Before my aneurysm, I went to water aerobics and swam laps in this pool. I was very purposeful – get in, get the exercise, get a shoulder massage from the whirlpool, get out. It was only when I began to use the pool more slowly – in the open area outside the lap lanes – … read more Swimming in beauty
Tag: beauty
Silent work
The teacher was doing something strange with his hands. Everyone around me was doing the same thing. So I did it, too. Then I stopped looking around, because of what I felt. I was in a park in Beijing, in 1991. It was at the end of a tai chi session. I had briefly studied tai … read more Silent work
Presentation skills
It was a poor presentation, and I didn’t even realize it until Tom reached for a chip. I’d spent 40 minutes to make a very small bowl of pate out of the giblets from the whole chicken I was roasting for dinner tonight. Then, rather than present it on one of the many lovely serving dishes we have, … read more Presentation skills
Branching out
Winter keeps invading my spirit. I rally and laugh, and then a cold wind knocks me down to burrow under layers of fleece. The singular gift of winter in North Georgia is the lovely lace of bare trees. White oaks, red oaks, maples, poplars, sweet gum, sourwood, their dancing arms and fingers choreographed to some music … read more Branching out
The tugboat and the snowboarder
It’s just a messy pile of color – seven pieces of construction paper that I drew at random this morning and tossed on the board. What I saw in the pile was pleasant because of the colors. But no one would say it had beauty. I played. The triangles suggested mountains. First I did “A Stoplight … read more The tugboat and the snowboarder
Wherever you are
We waited all week for it. Everyone’s watching the weather report, changing their plans, buying extra groceries. Me, I went to Atlanta and stayed here. We didn’t escape the snow. Atlanta caught the tail of Jonas, and the white crystals snuck in this evening. The view from the condo is not as nice as at home, … read more Wherever you are
Walking in winter
After a leisurely lunch out today, Tom wanted to drive up the mountain and take a walk. I was dragging. Tired and a little queasy. It was cold; I didn’t have my hat and scarf with me. But we went. I struggled on the uphill walk, my jacket draped over my head. The wind picked … read more Walking in winter
Advice from my 90-year-old self
I had a talk today with myself – in the year 2049. Or at least, the 90-year-old me was in 2049. I did this because I was feeling stuck and unsure of so many things, as though I’m in my 20s again (horrors!). But then I remembered how I recently gave my 23-year-old self some … read more Advice from my 90-year-old self
Slow dance
Moving slow as molasses. Treading, flapping. The water holds me down, holds me back, and my muscles all feel it. I’m in the pool. It feels so good. The water is warm, the sunlight is streaming through the walls of windows. Outside, the trees are moving easily, and the green stretches down to the lake, … read more Slow dance
Seeing in palettes
Adobe has long been known for its overly complex software, but Photoshop and Lightroom have for years been programs that I can’t live without. Today I discovered a new one: Adobe Capture, an app that makes it really simple to discover a palette of colors for a scene. (You can also make brushes, vector graphics and “looks” for … read more Seeing in palettes