garden

About two and a half weeks ago, a friend of mine came by to help me till and set up my backyard for gardening. I’ve been hooked every since and gardening has become a prevalent part of my life. I’ve started tilling, germinating and planting on my own. I even drew the little map above to help me keep track of all the different plants I’ve planted and where. The other day, I was excited to get home to check on the progression of the plants now that they've sprouted. I feel a bit obsessed. I told my friend that he would turn me into a plant lady in lieu of cat lady. I feel it’s coming true, it was a joke I wasn’t ready for. The other interesting thing about the garden was we started gardening when my life felt at the peak of wading. We had to uproot, till, plant and scatter seeds all in preparation for spring growth. In that moment, everything was empty but that’s how things needed to be because the plants not only need a nurturing and healthy environment to induce growth but also one that will sustain them through the summer. Maybe that’s what been happening and what I’ve been doing for that past almost year, which led me to say to my friend half seriously, I bet when things start happening in the garden that something will start happening in my life too. And, alas a direction.

old cars

I love old cars. I love everything about them: how they look, how much personality they have, the ingenuity and the history. I love seeing them being driven or unexpectedly happening upon them. I secretly hope to own one someday. 

I happened upon this car earlier today at the most unlikely of places, the Starbucks in Mill Creek Town Center. As I approached the car, I couldn’t help but take a peek into the window as I walked past. Aside from the usual interior findings, there was a hat in the front seat that resembled that of Indiana Jones! There was also a group of old men that gathered around the car later on, circling it, actively inspecting and discussing it. I wanted to join them.

handmade

Back in January there was a chain letter of sorts going around on facebook where the first five people who commented on one’s status would be the recipients of a handmade gift. In turn, those five people were required to repost the status and make the same handmade promise. I’m usually not a fan of chain letters but there was something endearing about this one. So, I decided to comment on another photo major’s status of whose work I particularly enjoy and re-posted the message onto my status. After I posted it, two things happened, my mind went into overdrive about the things I wanted to make and I became regretful about re-posting it. I loved the idea of the chain status but didn’t like the conditional aspect of it. I didn’t want people to have to participate in this chain letter in order to receive something handmade from me. So, I toyed with the idea of randomly selecting 5 people from facebook to make things for but I also wanted to make things for my family and friends. After some thought, I decided to delete the status and instead dedicate myself to making mostly handmade gifts this year. Towards the very end of February, I started on my first handmade gift for the year, a Korean pepper stuffed toy for my friend’s birthday. 

dome cleaner

 
This has to be one of my favorite sights that I saw at my uncle’s 70th birthday lunch at the Space Needle a few months ago. I think I was the only one at the party that was captivated and obsessed with what I saw. I was absolutely fascinated with the progression of their work and kept checking back to see how far they’d come. I also don’t think it helped that the distance made them look miniature with my affinity for miniature things. This is one of the many pictures I took. Lately, it’s been reminding me to pull back and look at the bigger picture as it were. I have a tendency to forget to look at the bigger picture or do so sparingly, because oftentimes it can result in insensitivity and can diminish the individual. However, I think in this moment it’s important for me to follow this line of thought because like the dome cleaner I am making progress, it’s just difficult to see past that expanse. Hanging from a thread, I would imagine it would be difficult not to focus solely on the space in front of them. Those weary arms becoming wearier from all the work that seems to lie ahead and it’s impossible for them to see that they are in fact halfway there.

sick

For close to 2 weeks I have been taken a hold by this unrelenting cold/flu that’s been going around, which is by no means an excuse for my neglect or an explanation for my absence. I can only say that I admit ashamedly that life got the better of me. It was only with the aid of this cold/flu that has helped me catch up however. I haven’t been this sick in years (the last cold I had was in June and it lasted for 3 days). I was so sick that I spent days in bed, isolated, too sick to be distracted. I was on lockdown, only left with myself. I hadn’t realized until that point how much I had been avoiding my thoughts and their correlating emotions about success, moving, post-collegiate life, work, my non-financial independence and everything else. I had been downright unwilling. I didn’t want to concede to my thoughts because that somehow felt like a failing in itself. At worst it could signify that I was losing hope. However, the amazing thing about being sick was that it allowed me to feel miserable to any necessary degree. It fostered my emotions, moving with me, and, everything that I'd been feeling for the past few months came to an apex. I started to think of all the things that had been going through my mind and it was almost like a systemic coming to terms. The cold/flu finally let up after the eighth day and I started to feel better, the sun started shining in Seattle and I felt reinvigorated. There was a resurgence of productivity and, maybe, hope.

dog movement

25

What an incredible year it's been. I don't even know how to begin to thank you for the experience; the amazing lessons, humbling realizations and incandescent moments that you brought. It's truly been one of the best. Nothing's ever felt this right which makes it that much harder to let go. In the end, I know that it is what they always say, it's better to have that bittersweet. I guess you always knew better than I ever could.

coat check

As a favor to a friend, I recently worked as a volunteer at a gala hosted by the Vera Project. I was assigned to coat check with two other people, which was great, because I’ve always wondered what it would be like to work coat check. It was fascinating.

It was a really nice event but through out the night I couldn’t help but wonder who these people were. We had these brief encounters of exchange but I only got to know their coats. In the moment they handed me their coats it did reveal, what they smelled like, what they valued in their coats: comfort, fashion, practicality, attention, protection, discretion, warmth, etc. Their interests: books, pills, camera bags, biking bags, cigarettes and cell phones. With the amount of coats and the rapid exchange of coats and claim tickets, it was difficult to even connect the coats to their owners. However, I did learn that in these fleeting encounters mistakes humanize even the most powerful of men. And, that individualizing a person and showing interest whether in a horde of guests or one of three coat checkers can create a connection that humanizes both parties.

story tell me

I love stories. Stories have always been a prevalent part of my life and the most wondrous aspects of childhood. Stories resonated so deeply with my sister and I that we both found ways to pursue them in our studies and it's one my sister continues to pursue in her PhD. I’m constantly amazed by the engrossing nature of stories, the limitless possibilities they share and the lessons they have to teach. A good story is magical.

About a week ago, my mom told me a story about a trip she took when she was in high school with her older sister, a family friend, and 8-year-old niece. It was an incredible story about one of those experiences in life that is filled with such genuine joy and innocence that it deeply resonates with everyone involved. It is one of those moments that becomes a cherished memory that is often revisited and fondly remembered. This story nourished my soul and was exactly what I needed for my bout of blues.

At the same time, I started reading The Phantom Tollbooth for the first time. It was so amazing to have two varying and wonderful tales being told to me. The Phantom Tollbooth is magnificent, and the first book I’ve read for pleasure since graduating, how fortuitous it was. While it maybe classified as a children’s book, I can’t imagine a more fitting time to have read such a book. I am quite taken with it. 

"The little car started to go faster and faster as Milo's brain whirled with activity, and down the road they went. In a few moments they were out of the Doldrums and back on the main highway. All the colors had returned to their original brightness, and as they raced along the road Milo continued to think of all sorts of things; of the many detours and wrong turns that were so easy to take, of how fine it was to be moving along, and, most of all, of how much could be accomplished with just a little thought."
 

I hope I'll be moving along soon.

creature

I came across this little creature a week ago in my father's study. He has taken residence on my father's desk and is apparently earning his keep by collecting and storing the unwanted pith from mandarins.