Dealing with Tough Times: Becoming a Mountain Goat

 

Metaphor of the Mountain Goat

                     This late afternoon as I swam in the pool and watched the light fade I thought back

six years to precisely this time of day when my life was so very different.

As the light faded and the wind picked up I would arrive at Cardio Renal at Hennepin Healthcare to attend to my late husband Josh and see what the day's needs were. I tried to arrive in time for supper. Even if it was just a tray of mediocre food perched on a small table at the end of his bed. Sometimes I would go for a treat down to the cafeteria.

               There he was in that existential hospital time with tubes hooked up and various machines beeping. We talked. Sometimes argued. He was often exhausted. It was all uncertain. Questions gathered around and filled the room and clogged the doorway. What next?

               Death was all too evident and a somewhat distant at that time...but its shadowy prescense filled the room as well.

              I drew him stretched out on the bed. All seven feet of him. 

The Yellow gladiolas I brought him and those who came to our side.

              So it went on day to day....until one day I had a creative inspiration that carried me through the weeks ahead. As I turned onto  Hwy 55 going north through the ice and snow I thought to myself. " Why I am a Mountain Goat!" I can manage these difficult situations Just Fine. I can even hang upside down!"

And thus I found a Creative Emotional Template that I drew through for the next six weeks.

This time taught me that I could come Close to Difficulties and instead of backing away embrace them with an image that gave me clarity, compassion and Humor.

Here are excerpts from that 65 drawing series:

   

             I allowed the Plucky Mountain Goat to guide me and help me navigate difficult  Territory

   Josh died April 10th 2019 and I drew through my years of Grief. 

    But the wisdom of the Mountain Goat comes to me now in these difficult Political Times.

I know I can come Close to what is hard and draw it. With gratitude I perceive that the hardest

times often hold the most insight and silver linings.

My late mother's Courage and Immigration Court

 For Today

Inauguration Day January 20, 2025

I turn to face my late mother Emily's courage as she did not salute at a
rally in Berlin in the 1930's when everyone was raising their hand
"Heil Hitler" Her status with her father in American diplomatic circles
gave her immunity. Nonetheless her Courage shines through.
Later she became a Conscientious Objector.
I turn to face my late mother Emily's Courage at these difficult times.

Months and Years later I am asked to draw in Immigration Court.

Amid all the complexity I turn to The Statue of Liberty and pray

her words remain for these struggling immigrants trying to make their way.

.   

   "Give me your tired, your poor,

your huddled masses yearning to breathe,

free the wretched refuse 

of your teeming shores

send these, the Homeless 

tempest tossed to me.

I raise my Lamp beside the Golden Door"

Drawing in the Lowly Places

 

Drawing in the lowly places:

Listening and Drawing people and Visiting Hennepin Healthcare again

Honoring Tracey who works as a check out clerk at Cub Foods.

For the blessed memory of Studs Terkel who listened to working people.

 As the new year drew nigh I rummaged through 

a book shelf and an old favorite book appeared. 

WORKING by Studs Terkel  

"People Talk About What They Do All Day 

and How They Feel About What They Do"

    I read this book deeply years ago after it came out in 1972. Some books are eternal and speak to us beyond the perigrinations of the Internet and the fast age of texting, Instagram, Tik Tok and emails.

       This deeply human book is about what people do all day. Work. I resonate deeply to Studs Terkels

very receptive work of listening to what people have to say about their lives and work. I resonate to his work and am grateful I had opportunities to dwell in the lowly places and draw those not seen.

With few words I let my drawings stand for themselves.

Here are the four Hennepin Healthcare workers at the front desk in the lobby of

the Specialty Clinic on Friday January 10th, 2025

     

    

     

Opera Musings on the Eighth Night of Hanukkah January 1st, 2025

                                                    Hanukkah Musings.....

  My Grandmother Ann.....

                                                   And Opera Drawings I have Done 

January 5th, 2025      

  7th Night of Hanukkah 2025 ...candles glow...my grandmothers portrait nearby.

and below

SHABBAT ON FRIDAY NIGHT  with Angels, mermaids and bowl of fruit...

 
                         and so my long labyrinthian Jewish Journey found its home.My search...the tendrils of mystical time.... and my unbidden relationship to myunknown grandmother Ann came through as I perused my archive of Opera Drawingsdone over the years............and now in these present moments Celebrating Shabbat Gloriouslydone over the years.

 

I have so many Cheerful Happy Colorful Paintings of Hanukkah

"They look like Candy" a Rabbi remarked

and then this year I turned as well to the archive of my Opera Drawings

remembering how my late mother said:

"We didn't have religion! We had Opera!" 

Somehow this year I realized all the more how central Opera was to my late 

grandmother and my mother...so I turn to recall and look...

Here are some of my favorites including my Opera reflections often drawn with my wise cats 

nearby who purr and say

"We are not just Cute Cuddly Creatures! We love Opera Too 

and Feel its Emotions Deeply!"

The Upper Realms of Opera

Aida

La Boehme

                                          

La Fortse Del Destina

Madame Butterfly

Tosca

The Merry Widow

Don Giovanni

The Magic Flute

Rigoletto by Verdi

in the land of memories...recalling how my mother laid on the couch listening

to the Saturday Afternoon Opera..lost in her emotions of going to the Opera in 

Vienna long ago with her parents...and feeling the emotions of the Opera

all over again

Another emotional musing on my mother listening

to the Opera,,,

My feelings as I listen to the Opera and feel my mother's prescense...