Mother/Daughter Bond

It's been absolutely months since I entered a new post. Why? So many reasons - too busy; not busy enough; traveling; depression; loss of interest; busy again and all that jazz. So today my entry will be about balance because it is a correspondence between me and my daughter after I returned from two weeks in London where I helped Maya and Glenn organize their new house. The cats went too and all five had a mostly good time at Kitty Camp (Mattie not so much). It was an important visit because we were drifting apart and out of touch with each others feelings. So often I've shared my sadness here. Now I'm sharing my happiness.

To claire hogenkamp

I wanted to say again how much fun it was to have you stay with us.  With your guidance, we accomplished so much.  I really enjoyed coming into my house and seeing it this way.  I am excited to keep working on it now that I can see it's not insurmountable.  Choco sat with me on the couch after curling, just leaned against me purring happily.  Twee's sitting in the other blue chair watching me type.  Mattie... well, he's Mattie.

I also wanted to let you know that I have decided not to apply for the executive director job at the museum of Archaeology.  In re-reading the job description, it's not curatorial in the least and really is an intense management job.  I simply am not qualified.  I am, however, still applying for the curator/director position at the Ingersoll Cheese and Agriculture Museum.  ;)  After all, I like cheese.

Anyway, I suspect they will be advertising for a curator at the Archaeology museum once they get a director, and in that case, I will apply.  They are planning a site redesign, and I'd like to get in on that, even if it means a pay cut.  In the meantime, I'll hang on at M. L, where I have a few interesting projects coming, if  "he who must be obeyed" would just leave me alone long enough for me to find my stride.  Again. 

So that's all.  Tell me please, what Michael said.  Tomorrow I'll let Adam know we won't be at his mom's seder. 

Love and kisses,
Maya

To maya hirschman

Hi Honey bun,

I talked with Jean for a long time and she was quite animated. She is looking forward to our coming and wants to know what we would like to eat on Easter Sunday. I told her not to worry, we'll take care of Easter dinner. She completely forgot that she will be in the nursing home by Easter. She's on morphine so is feeling no pain, literally and figuratively. Dear Jean, always the caring mother, is really looking forward to our arrival. Michael says he'll have the cottage up and running when we get there. There was little snow, the roads are a bit muddy but firm and he feels there will be no problem getting in. He said, that if it turns bad we can always stay down at the house where, he'll be alone.

He is quite stable one minute and then starts raging the next. Poor Mike, he's so confused and at a loss about life without having his mother to care for.

I really enjoyed my visit too. I was amazed at how much physical work I accomplished. I'm not as "old" physically as I thought. There is so much potential for you both in that house and in your lives. Glenn perked right up after a few days and so did you. I may need to come back in May or June to help plan your garden. I have Miles taking care of mine, so I can look to yours for challenges. Lets not allow so much time pass ever again, without seeing each other. Lives have to be shared to stay connected. I also suggest that you and Glenn take a weekend or so to visit here. It's like a mini vacation in a lovely B&B. I can't wait till your foyer door is installed. It should look just lovely. Maybe the guys next door can provide the extra arms to help you hang it. Next stop - Home Depot for a back storm door, fully screened with a top sliding panel not bottom. Remember the grief we had with the kitchen door at the cottage, when the glass opened from the bottom. Everyone kept kicking out the screen, including the cats.

Willy just came in from defending his territory from the neighbour's black cat. He's licking his chops. I hope he hasn't eaten it.  The cats are all settled into their routine again, but every time they pass my suitcase, they sniff and then rub it vigorously. Clearly it contains memories of good times past.

Hugs to Glenn and love,

Mom

Tentative Steps of Optimism.

Hi again. It's now the ninth day of the New Year and I'm putting one foot ahead of the other with tentative steps of optimism. Yes I paid my bills, organized my receipts for taxes, packed away Christmas for another year and did several loads of laundry.

I have also resumed work on my website which is shaping up very nicely. I am so grateful to Heather for getting me going on this. It is looking like becoming an awesome site, a work of art in its own right. I have decided to add a Guest page where I will host other artists that I admire with a showcase and link to their own sites.

The first guest artists will be painter, Ray McGirl, and  photographer Heather Bickle. They are each exceptional in their fields and it will be an honour to promote them. Since the site is called Art et al and I am also promoting my advocacy work, the guest showcase is most appropriate. I hope we can launch it quite soon.

Maya and Glenn have taken possession of their new house and are now engaged in the dreaming stage as well as packing for moving. There is cosmetic work to be done and some structural stuff to the basement to soundproof Glenn's music studio. I bought them an area rug for the Living Room and three coordinated scatter rugs. I also bought them a gift certificate for Molly Maid to help them clean the new house and a clean up the apartment after they move out. It will save them so much grief. I just wish we lived closer to help them select tradesmen, and to supervise their work while the kids are at their jobs. Alas, from this distance, I can only advise.

I need to clean up my sculptures for the AGP Triennial and prepare a submission for the Mental Health show. So there is much to do and I'm so pleased to be thinking of work instead of myself. It's not good for me to be rummaging around in my head for too long. So back into the world..