Month: April 2016

The Song Remains the Same

Music is a strong influence in my life. I had a discussion last night about the music of my generation. The years between 1965 and 1980 were  a renaissance of amazing music. I’m sure you boomers agree. I grew up with the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Steve Winwood, Buddy Miles, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, and of course who could forget Donavan.

I started listening to music on a little transistor radio that I slept with. I was very upset if I fell asleep and the batteries died! I played 45 rpm records in my bedroom. We could listen to one song and then we had to start it again. Albums were great. We could listen to five or six songs in a row. When the album ended we would start it again. We drove our parents crazy!

Then we transitioned to cassette tapes that got eaten a lot in the tape player. It was a great relief when cd’s came out. At least they were a little harder to destroy. And we could load up five or six c.d.’s in the disc player and just let them play on and on. Progress.

Yesterday I heard that Prince died. I wasn’t really into Prince, but I know what it is to lose your favorite musician. Their music stays with us. Their songs bring back memories and experiences we want to relive. Long after they are gone, their songs remain the same. Preserved for all time in a changing world.

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Everyday Events

Everyday events can trigger inspiration. When we moved into our townhome, the builder planted a small drake elm between the house and the garage. Over several years, the elm grew immense. We valued the shade and tolerated the elm’s faults. Its roots started lifting the patio pavers and its leaves rained down at least two or three times a year. One winter we put our sentiments aside and called in a professional to remove it. Watching the operation was painful. After all it was a living thing! Through writing I verbalized my feelings about this tree, in my poem “The Price of Success”. You can read it by clicking on poems in the menu bar.

Writing poetry helps me see every day events as significant, and live in the moment. I love Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!”

But at the same time, writing helps me pay tribute to events I wish to remember. When I put my thoughts in print, they exist beyond today. What inspiration have you received from everyday events?

 

 

It is Good!

During my teenage years, I admired people who could draw  and paint, but I felt inadequate to do either. So I started making collages. I loved cutting pictures out of magazines and piecing them together to create a new image. Afterwards I felt satisfied thinking, “This is good. This is art.” Because I knew that this particular collage could only be created by me.

God created us to be creators. After all, we were created in his image and he is the master creator. True, we can’t begin to compare our art with his, but seeing his creation inspires me to make something! Whether it is a poem, a painting, or even a photograph!

My new featured image was taken in the Canadian Rockies. It inspired my poem, Landscape Artists, which is featured under the poems tab.

Remember, your art can only be created by you. And it is good!

So, just what is Blueberry Street?

For me, Blueberry Street is a place of creative freedom. Until 2013, I thought my life depended on how well my students performed on standardized tests. Unfortunately, that is what education means these days. As a retiree, I have been fortunate to spend more of my time pursuing my interests. I discovered that I like to write! So the easiest way for me to express myself, besides journaling, is through poetry. Many people are afraid of retirement. They can’t imagine what they would do all day. My advice is to explore your interests. Blueberry Street is waiting for you.

This is my first blog! You will find that I’m not a long winded writer. (Poetry says much with few words!) My aim through this blog is to encourage people to think about pursuing their creative gifts that might have been squelched in the past. I’d love to hear from you!

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