Pamela's Journal: The Current Installment of my own Heroine's Journey

Only snow so far 11/29/14 Happy I put the studded tires on

Snowy scenery on my walk...doesn't happen often here

12/13/14 I am sitting at my big computer, looking out at a dramatic play of light (sunlight after several dark days) on bright green grass and bare gray poplar limbs, but with hints of reddish buds already dotting their surfaces. The Northwest is a wonderful place for learning to stay in the moment/take advantage of sunny days and have indoor projects for rainy days…or go outside and get wet, then come in to get warm, dry, and fed on lovely-smelling soups and bread.

New Collage, step 1

Step 2...I like a wide variety of projects

Finished my most recent portrait of Scott Johns...he's a very eager and adept student of self portraits

Yesterday the deluge had abated sufficiently so I went to visit old friends whom I met in Port Angeles, but they moved to Arizona for five years, and are now back in Port Townsend for at least a year…maybe next time at the other side of the globe. As I get older, I learn/we learn to savor each precious moment, not knowing how many we will have.

Mike and Katie's cute cottage and studio...why didn't I take a picture of them?

Me reflected in the window of closed store at the end of Water St....maybe a painting?

I’ve been working on a more thorough version of last summer’s Heroine’s Journey 2, organizing All my pictures and writing, expounding. I hope it isn’t too boring for others…I seem to get a consistent 10 viewers, but the process is mostly for me…and doing this, and spending time with Mike, who is writing every day, encourages me to keep writing.

Inspirational materials I picked up in PT at the store where Kathy works

12/14/14 As I process photos from the last few days, I see how much my life and my Road Trip are alike…full of interesting people, ideas, visuals. Port Townsend was precious on Friday for Katie and Mike…the kind of friends where we pick up the conversation from 5 years, 2 days, or 3 months ago as if we’ve never been apart…so if they go to Singapore next December, we’ll be the same. Having this kind of friendships is So Important! Kim left yesterday to go back to DC, and we’ll do yoga together again some day. I also had great conversations with artists in Port Townsend, added George Mane to my group…some day I’d like to paint her…Art/Healthcare…we seem to agree on a lot, Kathy—kind and sparkly, Helga—so talented, Glo—so full of ideas.

A work in progress

Memory, just finished, pottery shard from the beach, antique photo and beads

Driving around the Peninsula is So, So beautiful at every turn. I didn’t take many photos with my camera, but did with my eyes…out on the Dungeness flats yesterday…trying to find my way around…the leisurely way to Nash’s Farm store…A whole different feeling of close-to-salt-water out there…it would be a great place to bike—so flat, but no shoulders. A talk on Climate Change and Agriculture from the Jefferson County extension service. The people on the flat won’t do well if the Strait rises 6 feet or so, but they may be able to grow more warm weather row crops and grains before that happens. Nash says that September weather, which used to be consistently warm and dry is now unpredictable…and fruit flies are increasing. On the way over, Radio Lab on Darwinian evolution and evolution in response to stress. I’m reading Diane Ackerman’s THE HUMAN AGE. A retirement perk is being able to study interesting topics.

To the right a griffin statue in back of a home near Nash's...I wonder about the story

Works in progress

A piece about retirement, inspired by the book in Maine with the parallel lines on the cover

I go to more events, seeking out the people who will excite my learning…and finding them. I’m still not sure what my art will look like, what my mind will be busy churning, but as several people have said, that’s always evolving.