Category Archives: personal essays

i am…

Iam

The Oprah interview with Tom Shadyac really opened my eyes…did you see it? They discussed issues that many of us have thought about or debated at times in our life, but in much greater depth. A successful Hollywood director, he found himself living the life culture directed him to live. Huge house, private jet, luxury galore. He then had a life changing realization…he wasn't any happier, and his heart felt empty. He gave up most of his material possessions and changed the way he lived in a drastic way. The intention of his documentary is to start the conversation, and to help us change the way we view, and live, our lives. To learn more visit his website…it is quite a powerful message, no matter what your beliefs are. Inspirational!

 

peter beard…

 

 

Peterbeard

 

Peter Beard's work has moved me since I was in high school. I don't even remember how I first discovered his art (it's been a while), but it still moves me. His life is quite interesting…wealth and fame have played a big role in his life. He started keeping diaries around the age of 11 in 1949, and inspired by the book Out of Africa, he traveled there in 1955. Thus began his craft of combining stunning (and sometimes shocking) animal photography with his writings, developing his now well-known collages. I actually had the great pleasure of meeting him (by accident) in Soho many years ago, and I felt like a giddy little schoolgirl (for various reasons)!

If you are a lover of Isak Dinesen's book, as I am, you will find it interesting that he later met and became friendly with her (also known as Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke). He fell in love with Africa, as she had, and eventually purchased a 43 acre area of land adjacent to her farm in Kenya. Even though her book was written around the time of his birth, he looks so much like the handsome Robert Redford in the film Out of Africa, it is uncanny! Google his photos…seriously, and I encourage you to visit his site to learn more about his philanthropy…


take the pledge

 

 

DSC_0005

 

I grew up surrounded by books, literally. My Mom is a (retired) librarian, and reads more than anyone I know. I understood the dewey decimal system like no other by the time I was eight. I had fun card cataloging, and searching microfiche.  I learned to appreciate the feel of the page, the smell, the weight…I am a book lover. As techy as I am , nothing will ever replace the printed word for me. So, in honor of World Book Day, I encourage you to take the pledge…