Spare

I've reviewed my life's list and I have decided that I'm done being so-so-careful with people. It is as if (using only eye contact) I grab you by your upper arm firmly until it is understood that my spareness isn't a lack of passion, but a winnowing down to the authentic--substituting meager with minimal and austerity for a simple abundance.  The difference? I think attitude. 

What's the BIG IDEA?

I really like the way Cuyahoga Arts and Culture is engaging citizens to vote which projects get funded. Six BIG IDEAS are online at  www.cacgrants.org/vote until February 20th. Cuyahoga County residents get to help decide which two new creative projects will be brought to life in our community through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture's Creative Culture Grants program.

Many of the projects are in the public space, uniquely Cleveland and oh, so creative. Many of them are designed to bring people out of the house, out of their car and into the neighborhoods to interact with the City and with each other. This is going to be a hard choice!

Classical, Bluegrass, N'awlins . . . Awesome

As part of the Cleveland Orchestra's Fridays @ 7 Series, Bela Fleck played with Cleveland Orchestra. Afterward, he let loose with a trio featuring New Orleans-based musicians Johnny Vidacovich (drums), Mark Mullins (trombone), and Roland Guerin (bass)  in the Grand Foyer. 

The best part? A surprise cameo by Bela's wife Abigail Washburn! She sang Nobody's Fault but Mine and His Eye is on the Sparrow. 

The demographics of the crowd was a little younger and a little less stuffy than the typical orchestra audience. Between Friday's @ 7 and the concerts at the Happy Dog, the Orchestra is being creative and clever about building new audiences in Cleveland. 

The Right Side of the Sofa

You were a Wild Turkey
Sharp as a tack, good as gold and bad as sin 'til the end
My memories of you are a paltry honor to the vigorous life you lived

You through a haze of cigarette smoke pulling me somewhat unwilling 

onto your knee 

saying, "c'mere goil (girl)" in your cotton country accent

  Smiling while smoke blows from your nose 

Me, wondering if your one, light-colored, milky eye

 was proof of our kinship

(this was before I knew about that fish hook)

Hitching up your pants before you sit down on the right side of the sofa

Grandma chastising ornery you with a graceful hand draped over her hidden smile

Road trip to West Virginia to watch those dogs run that track

Jesse McGowan was your name, and no, you were not Irish

You are my working class hero who lived your 90 years with unbeatable charm and an abundance that defied economics. 

Grateful for your genes and your genius
Thank you Paw Paw

My Lovely Commute Today

I walked in dewey, cooling weather to the Rapid Station and saw  some eco-conscious urban art that gave me hope,



got off the train and saw an angel in Tower City,



and finally, was amazed by the raw Soul Train talent shown here:

I love you Cleveland. 

Lit from Within

pumpkin party
Originally uploaded by Jenita McGowan.

My heart shines with love for Cleveland.

One of my dad's nicknames for me is "Punkin Head". I am not sure why. I never had red hair, but I do have a funny connection to pumpkins since I probably thought about them more than most over the years.

Sketch

I am surprised how quickly summer is over--autumn's beaches empty but for birds. Pale afternoon winds have me at a loss for words. I can paint a picture any way you can shout it, but sometimes the quiet things I can only depict with bare feet on a wooden floor. 

I Root for Beets

Picking Beets


Dirty Beet Pile


Pretty in Pink


Cooked and Cubed


Dark Chocolate Beet Cake Batter


What is left after a dinner party with good friends.