Friday, December 04, 2020 (27 days left…. )

I missed it! The second day of last February, 02/20/2020, was a palindrome–a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backwards as forward. That was the only, after the last 900 years of dates, to be a palindrome.

Besides, the 2020 date is extra special. Unlike other palindromic dates, such as 10/02/2001, last February’s date is a global palindrome, one exactly the same either in the DD/MM/YYYY format or in the US standard of MM/DD/YYYY.

For the record, in every 10,000 years there are 366 palindrome days. Since we won’t be around to witness the next, which will arrive in 101 years, let’s wave in belated acknowledgement to last February’s extra-special palindromic event.

I love palindromes. Many years ago, I worked in the aerospace industry and supported a group of scientists. We got into a game of finding or thinking up new palindromes. We jotted palindromic words and whole lines on a blackboard near my desk. Staring at it often captured my imagination, got into my head, and in a palindrome mode I scribbled, hoping to come up with something original. But dreaming up palindromes was beyond my talent, the trained scientists proved better at it.

Our palindromes provided lighter moments of fun, in an environment where workers otherwise focused on technical analyses and productivity. Our thinking team spontaneously jotted on the big board many famous palindromes that still today make me smile.

Bummer! That I missed the significance of last February 2. That day, plus those before and after, I’d have rethought palindromes and history. Those always trigger memories of that former special workplace and my hours of fun in sync with very creative thinkers.

Dear Friends: A blast from the past often may prove simply irresistible. Diana

Thursday, December 03, 2020 (only 28 days before 2021)

During these year-end crisp and clear days, I feed the horses early, before walking them across the road over to my neighbor’s. Depending on my schedule, on pasture they may spend some hours or all day grazing. It’s wonderful having generous neighbors who don’t mind baby-sitting the horses, and in fact enjoy watching them. For me, it’s just great to know they’re semi-loose and enjoying themselves. Often I hang around a few minutes to admire them.

This week, they’re especially admirable with manes and tails newly brushed. After letting their manes and tails go au natural for the longest time–like they were in dreadlocks–I picked up a brush, went to work. Once having got them untangled, with just a few morning minutes of re-brushing, everything stays smooth. Hello, my now pretty-tailed girls.

Equine photo ops aren’t complete without whiskered nose close-ups. Maybe you recognized Pimmy in the header photo, her nose distinctive, inquisitive, seeking treats. The horses’ noses offer warm sweet gusts and equally are fun, cool captures.

My dogs don’t accompany me and the horses across the road for my neighbor has dogs, a pair of old, super-sweet lab and golden types. He says they showed up years ago on his CA ranch, stayed, and moved on to Oregon with him. Cody is a bit younger, Katy up in years and slower. Both travel down the grassy hill to greet me before returning to their warm beds.

Dear Friends: Some sweetnesses, free and easily obtainable, that infuse joy into moments. Diana

Wednesday, December 12, 2020 (29 days left in 2020)

Years ago, I noticed Gary Larson’s work when his sheep cartoon put me into paroxysms of laughter. At that time in my young working life, employment in the huge aerospace industry had me feeling helpless and trapped. Helpless as a non-technical woman in a man’s world, and trapped because I needed the job. Always exploring alternatives, I concluded that interviewers for decently-paying positions preferred candidates with technical expertise and/or a male body. With my liberal arts education and certain physical shape, I wasn’t in demand.

Gradually, women began to comprehend how to lead large organizations that had been built on technical expertise. Slowly, some entered large workplaces in leading roles, and most credited their dads with educating them to a male world of leadership. Their dads encouraged them to be brave. Eventually, women proved capable of leading and organizational rules eased. Women workers were permitted to wear slacks and flats, to travel with male colleagues, to (carefully) express opinions in meetings. As opportunities to support large corporate initiatives expanded for line workers, more men and women, myself included, became unstuck and landed roles that more challenged our minds and imaginations.

My memories of corporate life are ever more active as Joe Biden introduces his administration’s highest-level officials. Important to him are women and people of color. They will be prominent, have power, and alter a long standing social order based on assumption and opinion. The traditional social order segregates individuals into categories, qualifying or disqualifying potential, based on physical characteristics and income levels.

I applaud Joe’s choice for VP and especially that Kamala’s not a token appointee. He’s allowing her an active voice. His additional picks demonstrate forward momentum toward a newly productive, really exciting society. I’ve worried about diminishing opportunities for young people, but in a future that breaks barriers to fairness-for-all, our youth population appropriately will find jobs in leadership and supportive roles.

That’s what drew me to Larson’s “Far Side 2021 Calendar”, to enjoy his observations. Here’s one that recognizes a changing order.

Dear Friends: Biden’s success in the long term depends on his winning the Senate. Diana

Monday, November 30, 2020 (Only 31 days before the world bids adieu to 2020.)

Yesterday morning and proud to say, my clock-in time at work was 8:05. Earlier, I fed horses and goats (hens were roosting), walked the horses across the street so they could graze all day on a neighbor’s pasture, fed the dogs, birds, aquarium fish, and Max the cat. And got to work enough on time for a self-congratulatory moment. Today, I’ll try fifteen minutes earlier to tackle morning chores and improve my time-in.

A lovely note from my Cousin Mary has me congratulating us. Mary and I are first cousins and close friends with much in common. It’s genetic because we didn’t grow up together. I evolved in the Midwest, she in “the L.A. scene” (Hollywood High graduate). We first met and connected sometime in the 90s when I lived in Los Angeles. She and her husband Freddy invited me into their family circle, and almost immediately, we were soulmates, and remain close now across new miles that separate us.

Mary reads my blogs and writes in response to a recent one. She describes once owning a facial salon located next door to a jewelry shop. The blog that struck her memory cord had my photo of a frost-highlighted leaf, pretty enough to bejewel a necklace. She writes that, years ago, her jeweler-neighbor brought in some leaf jewelry. She loved those pieces and bought several for herself and as gifts to others.

She began thinking back and wondering where now those pieces might be. After searching and finding, she sent these pictures.

Good matches to my frosted-lead photo, and here’s a reminder.

It’s fun that besides our shared family history we have similar imaginations and tastes. Thanks to my dear Cousin Mary, for who you are and for keeping in touch.

Dear Friends: Family connections, real or faux, may amaze, it’s about communicating. Diana

Sunday, November 29, 2020 (In 32 days, the world bids 2020 adieu.)

I’m early up and ready to hurry, to arrive at work by 8 a.m. Today and for two more days, I’ll be managing the local Costco’s food demo organization. Showing up there at an early hour will follow my earlier big rushing to care for the horses and smaller critters. In this morning’s pitch darkness, and accompanied by Miles, my Border Collie, I’ll go outside to feed horses. They might finish early enough to be walked over to a neighbor’s and left to graze all day. Otherwise, I’ll rush home at midday and replenish their hay.

Friends ask why I do this. Well, no particular reason, but workplace challenges in these Covid-19 days are interesting. Daily changes to old norms keep brains and bodies active. Another way Costco is fun, customers become friends. In this Costco, the only one for miles around, workers get to know shoppers and enjoy swapping ideas and observations with them. Maybe best, long-time, dear friends also show up, like Julie yesterday, and we’ve catch up opportunities.

Perhaps the bottom line is that as a retiree, unlike in my career days, I’ve choices about whether or not to work. Having a choice changes everything, makes an option a nonbinding agreement.

There, a few good reasons for having a job.

Dear Friends: It’s past five, time to toss on dungarees and “Get Out of Dodge”. Diana

Saturday, November 28, 2020 (Finally, in 33 days this stressful year will end.)

On the ground a little leaf, outlined in frost and pretty as anything, captured my imagination. Just spotting the leaf and seeing this photo have me wishing beyond my capabilities to recreate in silversmith. My wistful thinking sees the image transformed, from a pebble-based reality into a jewel that sparkles off a necklace.

That’s how art is born. One zeroes in on an object, transforms it into a personal vision, and communicates in a manner commonly understood (e.g., written or visual arts), to create a symbolic reality. For example, take my dream necklace.

The necklace would have a purpose, to symbolize Oregon’s high desert country, its complex natural beauties. The necklace’s first jewel, my sparkling aspen leaf, would be followed by others representing red juniper berries, intricate pine cones, glassy obsidian, delicate thunder eggs, wild mushrooms, and so much more abounding in this region of mountains, rivers, forests, seasons, and history.

This thread of thought leads to a recognition of having found “my place in space”. This home area lends to a sense of happiness and productivity, and encourages outings of the dreamer within.

Dear Friends: This Covid-19 year has forced us into more fully self-understanding. Diana