As Susan Spoke

Still She Speaks:

more moral tales

By Susan C. Price

[Susan “spoke” today’s column 10 years ago tomorrow, on May 25, 2013. It was titled Fourth Monday Susan Speaks. It’s still rewardingly readable and thought-provoking, and still interesting in conveying Susan’s circumstances at the time.]

The following made me think that:
a. what is so simple to me is NOT CLEAR to many,
b. maybe none of this...life...is simple,
c. i have no business discussing ethics....

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Scarf it up

By Susan C. Price

A painting needn’t spend its life on walls. It can have a life on a silk scarf (and other clothing).

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

not yet titled a (detail)

Two paintings and a drawing

By Susan C. Price

the two paintings may not be finished yet...wish i could decide...folks can say, “yeah, too much grey” or whatever...ah well...later....

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

"circus with gandalf" (detail)

circus with gandalf

By
Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Happy

By Susan C. Price

After seeing the whole show, I am happy I managed to get selected. Much very good work.

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Detail

Red remains

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Portraits of two youths abuilding

By Susan C. Price

The two paintings I'm speaking through today are from the Mirror, Mirror Project in Los Angeles, where artists meet and make portraits of young persons who are participating in a program called YouthBuild, in which they finish high school and learn the construction trade.

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

What can I say?

By Susan C. Price

A friend told me recently that he has "just been overwhelmed lately....my capacity to deal with the really usual stuff has diminished." I asked him whether he was okay, what was up. He said:

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Through art

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Abstractly with paint

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks: Free the art!

Help, please help!

By Susan C. Price

My two drawers for paintings are full. My walls are full. The space under our bed where I've stuffed drawings is full. I keep making more art. Help... please...help me free the art!

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Through
self-portraits

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Personal grooming
in public

By Susan C. Price

Like PDA (personal display of affection), personal grooming in public (PGIP) is always fascinating to observe. Two recent examples.

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

By way of graphics

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

The writing seminar

By Susan C. Price

[Please do not take what follows as...truth, or...should you know the teacher...anything but my personal views. Don’t tattle to the teacher.]

Two close friends felt my writing about my pal Pam was so good that I should “make it into a book...add some stuff on Mom and more about dementia.” (eww, I thought...requires research)

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

My stepdad

By Susan C. Price

My stepdad, Lou, was dying. He had entered the Intensive Care Unit one day ago. His assigned nurse, Gene, was short, red-headed, and male. Dad and Gene appreciated each other’s sense of humor and for some reason, Gene had indicated he was gay. Lou had no problem with this. ( I was relieved. Dad’s supervision of African American’s in the war had left him uncharacteristically prejudiced.)

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

From vacation, by photograph

By Susan C. Price

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Adventures of the lab rat continue

By Susan C. Price

Alzheimer’s dementia has existed in my family, and in Mike’s. Both of our mothers died of it. My grandmother and my uncle as well (but NOT my aunt). No one has had early onset (before age 75) so it’s not super genetically linked. Who knows what my odds are...maybe 50%. Yet, I fear it. And, because I have yet to find a regular volunteer activity that “fits,” I have started to seek and join in any and all aging and dementia-related studies I can find. I am a lab rat.

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Thanksgiving family

By Susan C. Price

It happens almost every year. We are out at a nice place for dinner. We are talking, and drinking, laughing, eating. Sharing bites. It’s considered a crime to order the same thing as someone else; we want to taste it all. Basically, having a blast. The waitress grins bemusedly, leans over and says, “Hey, how do you all know each other?” We laugh, and reply...”We are stepbrothers and sisters.” People don’t believe it. Sometimes we are awed ourselves. That we have stuck together for so long, and get along so well.

Fourth Monday Susan Speaks

Still working at retirement

By Susan C. Price

So now I am about one year into my full retirement, still surprised at what a difference I feel from the part-time work schedule I was on for 10 years. When a friend needed my organizational / administrative assistant abilities earlier this year, I cautioned her that it would be temporary help. And I was surprised to find how strongly I adhered to that limit. I have no, no, no desire to work. No desire to be expected to regularly show up at any work or volunteer site/activity.