Before Ray Charles lost his sight at the age of seven, he was mesmerized each time he went to Wylie Pitman’s Red Wing Cafe. While Pitman played boogie woogie on an old upright, he began teaching Charles how to play.
My chalk painting of little Ray watching Pitman
Although without sight, he did not play Blindly. He had both direction and purpose and we are all better for having had him in our lives.
Happy Birthday, Anne Lamott! I first “met” this woman when I read Traveling Mercies. Not only did I feel the “spirit”‘ of this book, I also laughed out loud. She admitted that when she prayed, she used the F-bomb saying God didn’t care. He knew her. I love this kind of honesty.
In this same book, she also talked about the female’s image of herself. At first a bit self conscience when going to the beach in her swimsuit, she saw the perfect bodies of the young women and realized that they were more self-conscience than she was. In fact, Anne didn’t worry about body image anymore. She had grown into it.
And then, there was Bird by Bird. This book truly helped take away the fear writing.
Born on this day in 1954, I know she will continue to inspire us for many years to come. Thanks, Anne!
Ike, my great-grandfather, and Cono Dennis, my dad
Even though I didn’t get a donkey or a new guitar, I knew Aunt Nolie was in my corner, wiping off my brow between rounds and telling me to “Get up!” at the same time. I’ve since learned how to “get up” from many of the folks around West Texas. In that rugged terrain, if you don’t stand your ground, you’ll be bitten into hard, chewed on for a long time, and finally spit out just like Granny Dennis’s snuff. You don’t give up in West Texas, you get up.
It’s strange the ways people stick up for others and how they don’t. Sometimes they do it with yelling words, soft words, or even no words at all. Sometimes they do it by fighting, like Punk Squares did. But most of the time, the people in your corner just tell you to suck it up and go back at it. That’s what I’ve learned to do.
On that no-account day I did get a good reminder of what Ike taught me later on. Never trust anybody but your own self. I’d decided that from then on, I was going to protect my hard-earned money, hold on to it real tight in one hand and clutch the handle of my axe even tighter in the other. An honest day’s pay should be just that and nobody—nobody—should ever take that away from you.
Excerpt from No Hill for a Stepper, my father’s story.
Be Tenacious!
On this day, April 9, 1965, Time Magazine featured the Peanuts gang. Why? This was the Vietnam era. It was also the year of Bloody Sunday when 200 Alabama State Troopers attacked 525 civil rights demonstrators in Selma as they attempted to march to Montgomery. So why the Peanuts cover?
Charles “Sparky” Schulz’s comic strips had philosophical, psychological, and sociological overtones. In his subtle ways, he wrote of gender equality, the need for racially integrated schools and neighborhoods, and his views against the Vietnam war.
“I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.” – Charles M. Schulz.
Thank you, Charlie Brown and gang. And yes, happiness is a warm puppy.
was a stoner movie in the 1970’s. The location of one scene, Top Notch, a hamburger joint here in town, only added to the casual restaurant’s popularity. I ate there today – as I do about twice a month. But something was different.
Deep fried Twinkies? My turn to be “Dazed and Confused.”
Is this Texas’ version of Cafe Du Monde’s beignets in New Orleans?
I can’t tell you the difference. I fore-went the fried Twinkie offer.
How can you Heal when:
they say you’re too fat or too thin–
they ask where you’re going and where you’ve been–
they say you’re too loud or too meek?–
But if you step away from critique–
Then you win.
painting by me
in 1973 at the age of 91.
“Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” – Pablo Picasso
Interesting fact: During the Second World War, Picasso remained in Paris while the Germans occupied the city. Picasso’s artistic style did not fit the Nazi ideal of art, so he did not exhibit during this time. He was often harassed by the Gestapo. During one search of his apartment, an officer saw a photograph of the painting Guernica. “Did you do that?” the German asked Picasso. “No,” he replied, “You did.”
“Guernica”
Here’s a self portrait he did at the age of twenty:
And here’s his self-portrait at 90:
He changed a lot in 70 years!
Squirrels like strawberries but not spray painted red rocks. This trick keeps them away while your strawberries grow. Sorry squirrels!
painting by me
“By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half a million strong, And everywhere was a song and a celebration. And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky, Turning into butterflies above our nation.
We are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the devil’s bargain,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.” — Woodstock by Joni Mitchell
“Well, well, well,” says asshole pimply-faced Kent behind the glass window. “Thought you were leaving for the summer.”
How could the tolerant Mr. Pryor hire this racist?
“Two tickets.” I thrust the money in the hole.
“Two? Where’s your friend?”
I don’t want to get Tanner in trouble. I also want to stand my ground. “He’s behind me.”
Kent squints at Tanner. “Now you’re friends with a …” He looks behind him. Mr. Pryor faces toward us. He’s chatting with an older lady with bluish hair. “Friends with a colored? He your boyfriend?”
“Let’s go, Chicken Coop,” Tanner whispers behind me. “Ain’t worth it.”
“My friend and me came to watch a movie. Now, sell us the goddamn tickets, Kent.”
There is that look of anger and there is a look of hatred. Kent’s wearing both. He hands me the ticket.“Next,” he says through clinched teeth.
Tanner finds a place to sit in the back of the theater. I go for popcorn and cokes. When I return, he asks if we can put a couple of seats between us.
From my Work in Progress about a biracial friendship in 1963.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 