Selfie or Self Obsession? Part 1

Years ago, when I was a student a Maine College of Art, majoring in graphic design and photography, I became fascinated with a genre of art called the self-portrait. Back then, the phrase “selfie” was unheard of, instead, it was a self-portrait — a representation of one’s self, whether in paint, pencil or photographic film, …

Tactile Traditions

Above: Potholder fiber art. [Source] We live in the age of the touchscreen, of the portable phone, of information at our fingertips, yet other than liking, clicking or selecting, we don’t really use our hands for much anymore. We use our fingers to press the buttons on the microwave to cook our food, perhaps even …

The Long Winding Road

This is how my life has been lately… I started to write this about a week ago “I haven’t written for a while I know and” when there was a computer problem and I had to stop. The next night I tried writing in bed and wrote “I begin this before bed when” and my …

Growing up Handicapped

Above: Photo © Eliza Alys Young, Crib, Pediatric Ward I have always hated the term “handicapped”. It is one I have heard a lot. Disabled is worse but they both imply that it means you are less than are full “able” person. “Physically challenged” is the politically correct term now. Normally I don’t give a …

Nurturing a Free-Spirited Child

On this Mother’s Day, I reflect on what is in many ways the hardest job in the world: raising a child. This day, Mother’s Day, honors that effort, for it is mothers that often have the most impact on a child’s future and they unfortunately many times have to do it alone. Next is teachers. …