even though some could not see or hear. Mexican tradition states that handicapped individuals are better off being segregated from the rest of society because they are not perfect. What she discovered and now tries to convey to the public is that being disabled doesn't end a life. Physically challenged is a more accurate description and Ms. Peñaloza wants to illustrate how people bearing them compensate in extraordinary ways. She is attempting to grow a pearl of wisdom when she says "my work is a grain of sand in an oyster so that all this can change." Amen.

I know I'm not alone . . .

. . . when I check the obituaries in my daily newspaper. Having lived in Washington for nearly 40 years, it's still shocking when I recognize someone who has just died. I don't look for specific names, but faces practically shout from the page, particularly when it is someone my age or younger who has died. After my Dad died last November, I was disappointed that only a simple, short, paid, death notice was published in the Washington Post. No picture, no information on his substantial contributions to the world of hospital design and construction or the fact that he was a past-president of the Washington Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club. There was so much more that could have been said than just listing his survivors. When an obituary is the last piece written about a person, shouldn't it at least mention accomplishments, both professional and personal and something about what made the person unique and special? Granted, friends and family have their memories, but what about those who didn't know the person? I LIKE reading about other's adventures and tragedies in life -- they are inspiring. Archives hold history from which future generations can research and learn. Giving credit for one's life challenges and accomplishments isn't too much to ask for as a brief, personal archive. Today would have been Dad and Mom's 63rd wedding anniversary -- quite an accomplishment IF anyone else knew their roots, goals and dreams and how they came to terms with them. I know these things and understand how fortunate I am to have been raised by them.

Gratuitous Cuteness IX

Alex got to celebrate his eighth birthday twice this year.

He had a family celebration last Tuesday, then an extended family celebration last Sunday. TWO cakes and he made sure that everyone wore hats, so it was official. Then, and only then, did he blow out his candles.

Joy X 2 -- lucky little guy