Dear Pages,
In my old journals, the ones I tore up to make things out of, there was a plaintive page of words; actually, most of the pages were plaintive, but that's not what matters now; this plaintive page, this plea, was to be the sparkling spirit I always wanted to be- I wanted to make it my daily pursuit, this lightness of being. That was back in the day, for sure, but, I think I have done alright by this creed. And no one is more surprised than I to have made some progress!
But, it's the vocation, the Vocation, the Calling, that I want to talk to you about today. My other Calling is To Make Things, but, it might be that this secondary Calling should be my first. My secondary Calling is to Be Cheerful. To spread cheer. To sow cheer. To reflect cheer.
Maybe you have a job right now (I have one), and maybe it isn't in line with your core values (whatever those are!), and maybe it is even in conflict with your core values (Whatever. Those. Are.) and maybe you are supporting great gobs of awfulness indirectly. I urge you to consider going on the dole. Because I have been thinking that maybe productivity as defined by workplaces and employers and businesses and corporations is actually working for The Man in its most negative sense. Because, maybe we are not the world, like the song insists; maybe we are, unwittingly, The Man.
See, because here is the thing: They can pay me to believe in The American Way. That'd be a start, at least. Anything else is pretty hypocritical on the part of both me and my employer. Me and The Man.
But, what of the Calling? Because the Calling is what you do, and it isn't the same as your job, and it isn't necessarily how you get money. So, my new job, my new primary Calling, is to Be Cheerful. I plan to have some business cards made, and maybe even get an 800 number; and then, you can call me, anytime you need me, absolutely toll free!
Dear Old Friends,
How long is it we have been coming here? I love this place; the worn vinyl booths, the chipped formica table tops. I am so happy to have a place I can go at all hours and set and write your a few lines. It's been 8 years I've been coming here and leaving you messages, and that seems like a nice number to celebrate.
Remember this first post? How about a reprise of that day's song? What else can we do to commemorate the years? We might crack a few cascarones over each other's heads and open some champagne. We should also have some party music; how about this?
Until the next post!
Dear Art Lovers,
There is an artist (William Kentridge), and he has a place (The Centre for the Less Good Idea*), and his place is filled with interesting projects. Enter at your own risk, there is much to explore. Don't open the link if you are in a hurry, at a stoplight, waiting for a subway; you will need more time than that! If you are waiting for a bus, then try just this one minute of interesting art film.
Zofia Rydet, 1981.
Dear Shutterbugs,
Here at the Dodo I receive links and fascinating digital tidbits from all over. Today, it's a suite of really inspiring photographs of women on their front stoops taken by photographer Zofia Rydet.
Enjoy this Photograph, too; it's your song of the day!