“Moving here to the mountains, somehow the way time was held in plants and place, and I could attune to micro seasons seemed like the time in which I wanted to live. Or, in which I came alive, but also in which all time comes alive to me outside of linear time.”
I love this experience and description of finding your place. I feel this too in the mountains of the west, as if I am immersed in the land.
I am just this moment in LA and someone a friend was talking about the mountains around Altadena like this yesterday and I think we are going to do a chapbook a linked project on our places....
"This feels like some constellation that I move in, which includes land and place and neighbors, the deer nearby, the plants, the special rare ones that I prize—the gentians—and the weeds, too."
Beautiful! Thank you Jennifer. Putting into words how I feel.
Hi Jennifer. I love reading the Oldster Questionnaire responses, and I think yours is my favorite so far, the way you connect to time, place and the dreams of your mother. If it makes you feel better (probably not necessary) I wrote and had published my first Oldster Magazine essay (and memoir) at age 73.
As someone with a dream of quitting my job to become a 56-year-old dancer and circus artist I loved all of this, esp the parts about being a middle aged athlete ❤️
No wonder you have thrived as an art critic! This is a great piece. Can totally relate to the male dominated art scene back then, I was a Fine Arts major at UCI (the Orange Bubble elite) and it was exactly like that. Women were dismissed. They had a one semester art history teacher come in from UCB who was handling our Modern Art lecture series. I loved it! I wrote my end of term paper on the work of R. Crumb. And she gave me an A+++. I think that, besides John Paul Jones teaching etching, which I loved, who encouraged me, were about the only two positives I can remember from two years finishing my degree there.
I completely understand knowing you are a better art critic than an artist. I think a lot of successful artists are only acknowledged because of their connections and the ability to spin tales about the significance of their work. A shame for the shadow artists who paint their souls out.
Thanks for the interesting read. May life give you depth and meaning, compassion and love.
So well written. Such a diverse life. I have two daughters in their early fifties. One went through the goth phase ( as did my36 year old son) and my other daughter was an academic Whois now a nurse. Reading this I see you as someone who can do whatever you put your mind to. So maybe go for being a ski instructor. Life is short
“Moving here to the mountains, somehow the way time was held in plants and place, and I could attune to micro seasons seemed like the time in which I wanted to live. Or, in which I came alive, but also in which all time comes alive to me outside of linear time.”
I love this experience and description of finding your place. I feel this too in the mountains of the west, as if I am immersed in the land.
Nice.
I am just this moment in LA and someone a friend was talking about the mountains around Altadena like this yesterday and I think we are going to do a chapbook a linked project on our places....
"This feels like some constellation that I move in, which includes land and place and neighbors, the deer nearby, the plants, the special rare ones that I prize—the gentians—and the weeds, too."
Beautiful! Thank you Jennifer. Putting into words how I feel.
How bout an interview with Tom and Bridget!?
I had the same thought!
I'm totally into this idea!!
I would totally interview Tom and Bridget. They are amazing. Their stories even more so...
Hi Jennifer. I love reading the Oldster Questionnaire responses, and I think yours is my favorite so far, the way you connect to time, place and the dreams of your mother. If it makes you feel better (probably not necessary) I wrote and had published my first Oldster Magazine essay (and memoir) at age 73.
<3
Ditto what Sari says <3 <3 <3
As someone with a dream of quitting my job to become a 56-year-old dancer and circus artist I loved all of this, esp the parts about being a middle aged athlete ❤️
Yes!
<3 <3 (and more) and ditto. Yes!
If I could get a Fulbright or something for this I would totally do it
Yes, that would be amazing.
Loved every part..so perfectly flawed yet more beautiful that way!
"I am into sports." Yes stay active. It's simple logic: The dead stop moving. So whatever ya do, don't stop moving : )
No wonder you have thrived as an art critic! This is a great piece. Can totally relate to the male dominated art scene back then, I was a Fine Arts major at UCI (the Orange Bubble elite) and it was exactly like that. Women were dismissed. They had a one semester art history teacher come in from UCB who was handling our Modern Art lecture series. I loved it! I wrote my end of term paper on the work of R. Crumb. And she gave me an A+++. I think that, besides John Paul Jones teaching etching, which I loved, who encouraged me, were about the only two positives I can remember from two years finishing my degree there.
I completely understand knowing you are a better art critic than an artist. I think a lot of successful artists are only acknowledged because of their connections and the ability to spin tales about the significance of their work. A shame for the shadow artists who paint their souls out.
Thanks for the interesting read. May life give you depth and meaning, compassion and love.
Meridee Thompson
So well written. Such a diverse life. I have two daughters in their early fifties. One went through the goth phase ( as did my36 year old son) and my other daughter was an academic Whois now a nurse. Reading this I see you as someone who can do whatever you put your mind to. So maybe go for being a ski instructor. Life is short
A delightful read, throughly enjoyed it. Thank you 🙏
"So, it’s strange to be an age that once felt old and distant ... Now this age does not feel as I once perceived it."
So true! When I was little, I thought of people in their 50s as doddering and ancient. I had no idea how different this decade would actually be!