Who wore out whom?
Category: Humor
And speaking of Buddha…
Face We called him the buddha baby for the first several months of his life, partly for the all-knowing twinkle in his eye and his constant grin, but mostly for his laid back, peace-inducing demeanor. OK, and maybe because of those cheeks and that belly!
Admiration for Inherited friendship
Admiration The theme this week for WordPress Photo Challenge is to show someone we admire and tell about them.
So here goes….
I can sometimes be overly protective of my friends. Occupational hazard? Oldest child syndrome? Personal grandiosity? Who knows but let me just say, it took me a while to get on board with my very best friend when he finally found his heart-head-soul mate!
I mean, I had watched him make some lousy girlfriend choices during our 39 year long best friendship including choosing ME, for about a minute, in the very beginning. (Thank god we both knew to nip that sucker in the bud. Oh man, the friendship, the partnership, the family times we could have missed out on….)
Anyway, a few years ago, he brings home this woman and even though right away, he thinks she’s “the one”, someone had to remain skeptical until she proved herself worthy! Right?
Poor woman. I wonder if she even noticed those piping hot coals we all raked her over. Probably not, because my best friend’s family (and me) all have way too much class to do that in any kind of noticeable way. As for Patty, describing her as having grace and class, well let’s just say I now know what “woefully inadequate” means.
But let me tell you, she’s all the way “in” now. I just love this woman. She is exactly who she says she is. She is fun and funny and generous and patient (especially with my friend). She is stunningly beautiful and exceptionally smart…maybe even smarter than my best friend, but do NOT tell him I said that. He has a fairly healthy ego, that one.
Turns out she and I grew up just blocks from each other in San Diego and while I sat at the beach, dreaming of becoming a people helper, a few years later, she was at the same beach, writing like crazy, rehearsing to become a famous writer.
Her list of achievements on the road to her youthful goal is long. She was a “professor of bilingual education, a school principal, and wrote teacher guides, educational texts and curricula.”
That last is an excerpt from the bio on her award winning NOVEL!!! Just one of her books! Check her out!!
http://www.patriciacleary.net/
http://www.patriciacleary.net/blog/
She has accomplished so much more and survived unbelievable challenges but those are her stories to tell, not mine.
She and my best friend, along with me and my James, have created a permanent friendship, a partnership really. We are building a home together, a retreat “compound”, for ourselves now and as a legacy for our children and their children.
This is the four of us after a hard day’s work building Casa Esmeralda.
I’m so happy for my best friend, but even happier for myself.
Look who I inherited!!!
And THIS is the same woman!! Fearless, determined, amazingly strong!
Mutual Admiration Society
Admiration for my Teacher/Mentor/Auntie
Admiration
This is Ms. Jean Illsley Clarke.
You can Google Jean and find a number of pictures and videos, and also, references to her books, etc. She’s a very accomplished woman in more than one field. (I’ll even list some at the end of this post.) If you are a parent, a teacher or an adult educator, and have not treated yourself to some Jean Clarke, you have a treat in store.
But none of that published stuff tells you what she is like as a woman, a friend, a beloved “family” member.
The first thing you need to know is that clearly, she lies about her age. As of just a week ago, she was claiming something ridiculous like 92! But this is how she still looks! Come on!
Jean has this amazing presence and presentation that invites Guru-type adoration and attention, which she disallows in such a down to earth way, you feel her equal.
She is an unparalleled teacher and workshop presenter, who can tame the most obnoxious, disruptive students or hecklers, without them ever even knowing it…no shame from Jean…ever.
And, as my Mentor of almost forty years, more like a beloved Aunt now, she has taught me more about myself than anyone. And believe me, I have done a lot of therapeutic soul-searching about myself! That’s partly an occupational necessity…I am a Psychotherapist. (that is ONE word, by the way.) When I think I’ve reached down as dark as it gets, Jean encourages me to dig even deeper. She has helped me hang on in some of the toughest moments of my life.
Imagine this: You tell her your most painful story ever, trusting like never before, and here’s her reaction. She locks her penetrating blue eyes with yours for a long time and gently places her hand on your cheek. Then she says “Oh…(insert your name here)…”.
That’s it. That’s all it takes to know you are seen and heard and are absolutely not alone.
Seriously though, Oprah missed this one. Maybe even Dr. Phil. Not that those two should carry nearly the weight they do in terms of public opinion, but more people on the planet should know about this absolutely amazing woman, and hear about what she advocates.
My deepest admiration is of her ability to, no, her insistence on learning from absolutely everything. She is the consummate student of life. And the ultimate translator of these lessons into language the rest of us can easily understand and USE!
This is my favorite picture with Jean. It was a lovely sunset cruise around Puget Sound for our Staff R and R, after a power-packed, five day Training with about forty students.
Jean Illsley Clarke
Jean Illsley Clarke received a bachelor of science degree from the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Minnesota in 1948. She has been a pioneer and advocate for children and families in the state of Minnesota, across the nation, and internationally for more than three decades. She is widely recognized for her book Self-Esteem: A Family Affair that became the seminal work on how parents could raise children with healthy self-esteem.
From Amazon
Jean Illsley Clarke is an accomplished workshop leader and a nationally certified and internationally known parent educator. She is the author or co-author of several books about families including Self-Esteem: A Family Affair; Growing Up Again, Parenting Ourselves, Parenting Our Children; Time-In: When Time-Out Doesn’t Work; How Much is Enough? Everything You Need to Know to Steer Clear of Overindulgence and Raise Likeable, Responsible, and Respectful Children. Who, Me Lead A Group? is about leadership skills.
She has designed, tested, and taught accompanying courses and has offered facilitator training across America and in other countries. Her books have been translated into eight languages. The developmental affirmations have been translated into ten languages and used with groups as diverse as affluent Americans and disadvantaged South Africans. Recently she has been involved in the five research studies on overindulgence.
Overindulgence talks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enw942U421Q
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4VyMXbj1FE
Grandparenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultbBYRQRVk
Wordless Wednesday 4/27/16
Abstract from Harley Road Trip
From Bellevue, Washington to Pacific Grove, California (including camping in the Redwoods). This shot taken right after we were passed by the Hell’s Angels on the freeway next to Lake Shasta …hmm, reminds me of another great story.
Watch for “The Hell’s Angels meet the Mormons”!!
Still another series for WPC Abstract
Sometimes I think I’m so “artsy”, but then I think I’m pretty funny too, so I may not be the best judge. But you can be. Tell me what you think of these shots of a rotating shadow on my Group Room wall.
Here’s the explanation, Abstract in its own way. This is a gift from a client about “removing her mask” in therapy…..cool, huh?
Choosing another series for WPC
Again, would appreciate any feedback on which of these is good. I absolutely love reflections and accidental (“abstract”) photos! (I just wish I would remember to turn off the dang “Date” feature on my little point and shoot Nikon.)
This series looks like the accidental double exposures I used to do years ago with a film camera…uh, if you are too young, about now you are saying “film what? huh?”.
I have this great corner window that looks out on Rhododendrons and lots of birds. In the afternoons the light is ever-changing and magical! Most of these shots are trying to capture some bird through the window but there is this all glass curio cabinet that the sun hits in the later afternoon…..
Hard to discern what is inside and what is outside…….story of my life…..
Chosen Perspective on Abstract
AbstractFor Karuna-great grandmother for yours??
Don’t they look related???
https://livinglearningandlettinggo.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/wordless-wednesday-92/