Tiny Beautiful Things
"There is no cure except to live the hell out of our lives, to take it apart, to put it back together, to dig it all up, and then fill the hole. To help ourselves and one another to the best of our abilities. To believe everything entirely, while also calling bullshit for what it is." - Cheryl Strayed as Dear Sugar Tiny Beautiful Things- Advice on Love and Life.
Living the hell outta life ain't a lead role in a big play. It can be having the small but important role of being you. When I look back on my life it is not the big events that stick with me. Not the graduations, not the weddings ( yes, that's plural), not the awards night, not the big stage. I remember a warm egg sandwich and Drum cigarette that my neighbour Clarence always brought to the wood kiln early in the morning. I remember laying in the pine needles on the roof of the pottery having a 5 minute snooze with my Uncle Jimmie. He taught me to be out cold for 5 minutes just like he did in the trenches of Normandy. I can still go off to sleep in seconds.
I remember hearing an English voice on the train after spending 3 months backpacking in Europe when in my twenties. Tears welled in my eyes. I remember laying on my dad holding him like a lover would. It was our final good bye. I remember Robin and I in Newcastle on Tyne in a shit hole hotel room with thread bare carpets, sweltering heat, smells, disgustingly filthy bathroom and we laughed and laughed and laughed. We wore our shoes in the shower. One of the best nights we ever spent together.
Today I tried yet another tiny deviation of the handle. How such a little thing as a handle can have kept me captivated and excited for over 40 years. Never the same from one year to the next. I put a cap on the rim so as to pull the handle from the very top. Most people won't notice, don't care, won't pay for the time it takes and that's alright by me. I made those cups for me and not them. My old age pension has allowed me the freedom to think like that. Well all the teaching helps too!
Living the hell outta life ain't a lead role in a big play. It can be having the small but important role of being you. When I look back on my life it is not the big events that stick with me. Not the graduations, not the weddings ( yes, that's plural), not the awards night, not the big stage. I remember a warm egg sandwich and Drum cigarette that my neighbour Clarence always brought to the wood kiln early in the morning. I remember laying in the pine needles on the roof of the pottery having a 5 minute snooze with my Uncle Jimmie. He taught me to be out cold for 5 minutes just like he did in the trenches of Normandy. I can still go off to sleep in seconds.
I remember hearing an English voice on the train after spending 3 months backpacking in Europe when in my twenties. Tears welled in my eyes. I remember laying on my dad holding him like a lover would. It was our final good bye. I remember Robin and I in Newcastle on Tyne in a shit hole hotel room with thread bare carpets, sweltering heat, smells, disgustingly filthy bathroom and we laughed and laughed and laughed. We wore our shoes in the shower. One of the best nights we ever spent together.
Today I tried yet another tiny deviation of the handle. How such a little thing as a handle can have kept me captivated and excited for over 40 years. Never the same from one year to the next. I put a cap on the rim so as to pull the handle from the very top. Most people won't notice, don't care, won't pay for the time it takes and that's alright by me. I made those cups for me and not them. My old age pension has allowed me the freedom to think like that. Well all the teaching helps too!
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| Ju-ju saddling up to the bar. Love a woman that can sport a great hat! |
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| The things you do when you don't have to. |
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| A spring board for my handles. |
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