Seventh Day Chauvinist
Spoiler Alert – if you consider yourself even remotely feminist or if you were born sometime in the last 50 years, continue reading only if you’re willing to have your hair burst into flames. With all apologies to Gloria Steinem, I had to share the following group of hankies. Oftentimes handkerchiefs came in sets of seven, one for each day of the week. Children’s handkerchiefs in particular often contained a lesson for the day, or inspirational reminders. On this cover (and on the hankies inside) the little girl is cooking, sewing, washing, sweeping, ironing and going to church. She’s...
Read MoreBon Voyage
Even as the magic of spring envelops us, there are many who secretly yearn for the languorous sun-drenched days of summer lurking just around the bend. These avatars of adventure, these rajahs of wanderlust gather backpacks and binoculars, suitcases and sandals, in anticipation of treks and voyages to new sites and civilizations. “Make voyages. Attempt them. There’s nothing else.” Tennessee Williams, Camino Real Some spend evenings basking in the glow of computer screens, surfing for an alternative glow to savor – whether glimpsing a sunrise from the North Pole, trekking the great wall of...
Read MoreArtiste Extraordinaire
When I found this handkerchief with its soft gray border showcasing Van Gogh’s painting of a gypsy caravan, I knew exactly what I had to do – gift it to my artist friend Elizabeth Barlow. . . Van Gogh invites the viewer to join this vibrant and inviting scene of sun washed travelers with their gaily painted carts. So, too, Elizabeth’s paintings draw you in; they tempt you to pause and enjoy. Her art tells a story, beckoning you to discover the unspoken tale contained in the image. Let’s take a look. This painting is titled Happy Birthday, and you know from the sheen of the satin the present...
Read MoreShamrocks and St. Patrick’s Day
Luck o’ the Irish Faith and Begorrah, it seems anyone with a bit o’ blarney in him is eager to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – and doesn’t that include most of us? It’s doubtful you’ll find an Irishman on March 17th who doesn’t have a lucky shamrock tucked in his lapel. Why all the fuss about the lowly shamrock? This simple three-leafed clover is known as a symbol of Ireland. The name is derived from the Irish word seamróg, which means “little clover.” Legend has it that St. Patrick used the clover to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy...
Read MoreHollywood Part II
“It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you watch them on a screen.” Anthony Burgess The masters of light and shadow, shade and nuance, are most assuredly cinematographers. When immersed in film noir, or caught up in a masterpiece by Hitchcock, you may find yourself lightheaded when you realize you’ve stopped breathing. Black and white creates a perfect backdrop for terror, as forms become indistinguishable in the shadows. With the introduction of color, flesh takes on life, romance exudes heat, and comedy shimmers like a shower of confetti....
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