December 27, 2022 - January 8, 2023
Tombstone, Arizona
Like most people I spent much of my life pushing time. Mondays pushing for Fridays. Hot days pushing for cooler temps. School pushing for graduation. School and work pushing for vacation. Pregnancy pushing for baby. Diapers pushing for potty-trained. More work pushing for retirement. Idle days pushing for exciting plans. Yet we're surprised time passes so quickly! We even complain about it :-)
As I get older I work on being present in the now. I actively appreciate the uniqueness of a day. My everyday blessings are recognized. I'm not consciously pushing anything.
And yet time passes even faster. Never more apparent than birthdays and new years. Alas 2023 has arrived, is already over a week in.
The good things outweighed the bad in 2022, and that's all I can wish for in 2023 :-)
Before year's end, two of the grands celebrate birthdays - Oliver's first, and Henry's third. Tough to have your birthday at Christmas, but we're delighted to celebrate these darling boys.
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| Henry discovers party blowers. |
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| Oliver enjoys some outdoor fun. |
Like grownups we join friends Michael and Rebecca and their friends for a New Years' Eve gathering. Outdoors in the RV park, it's comfortable with propane heaters and fire pits. Good time, good food, good people. We head home early - we're old grownups :-)
Rebecca and I enjoy an outing to the De Grazia Gallery in Tucson on a chilly Tuesday. The grounds and building are beautiful in a beautiful place. The background of the Catalina Mountains adds to the magic of this special place. My mother was a big fan of his work, and I regret I didn't visit with her. Many of the pieces remind me of her.
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| This fella centers the peaceful courtyard. |
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| Small vignettes throughout add personal touches to the outdoor space. |
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| The heavy metal doors with punch art look like jewels. |
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| The temporary exhibit "Ballet" is a collection of very different subjects in a familiar style. |
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| I enjoy the petroglyph and pictograph pieces done on ceramics, canvas and wood panels. |
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| Mom had several of his books and loved the simple and whimsical best. |
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| More than any others, Girls Waiting depicts what I think of as a De Grazia. For $13k I could have taken it home! |
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| Rabbit Hunt is one of many dramatic ink drawings on permanent display. |
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| Many like Crying draw me in to human emotions stripped raw. |
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| "Raising Indians Steal Horses from Kino Village" feel like flowing energy and power. The eight warriors blend into the gallop. |
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| Back in the courtyard we enjoy the wide variety of flora. |
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| A tasty lunch at El Charro, the oldest family-run Mexican Restaurant in the country still in operation. One of several locations in the city. |
California's storms send us clouds but very little rain, offering up dazzling skies all around.
Those guys are definitely dazzling. Thank you for introducing me to the De Grazia art work with which I was unfamiliar. I too look back on a life of pushing pushing pushing always trying to get something more done juggling as many things as possible. I'm glad I have lived into an old enough age to stop all that foolishness and try to live in the moment. Could I have learned this at a younger age? I certainly wish I had.
ReplyDeleteWish it were something we could teach our kids, but I'm convinced it's a looking back lesson :-(
DeleteWhat a riot! Why did I type those skies are dazzling and it says those guys??
DeleteWonderful and insightful reflections on the past year, nicely done Jodee. we met Joe and Gay at El Charro in Old Town Tucson - if you haven't tried there Carne Seca (Dried Meat) their beef was outsanding!, gotta go back.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeff :-))) It was Gay's post on the gallery that reminded me it was in Tucson! I look forward to going back to El Charro.
DeleteI had not heard of that gallery. Now I have and it is on my TO VISIT list. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteYou'll love it - just the right size to take your time and they have picnic tables if you want to bring your own lunch!
DeleteIt’s Gay…We love Gallery in the Sun and the Mission. How awesome your Mom had several of De Grazia’s books. And El Charro is a favorite as well! What a nice day!
ReplyDeleteYour post inspired me to see it and take a friend to share it with!
DeleteThat’s a nice start to my day Jodee….thank you!
DeleteWhat is it about human nature that we are always looking at tomorrow instead of enjoying today?
ReplyDeleteGood on you for focusing on today!
Thanks! It's a daily endeavor :-)))
DeleteAmazing museum.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - it's special.
DeleteThat's something we've not done, visit the De Grazia museum and gallery. The smile on Oliver's face is so fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's not a big place so a great option to visit on a chores-day in town! Oliver is full of mischief.
DeleteThe DeGrazia museum looks wonderful! Thanks for the tour...it's on our list for when we make it back west. I'm trying my best right now to not 'push time' as we navigate this next three weeks of packing up and moving into our next life adventure. :-) Happy New Year, and here's to staying present in the moment!
ReplyDeleteHopefully now that it's really happening, you can enjoy every day remaining before the big move. Tucson has a lot of great cultural gems so plan a couple weeks :-)
DeleteMy only experience with Degrazia were the terrible refrigerator magnets at our dear old friends Tucson house. Thanks to you and Gay I see there is a lot to admire! The older we get, the less "push" we need, eh?
ReplyDeleteJodee Gravel
DeleteLOL, not something that would make one a fan :-)))) Seeing what a variety of subjects and styles he had made me appreciate his works a lot more.
DeleteIt's amazing how much emotion can be portrayed without any facial expressions. I do enjoy the absence of facial featured. It allows one to truly engage with the art work itself. You certainly have had your own gallery right in your yard with those sunsets. Spectacular. You have the cutest grands!
ReplyDeleteI agree!! There is such power in those open faces. Our sunsets give us quite the show :-)
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