The ancestors

Here are my Grandparents with nine of their children. My mama is the older little girl. Out of all of them came more than 100 grandchildren and counting. Each counting so much in our world. I am one of those as is each of my sons. Their ancestors can not be underestimated in the power of their legacy to my sons. Integrity is of utmost concern in my mind.I can still see, in my mind, my abuelito hiking the mountains of Peru to give help, medicine and his message of Christ to the people.

Knitting Muse Dolls

Well, I just never know how things will turn out when I have an idea in my head. How do ideas come to fruition? I think of all those years of making sure the house was overflowing with materials so the boys would not be inhibited in their imaginative quests. "Hey mom do we still have that old wolf mask?" "Yes, it's in the shed in the Halloween box!" This exchange took place just recently with Vinnie as he worked on a mask photo project . I feel that in my fiber work I also get ideas by surrounding myself with lots of beautiful materials and books. My knitting muse came to fruition this way. She did not like her first wig and I quickly yanked it off her little felted head. Then I saw it, a braid of wool mohair with colors that I love. It was the perfect hair for her and as luck would have it I also had other fibers in the same colorways for clothes and capes. She is very happy now and I am happy looking at her. Now she needs a little chair to sit on while she inspires other projects. Did I tell you how much I love fiber yet?

Life Coursing through!

I love this photo because I look so happy. If we try to notice we can have these real and organic moments daily. When my son and I share a private thought. When I sit and listen to a song from when I was 17 and I still love it. When I still look forward toward an evening alone with my partner of 30 years. When I finish a project that is so just what I thought it would be. Life courses through and I fly. It was a simple bingo game on another new years night but we were all still here and another year was about to start and it was new. It was Bingo with three generations having a time together. I pray and look forward to many more of these. I hope and wish only this for you and yours.

I love fiber. It is such an amazing entity. It comes from living beings but does not require death. It can give life if you happen to have fallen through the ice and need to get warmed up fast and furious. It is so patient with creative endeavors as you poke it with barbed needles and lay it every which way. It does not mind being tacky. Hey, if you like it, it is OK with whatever you make it wear. Once in a while, when you least expect it, it forms itself into a form that makes you very giddy. It is pretty! It is unique! I like it! But what is it? No need for clear purpose. It simply is a happy finish. I really LOVE fiber!

Juxtaposition

The juxtaposition of my son and my past is like the connective tissues I have so often twanged as I moved from one life to the next. I do not know why he chose to include this in his photo project but when I saw it I was drawn to think about it. I usually fall so deeply into the roles of my present life that a sense of mourning for my past ensues and at time permeates its fabric. Part of the reason for this I know is that I want those who I love to know what I was. Who I was. Why I was. Seeing my present and most important identity as represented in my son holding my past is affirming in a strange and elusive way. I think my son looks at me and does see the layers which make up my being. I hope so. To see more of this project go to:
http://lucasbriffa.blogspot.com/2009/12/persona-project-fall-2009.html

I have listened to this several times in the last few days and wonder why it is so alluring for me. I hope anyone who hears it will like it. It is a homage to Peru. I often play homage to my country in little ways such as my decor at home, the food I bring to gatherings, the clothes I were some days, the yarn I mostly buy if I have a choice and then there is the music. I now know I want to go back there some day and explore more my connections with my birthplace and listen to as much of its music live as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An77pmw3mQ4

Here my parents and aunt and uncle are younger than I am now and it is blowing my mind. It must be circa 1960s. I want to know what were they thinking and how did the world look to them then. My Papa was so good looking and my mama so stylish. Did they wake up each day and yearn for days gone by or did they yearn for their futures in a new country, a new life. So courageous! So naive too. It had to be as who could guess that in the near years to come we would lose a president, a civil rights leader and run head-on into a war and race riots. Not yet though. Not yet.

ALL INCLUSIVE!!!!

• Unlimited blue sea
• Unlimited hot days
• Unlimited food
• Unlimited booze
• Unlimited Mayan smiles
• Unlimited entertainment
• Unlimited pool water
• Unlimited guest services
• Limited but very real guilt that some have so much while others work so hard for very little.
  

Contemplating the future

My son says he is an atheist! When did that happen? I am not sure what to say really. He is too young to be cynical but is that what he is? I have not imposed religion on him or his brother and neither has their dad. Yet it is worrisome that he does not believe in a higher force of some kind to explain what I feel sure must be so confusing at times for him. Or maybe it is just confusing for me? I have been more spiritual in recent years than since I was a teen when I identified as a "Jesus Christ Superstar" follower. It made sense to me and believe me the 70's were quite difficult for teens. I am not sure what if anything I can offer Vince that might help him open some possibilities for spiritual practice. Love and compassion I do show him and I guess that will have to do for now.

There and Back.

Is it possible for music to span the ages tugging hearts across many generations and crossing whole oceans with the roots of culture firmly attached, pulling back the "lost to other nations" and drawing anew the young longing for those roots? Yes!! Mi Lindo Peru calls to me so often even though I hardly know her. Her music especially is attached firmly to heart's strings and I drink from her fountain often. Hay la musica Creolla y del Norte! Yesterday mama and I listened to lots of Los Panchos videos on Ytube and she told me stories of her youth when one of the guys serenaded her friend with his guitar. It was wonderful. Take a listen to the music of my parents roots and mine as well.