Looking Out The Window

 

Lately, a big part of my summer off, is looking out the window. Sitting on the window seat, I have a wonderful view of the sky, clouds and hills. Whether it’s afternoon or sunset, there is always something new to see. But maybe that’s just me. 

I’ve always been inspired by landscapes. The colors of the sky from clear cerulean blue to stormy thalo blue during the day to the deep cadmium yellow and crimsons of the setting sun. These inspirations got me started painting watercolor landscapes in my teens. And now, I’m circling back again and experimenting painting on clay. 

Summer reading 

As a child, I spent hours parked on my neighbors patio reading stacks of books from the library. Mysteries, historical fiction and love stories were my favorites. This summer, I’m either regressing or progressing into my new phase of life by sitting on my patio or window seat reading. 

I’d like to tell you that I’m inclined toward intellectual improvement but, that isn’t the case. What am I reading? Romance novels and mysteries with happy endings. People fall in love. Bad guys or gals are caught. And the world is a better place. 

The three C’s. 

Due to a recent knee injury, I’ve had to slow down, pace myself and give my goals a rest. I’m still able to crochet. But heavy duty cleaning is on the back burner for now. 

Clay can be done, if I’m careful. Even though I love throwing, I haven’t done much throwing this year. But this week, I did throw a few new bowls. It felt good to get my hands around some clay. Even though I was a bit rusty and had to be patient with myself, it was worth it. 

But I’m wondering if my art and attention is shifting and evolving. Will I move from functional to more sculptural and painterly objects? Is this just a summer phase? Or is it a new life phase called retirement? 

I hate the word retirement. It brings up images of old people in rocking chairs with nothing to do but sit. It brings up so many feelings: sadness, anger, fear. But does it have to be that way? Is that reality or just societal stereotyping or my own prejudice?  I don’t know. 

I do know:

I’m here and safe and healthy.

I still love color and texture and creating. 

And I’m lucky to be loved by family and friends. 

Looking out the window, I see beauty and possibilities. 

I know, I’m not done yet. 

Hot Day Memories

 

Living the last few days in my ‘cool cave’, my mind wanders back to my childhood. Those days where sitting in the sun was safe and fun. Splashing in the community pool without sunscreen was the norm. And there was NO air conditioning. 

Yes, I got really sunburned. And yes, as a descendent of Ireland, my skin is not just fair, easily sunburned but also high on the list of skin cancer risk groups. And yes, I’ve had melanoma and I’m luckily now, cancer free. 

How did we survive the heat?

Sitting in my air conditioned cave, I wonder how we all survived the summer heat and humidity in the Midwest. It was hot, yes. But it was also heavy with moisture that weighed you down like a heavy, hot blanket. I remember hating it. 

But I also remember going to the library, not air conditioned at all, but dark and cool and filled with rows and rows of books. I was a regular. Checking out stacks of books at a time. One summer I read through all books in the women in history section. Of course, I read through all the Nancy Drew I didn’t own and other classics like Little Women, House on the Prairie, Huckleberry Finn, Heidi and more. 

At home with a borrowed book, I headed next door where my two friends were already sitting on the covered patio quietly turning pages. One summer, a box arrived from my grandmother’s house filled with paperback gothic novels. I voraciously read them all. As we sat and sipped Kool-aide, feet propped on the brick walled patio reading the hot days away.

Forward into the past. 

I do miss swimming and splashing in the sunshine sometimes. I loved the water. But not the sunburns that came later. As a melanoma survivor, I don’t go out into the sun now unless I really have to and then only layered in sunscreen. I’m so grateful for the technology we now have that can protect us from the sun. 

With temperatures soaring into the hundreds, I’m regressing into my childhood comfort zone. I’m sitting with my feet propped, a cool drink and a stack of digital books. I’m in the house, out of the sun, heat and humidity. Safe from cancerous rays, reading the hot days away. 

And remembering those hot summer days quietly reading the day away fondly but now very glad for my air conditioned cool cave.