13-JUL-2008
Marjorie works a puzzle
Every time I go to take photos at Hannan House, the experience goes deeper. As I get to know each of these amazing individuals better, I am more in awe of their courage, determination, sense of fun, and wisdom. I've now audio recorded three women and two men. With Velma and Mr. Freeman, we had time for them to share their stories in detail. Brenda and Grace shared parts of their stories, and Curtis performed spoken word poetry. Next week I have appointments with Mary K. and Brenda to record their stories. Such a privilege. And such a responsibility to be sure these oral histories are shared with the larger community. How did I ever get so fortunate as to be doing this work???
09-JUL-2008
Eddie's response to the library book I got him
Guess it's hard to know someone else's taste, even after 42 years! By the way, today we got the results back from Eddie's MRI. No unpleasant surprises, thank god. But there is severe degeneration of a disc at L4/5 vertebrae. The internist wants to continue letting it heal without surgery, so he's having Eddie resume physical therapy. We both feel things are getting a bit better. Bit by bit by bit may he heal.
07-JUL-2008
at the piano
Here's Eddie and me in our favorite togetherness activity--singing & playing the piano. Been doing this for 42 years! Now I need to digitally record us so you can hear as well as see. Another day ...
06-JUL-2008
Derrick May, Techno DJ
Anyone who knows electronic music will recognize the name, Derrick May. With Juan Atkins, Carl Craig and Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May is an acknowledged king of the "Detroit sound." His particular niche is techno, which just happens to be my favorite kind of EM. So when I heard this Master mix it up tonight (Saturday) at Detroit's CityFest street fair, it was like I'd died and gone to heaven. Yes, I'd heard him before but that had been at the start of my love affair with electronic music and I didn't have enough background or experience to know what I was hearing. But now I do. Oh yes, I do. And IMHO Derrick May is the best DJ I've ever heard. Sophisticated, soulful, imaginative, incredibly musical, unpredictable, indescribable. What I told him afterwards was that he put me in a Zen state and that was the truth. I just sat looking and listening with my mouth hanging open. I could barely dance, and that was a first! But his sound was so spiritual, even when the heavy bass beat pulsed through my veins, that it almost seemed sacrilegious to dance. Strange, huh? I also told him that the reason his sound touches people so deeply is that it comes from such a deep place within himself. And you know what? Derrick May is just as sweet as he is talented. What a gift to our world!
05-JUL-2008
looking up
I've been so engrossed in working on my two projects--disability self portraits & African American elders--that sometimes I forget to look, REALLY look, at what's on the edges of my vision. Like this amazing sky framed by buildings in Detroit's New Center area. Thank goodness something tugged at my eyes last night and drew my gaze up to this sight that was changing by the second. Yes, I was surrounded by crowds of people, loud music, lots of action, and incredible energy but--and this is a big BUT--there was so much more going on than I realized. When I stay focused on what's at eye level or below I can miss the big picture. May I remember there are MANY vantage points, each of which shows a part of the whole. May I remember to LOOK. May I learn to SEE.
04-JUL-2008
dancing in the streets
Another great festival weekend here in Detroit--
the City Fest! I took this photo down there last night, that is when I wasn't dancing myself. No, I didn't join the break dancers but I did add my part to the mix, and that was the SPOTLIGHT that made it all visible! Hey, mobility scooters have their moment in the sun--or rather, moon--and last night was my girl Sassy's moment to shine. And shine she did, until the last break dancer had spun his stuff. BTW when I first turned on my light, everybody cheered. WHAT A KICK!!!
Soon I'll be going back down for more music, dancing, food & Detroit's own brand of "family feeling." Tonight is the Electronic Music night on this stage, so you know I'm a happy camper! Happy holiday to my U.S. friends.
03-JUL-2008
gracious Velma
Best viewed in Original size.
Today (Wednesday) Velma invited me to visit her in her apartment. She lives in a retirement center smack in the middle of Detroit and is rightfully proud of it. When I got there at 2 p.m. she met me at the door and proceeded to take me on a tour of the building. It is absolutely beautiful and wonderfully designed for elders, especially those with mobility issues. Once we got to Velma's apartment she was kind enough to let me take photos and record our conversation on my new digital recorder. As I'd suspected, her story is fascinating. What I didn't expect was how much we have in common.
Velma Smith Bryant was born March 29, 1914, one year after my mother. The amazing thing was that they were both born in the same small town: Shelby, North Carolina! And then I found out that Velma and her husband owned a house and raised their three children in the same city where my husband Ed was raised: Highland Park, Michigan. Velma worked as a caterer her entire adult life, and her mother had been a teacher. Her father was a farmer who had horses, mules, pigs, turkeys and cows as well as fields of corn, cotton and peanuts. During Velma's growing-up years her mother would be off teaching five days a week in nearby communities. Her father stayed home with the five children, and the kids helped raise one another. Education was a priority and, although other farmers expected their children to stay home and help on the farm, Velma's Dad always said school was the most important thing. Velma continued this tradition in raising her own children and each one has been quite successful. Her eldest son was an engineer with Chrysler before he retired. Her daughter had her masters degree in social work and worked with children until she retired. Her youngest son has been a Detroit police officer for decades. She says she and her husband never had a moment's problems with their children. She is obviously proud of them and determined not to be a burden in any way.
I'd say Velma Bryant is one of the most positive persons I've ever met. It is such a privilege to know her. And I love sharing her with you.
02-JUL-2008
"From Queen Cleopatra to Queen Patricia."
Those were the words my dear friend Aly said yesterday as he placed his gift over my head. It was a sterling silver necklace with a pendant of Cleopatra that he'd brought me back from his most recent trip to Egypt. Aly is a wonderful man, a truly gracious man. We first met at the weekly vigils put on by our local peace group. It was at the start of Mr. Bush's disastrous war on the sovereign country of Iraq, and Aly and I connected on a heart level. Both of us were--and still are--devastated by the horrors unleashed by our country's president. When I was preparing to visit Rabih and Sulaima in Beirut, Lebanon in 2005, it was Aly who gave me Arabic lessons. Or, I should say, TRIED to give me Arabic lessons. I was a pathetic student but he was always patient and encouraging. This past April Aly went back home to Egypt to visit his sister who was ill. But in the midst of it all, he managed to find time to buy this beautiful necklace for his friend Patricia. How honored I am to have Aly in my life.
01-JUL-2008
Ed's first-ever massage
After spending hours at the hospital today (Monday) getting Eddie's MRI, our friend Pat came over and gave my sweetie his first-ever massage. To be honest I was surprised that Ed was open to this--for him--untraditional body treatment. Even more surprising was that it was HIS idea. You have to understand, Eddie comes from a medical family. His father and uncle were doctors, and he and his brother became doctors as well. Now, Eddie is 78 years old and often shows his age in his rather old-fashioned attitudes about holistic medical practices. For instance, I've tried to encourage him to go to my acupuncturist for his recent pain condition, but he'll have none of it. So when he asked Pat if they could schedule a massage, it surprised both of us. But obviously he was serious. And I gather it was a positive experience for him. Of course Pat is an exceptionally gifted massage therapist, so he was in good hands. And I get to benefit too. She left her table here and is coming back tomorrow (Tuesday) to give me a massage as well. Lucky me!