Pumpkin Art

Originally uploaded by my.third.eye

Three years ago, had I been presented with the choice between going to see a glass pumpkin patch in San Rafael...or staying home to work and/or worry about work and money and my lack of free time, I'd have chosen the latter. But that was Pre-Breast Cancer Diagnosis, and this is Post.

Now I live in the land of New Normal, where work no longer takes precedence over personal relationships (you know, stuff like love and friendship)...or creativity and spirituality and fun. That's what I try for, anyway.

So this past Sunday, Jack, Livvy B. and I went on an outing to see my friend Kerry's brand new business endeavor - a pumpkin patch filled with beautiful glass pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors. Judging from its successful launch last weekend, this pumpkin extravaganza will most likely become an annual event in San Rafael.

Here's what I like and admire about Kerry's new business:

1) Part of the proceeds will always go to benefit an organization called Seacology,  "the world's premier nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (NGO) with the sole and unique purpose of preserving the environments and cultures of islands throughout the globe." (www.seacology.org)

2) It is a business that supports artists/artisans who create these unique, handblown glass pumpkins (and other handblown glass creations).

3) It is a clever and creative way for Kerry, who recently retired from a loooooong stint as a Montessori pre-school director, to supplement her retirement income, and to continue to do interesting and worthwhile work without having to work full time anymore. More power to her, I say! I'm a long way from ever not working full time, or so it seems right now. But who knows? Maybe this will inspire me to figure out a way to NOT have to work full time until the day I die.

Speaking of death (you all know by now that at least 51 percent of this blog's content must be about - or in some way allude to - death, right? And that's not a bad thing, because to my mind, thinking about death is an excellent way to provoke a deeper appreciation of life), let me just add something that I heard Dr. Phil say the other day, which was that  when you reach a certain age (let's say 50 or over) life doesn't seem quite as endless when you think about the time you have left in terms of months rather than years. Let's say that, according to statistics, you have 20 years left. Sounds pretty substantial, right? But that's only 240 months. Yikes. Or what about 10 years? That's only 120 months.

I don't know about you, but my months SPEED by, so 120 of them - or even 240 - doesn't seem like all that much to me.

Food for thought. And yes, we splurged on a pumpkin. Cranberry red. If you set it on an electric base with a light, it glows in the most lovely way.

Comments

[harlan lewps]

Beautiful glasswork, yes. Talk about being over 50 and life being measured in months, I speet on thees.

[msmush]

Sure a lot of speeeeting going on from that blog stalker. The glass pumpkins are fabulous, congrats to Kerry! And you are now a loft owner ~ very exciting news. Good job.