alphabet

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Q is for Quests, Questions, and More

January 20, 2015 by Bo Mackison 1 Comment

Q is for QUEST

There are some alluring words that begin with the letter Q.

QUEST is one of my favorites. A QUEST is a long, sometimes arduous search for something, often requiring overcoming great challenges.

I’ve been on my own QUEST these last months, trying to recover from a month of challenges that occurred last May. Since the triggers were an unfortunate string of travel delays, I downplayed the stress and assumed that as soon as I reached the familiarity of home all would be well. But all did not go well.

Instead I struggled, day after day, and QUESTIONED why I was having such a difficult summer. No matter how hard I worked using the tools — meditation, art, writing, nature — that had provided me with much relief over the last seven years, I couldn’t QUIET the constant panic, the periods of difficulty leaving my house, even the need to return to my home when I was in a familiar and pleasurable place. Then there were the times I wanted to just QUIT, so frustrated was I with the situation.

In the last weeks, I’ve been able to put the pieces of the puzzle together with the help of a dedicated medical team. But the effort has cost me time and energy. And so I am calling it QUITS on the alphabet posts so that I can conserve energy and move on to new projects that are currently percolating.

The lesson learned? Never be afraid to ask for help when necessary. Never, ever!

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The alphabet series will (quite probably) return for its 9th annual appearance towards the end of 2015.

Filed Under: Art of Healing, Photography Tagged With: alphabet, end of the year, quest, questions, wilderness

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Part IV — MUSEUMS (OF THE SMALL SORT) through PARKS (OF THE NATIONAL SORT)

January 9, 2015 by Bo Mackison 4 Comments

M IS FOR MUSEUMS

I love museums. Natural history museums, science museums, art museums… And often the tiniest of museums provide the most surprising discoveries and treasures!

A museum often overlooked — the Watch Tower interior at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

From the National Park website, a description the Watch Tower: “the walls are covered with murals. The most distinct images, painted by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie depict various aspects of Hopi mythology and religious ceremonies…The tiny windows of the tower let in a minimal amount of light which adds to the cave- like, mystical atmosphere of the space…circular balconies and the hundreds of prehistoric images inundates the viewer with an overwhelming sense of the southwest.

It’s a mystical place to experience architecture, art, and culture on the very rim of one of nature’s glories — the Grand Canyon.

N IS FOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK

There was a time, not all that many years ago, when I would never have penned “NYC” on my to-visit list. Being a small town girl who spent a couple of nerve-wracking years in a BIG city (Chicago) before moving to a smaller big city (Milwaukee) and then to a smaller university city (Madison), I was never naturally drawn to bright lights, big crowds, tall buildings, lots of action.

Until my daughter moved to The City for a two-year teaching fellowship. And then attended a New York law school. And then got a New York job. And then married a New Yorker and bought a home in New York. And then had a New York baby!

So in the last decade I have found many good reasons for repeat visits to New York, all parts. And I have grown to really love my visits, always taking advantages that a metropolitan city offers. And I admit that I am glad my trips to NYC are visits, just enough goodness to fill my big-city yearnings!

We usually don’t visit New York City in winter, but went in for one planned special occasion — a baby shower for my daughter. And then we returned two weeks later for an unplanned occasion — the early arrival of baby Whitaker!

Oh my! How often can I sneak in a visit to New York, and one of its newest inhabitants, now…

O IS FOR OFFICE IN THE DESERT

Exploring Brown Mountain in Tucson Mountain Park

“When I look in the mirror, I see a woman with secrets. When we don’t listen to our intuition, we abandon our souls. And we abandon our souls because we are afraid if we don’t, others will abandon us.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams

When in Arizona, I go to the desert to work. I settle into a place of sunshine, heat and silence, spaciousness and solitude. It’s not the place most people would choose as prime office space, but it suits me fine.

I experience a boost in my mood. My imagination switches to on, and I find my work projects more captivating. Perhaps it is simply a change in scenery. Some find a quiet niche in their local library, head to a busy coffee shop to write with companions, set up a sewing table in the midst of their garden, or paint in a park.

But me? I head to the desert. I bring my backpack filled with writing materials and my camera, and settle in one of the covered shelters scattered throughout Saguaro National Park. These stone and “cactus-wood” shelters were built in the 1930s and still provide a shady place for me to set up a day desert-scape office.

P IS FOR PARKS (OF THE NATIONAL KIND)

When my three children were of family vacation age (and surprisingly, even beyond) we would take off across the country in our SUV pulling a pop up trailer and stop at any National Park or Monument within reasonable driving distance. (Sometimes this reasonable driving distance was several hundred miles, but what the heck — we gawked and admired our way through hundreds of parks!)

The habit has not died. I still plot my driving itinerary to include National Parks and Monuments and more. And many more parks are destinations.

The year 2014 included these highlights — the North Rim (the hidden, off the main track) of the Grand Canyon. Oooh. Aaah! Glorious place. Must.go.back!!!

Grand Canyon National Park - North Rim in the Morning

More North Rim. It is just such a magical place. And not crowded – compared to the Canyon’s South Rim. Worth every extra mile and extra minute to see the beauty, experience the place.

I traveled through the other main parks in Arizona during last winter and spring, including a visit to Painted Desert/ Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona as I was heading out of the state on my way to summer in the Midwest. It was a cool day in May, with great cloud formations rolling across the desert, a few thunderstorms, and the spaciousness of scenery that thrills my heart.

Living only a few miles from Saguaro National Park when I am in the Southwest for the early part of the year, I traipse through this desert scape several times a week. Climbing Kings Canyon and picnicking at the CCC site located high in the mountains — a picnic area built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s — is a favorite way to spend a day!

Ajo Mountain Road, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

And of course I have to travel west to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument a few times for overnight camping explorations. Feels like wilderness.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

And finally, a park I visited at the beginning of 2014, as I was traveling to Arizona. White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico is another new favorite. Sparse. Quiet. And always surprises to delight and amaze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next alphabet recap of 2014 starts with Q (QUESTIONS) and ends with T (TUCSON). Stay tuned…

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: alphabet, end of the year, museums, National Parks, New York City, office in the desert

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Part III — JOURNEY through LIFE IS A VERB CAMP

January 6, 2015 by Bo Mackison 2 Comments

J IS FOR JOURNEY

Most of the month of May I spent trying to get from Point A to Point B. From Arizona to Wisconsin. The trip that was supposed to take a week took a month, and culminated with me finally calling in reinforcements to get me home the last 800 miles.

Not what I had planned. Not what I had hoped for. Not what I expected.

And? I survived it. I actually had fun the first week, when the promise of a repaired car by the next weekend was still a possibility.

The second week? Not so much fun.

In fact, even reflecting on the trip and its endless postponements and broken promises…well, it makes me not want to write about it again. Don’t misunderstand me. There were parts of the month that were great. There were soooo many lessons learned. But much of the trip called on deep reserves of energy, and I think I may still be a bit trip-lagged after all these months.

So I’ll just say, I went on a trip last May. It took longer than expected and there were many adventures. For more details, check out the month of May blog posts. It’s all there…

K IS FOR KAREN

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
from an Irish headstone” ~ Richard Puz

On July 14 of this past year, my dear cousin and friend died unexpectedly.

Karen was the girl cousin closest to my age; we were fast friends from the time we were young children.

She loved her solitude in a way few people truly understand, yet she was one of the most generous, kind people I have known.

Although she worked in a bank in the days of the first computers — when computers were so delicate they required special air controlled rooms, were often “down” for unknown reasons, and when working did little compared to the smart phone we now routinely accept as a part of our lives — and she worked with computers when employed, she never owned her own computer.

She didn’t have a Facebook account, she didn’t write emails, she didn’t have internet accounts. Her phone was just advanced enough to transmit photographs and send text, but she only did so on special occasions. But she sent cards for every imaginable occasion and wrote letters, long newsy letters.

In the past month, as I’ve been organizing my studio, readying it for a partial move to Arizona, I’ve come across over a dozen cards and letters from Karen — a congratulations grandmother card celebrating the arrival of my first grandchild, several thank you notes, Christmas, birthday, and several “hello, thinking of you” cards.

As I write my summary of 2014, again I am reminded how much I miss my cousin, once again I’m “thinking of you,” Karen. Missing you so much!

L IS FOR LIFE IS A VERB CAMP 2014

I had the great honor and privilege to attend Patti Digh’s Life is a Verb Camp 2014 in November. There, a hundred wonderful people gathered for the second annual camp near Asheville, North Carolina.

We danced by the lake at the sun rose over the tree line and the fog hovered upon Lake Kanuga, crying and laughing and hugging and offering deep support and love.We struggled though yoga moves before coffee(!!!) and breakfast while the kindest of kind instructors gently, so gently, encouraged.

I listened to the key-note presentations of two of my poet heroes – Amy Shihab Nye and Ellen Bass. And decided I could call myself a poet again!

We collected camp badges for doing things like showing up (which can be amazingly hard), speaking out, being ourselves, making strong offers, claiming our birthright as poets.

And I presented my workshop on Desert Wisdom and the Gifts of the Desert – what a thrill for me. I so loved sitting in our circle and connecting with each other through our precious gifts of self! (Though I find it almost impossible to comprehend that I did not remember to take a single photograph during either of my workshops. I’ll just have to hold them tightly in my memory — easily done!)

Patti Digh’s Life is a Verb Camp 2015 will be held in California at Asilomar on the Monterey Peninsula. Serving up loaded scoops of . . . Community. Courage. Creativity. And Compassion. (Wouldn’t it be a fine thing if you were there?)

Filed Under: Photography, Writing Practices Tagged With: alphabet, cross country travel, end of the year, Life is a Verb Camp 2014, life is a verb camp 2015

Annual Alphabet Tribute: 2014 — Part II (FUR FRIEND to ICY-ICE COLD)

January 5, 2015 by Bo Mackison 2 Comments

F IS FOR FUR-FRIEND

One of the highlights of the year was welcoming Grace into our home. Part lab, part beagle – Gracie is a compact bundle of power, determination, intuition, and joy. She the best gym-substitute ever — two long walks every day and never an excuse. And a faithful companion, ever at my side!

(Plus, when I cry or am feeling a bit low, she comes and — honest — rests her head on my shoulder and puts her paws around me…what a good, wise dog!)

G IS FOR GRANDCHILDREN

Brand new grandson, born December 23 – nearly a month early. He’s a fighter, and such a sweetheart, even though he is a wee one! Loving this munchkin beyond measure…missing is cuddly little self and his sweet little baby sounds.

And then there is my little love. Who knew, in just a bit over a year, one little girl could add so much love and joy to my life! Sweetness and Imp, combined! Precious love – grandmother and granddaughter.

H IS FOR HOME

This was the year of the cross-country trip from Arizona to Wisconsin that lasted nearly three weeks instead of 5 days. It was the year when, in a moment of whatever, I agreed to put a “for sale” sign in the front of my home of 28 years — the home I’d raised my three children in, the home that now had two studio rooms tucked in its rafters, a home surrounded by lovingly planted trees and beds of perennial flowers, and tiny gardens wherever I looked.

It seemed like a reasonable step in downsizing, the kids out of the house now, until…until I pulled up to the house after my epic cross country sojourn, up to the house with the “for sale” sign in the front yard — and I burst into inconsolable sobbing.

I stuck to my word for two weeks — two weeks of daily showings, constant cleaning and staging and putting away everything including pets and my coffee cup and any evidence that anyone actually lived in the house!

And finally, when I couldn’t be with the idea of selling and moving any longer, I said “I can’t. I can’t move. Not now.”

And then I went outside and wandered in the gardens, luxuriated in the perfume of the lilac, while a conversation with an understanding realtor went on inside the house. There was the moment when he walked across the yard to where I stood studying the white birch bark.

“There are offers being written as we speak. Two, maybe three, this afternoon…”

I couldn’t answer. The thought of moving had become untenable. I shook my head.

And so they pulled the ‘for sale’ sign out of the earth in front of my home, and the understanding realtor said you have a marketable home so call me when you are ready and I’ll come back.

And so I hugged the tree nearest me. And cried in pure relief.

That is the story of HOME in 2014.

I IS FOR ICY ICE-COLD NO-SUN-WEATHER.

This is ice. Ice is cold. Ice lives in cold weather spaces, of which many are stunning in their beauty and bone chilling in their cold.

Ice itself is not the problem, Even cold, while not a best buddy, is not the problem.

The problem is what is what is not in the photograph. Or rather — the solution is what is not in the photograph.

THE SUN!

I don’t mind the snow, I can even deal with the cold. But my constitutional makeup does not deal well with cloudy days that extend into weeks and sometimes months. I wish it weren’t so. My family lives in the land of no sun and I like living where my family lives!

So there is a compromise. For a few months each year, when the cloudiest is at its peak, I head to sunnier climes. I do love the sun and the warm and the space, I totally admit it. And yes, it is hard to be away from family and friends for such long periods of time.

Life is compromise. Right? Right!

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: alphabet, cross country travel, end of year, grandchildren, home, pets

Annual Alphabet Tribute: 2014 — Part I (AIR TRAVEL thru EPCOT)

January 2, 2015 by Bo Mackison 2 Comments

Welcome to my Holiday Tradition – my 7 th Annual Photo Alphabet.

I’ll be posting my annual photo alphabet in six parts over the next week or so.

I hope you’ll join me as I explore a few of my adventures, travel, and life happenings from 2014 with words and photos.

A IS FOR AIR TRAVEL

Never a fan of air travel, I nonetheless took a high number of flights (for me) across the country this year. I’m happiest in an airplane when I have great cloud formations to photograph while flying and great people waiting to greet me at the end of my trip.

I am not such a fan when the Flight Delay sign shows up and doesn’t go away — though a friendly flight companion and a hotel paid for by the airlines goes a long ways to making the delay a tolerable way to pass an evening and a night and another day.

Tucson, Arizona; San Fransisco; Salt Lake City; Minneapolis; Orlando; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; Asheville, North Carolina; Newark, New Jersey; Dallas; Chicago. And many take offs and landings at Madison, Wisconsin.

Meetings. An Ordination. Vacations. Workshops. A Baby Shower. A Grand-baby Arrival.

All good adventures!

B IS FOR BOOK ARTS

I love creating books! I love creating pages of books on the letterpress! I set the type for my Desert Wisdom Cards on this 1940s letter press.

Love the metal type. Love the clickity-clack of the letter press as each page is printed using a cylinder roll and a hand crank!

I made books during the whole year. Many of them had a desert connection, like book about the road runner. Many were very simple — often accordion books — that could be made in a few hours. Most of the books had a naturalist focus so I could remember details of the desert as I discovered them.

C IS FOR CHIHULY

My favorite art show this year wasn’t in a gallery, but in a garden! I visited the Chihuly Exhibit held in the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix not once, but three times last winter.

The Botanical Gardens are one of my must-see places whenever I get to Phoenix, but this year I was drawn to the gardens over and over — just could not get enough of those art glass sculptures set in the natural desert setting.

D IS FOR DESERT WISDOM

In October of 2014, after many more months of photographing the Sonoran Desert in the Southwest, choosing themes and cards that “spoke to me”, I created a new deck of Desert Wisdom Cards – Series III.

As I have said before, it was not my original plan to create a deck of only desert-focused cards. I’d planned a set of cards with four nature themes – desert, shore, prairie, and mountain – plus a set of source cards the combined sets based on the template of a tarot deck. But I couldn’t let go of the desert, and so these cards complement the first 2 series and there are now 52 desert cards. (Information on obtaining your own set of Desert Wisdom Cards here.)

This was my big art project of the year. I think the desert is now complete!

E IS FOR EPCOT

One of my favorite things to do is to drop everything and go on vacation with one of my kids when they call and say, “Mom, do you want to go with me to _______?”

My answer is a resounding YES!

And so the allure of Epcot and the Annual Wine and Food Festival called to my youngest and I tagged happily along. Florida in September is…thunderstorm-y and wet — but only in the afternoon (and on a few select evenings!) We were there at the end of September so we not only enjoyed the Food Festival, but the Halloween Party was in full swing, too.

It’s a good thing to add fun and play to the year, and a trip that involved family, food and wine (and tequila), Halloween fireworks, and roller-coasters? Perfect for that smile factor boost!

—————

Coming up next: the Alphabet Part II — Fur Friends through Journey

Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: alphabet, cross country travel, end of the year, Epcot, flight

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Q is for Quests, Questions, and More

Q is for QUEST

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Part IV — MUSEUMS (OF THE SMALL SORT) through PARKS (OF THE NATIONAL SORT)

Annual Alphabet Tribute to 2014 – Part III — JOURNEY through LIFE IS A VERB CAMP

Annual Alphabet Tribute: 2014 — Part II (FUR FRIEND to ICY-ICE COLD)

Annual Alphabet Tribute: 2014 — Part I (AIR TRAVEL thru EPCOT)

Welcome to my Holiday Tradition – my 7 th Annual Photo Alphabet.

A IS FOR AIR TRAVEL

B IS FOR BOOK ARTS

C IS FOR CHIHULY

D IS FOR DESERT WISDOM

E IS FOR EPCOT

Coming up next: the Alphabet Part II — Fur Friends through Journey

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