vanessa: ideas and images: 2024

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

My Dad never used a recipe, but I watched often, as he prepared his delicious sweet potato pies. (“Don’t cut the potatoes. Boil them. You won’t waste any.) He would make at least four at a time, and freeze them. I only made one.

I know all of the ingredients, and even figured out the “secret” one. I know I’ll never exactly replicate the taste, of his pies (and I totally forgot the nutmeg), but I’ll continue trying.

I got a “pretty good, Child” from him when he was still with us.

That was good enough for me. 🙂

#traditions

#christmaseve

TUESDAY THOUGHTS: MUSIC MATTERS

At first, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be offended or outraged by the Facebook reel, or not. Was I witnessing envy, racism, bullying, insecurity, and microaggression in action? All I know, is that the rabbit hole I happily went down, to discover the exceptional pianist, who so humbly shut down an unappreciative listener with music, was worth it.

Somehow, this morning, I stumbled upon the wonderfully talented, Camden Bonsu-Stewart.

After watching that first reel several times (just for the pure satisfaction of it), I watched other videos of his, on Instagram and YouTube.

I do love piano, but you knew that already, didn’t you?

I'm not sure how the videos and reels led me to "LeVar Burton Reads" on Apple podcast, but I'm glad it did. His words, concerning "The Appropriation of Cultures" by Percival Everett, summed up the initial reel I'd seen of Camden, in which he was being challenged by a guy to play a composition I'm sure (for whatever reason) the guy didn't think Camden could possibly know. When Camden masterfully played and sang his own composition, instead, it was clear that the guy couldn't handle the excellence, nor the atmosphere. He was flabbergasted. He could hardly keep still, or stop talking. He didn't know whether to embrace what he heard, or refuse to hear and acknowledge it. The more he fidgeted, and struggled to fix his face, the more gloriously Camden played. It was a classic example of one not being able to hide the content of one's own heart, and it was such a joy to watch Camden not being the least bit distracted, discouraged, nor thrown off by the guy's antics.

Yeah. Camden Musique has a new fan in me.

I'm so ridiculously happy for young people who have learned early, how to let stuff roll off of their backs. They don’t lash out defensively, or react inappropriately. They just gather themselves, and soundly handle the small minded, difficult, and annoying among us, whose exhausting behavior and words can often be the difference between someone pursuing a goal, or abandoning it. I love that any young person is so secure in their ability and self--not arrogant, or unteachable-- but so secure, that they won't dare shrink, be afraid, cry, run, quit, be intimidated, sabotage themselves, nor hide. They'll just confidently smile, like Camden did, and continue shining their light in the face of doubters and hecklers. I hope that young people remember that for every person who comes to dim, question, or ridicule their light, there are multitudes who see it, want it, encourage it, and celebrate it.

LeVar Burton said, "As an artist should, he finds himself in the song...He takes that, and makes it his own...It just blows people's minds, and short-circuits them. By engaging in a radical act of "confuzzlement",

one can take the sting out of the impossibly painful."

"Confuzzlement". Yep. That's an absolutely perfect word for what was happening to that guy in the video. The poor thing simply didn't know what to do with himself...lol...What did the late, great Maurice White sing? "Ain't it funny that the way you feel, shows on your face?" That guy was shook! lol...It's too bad he didn't just instinctively listen, watch, and applaud at the end. That's what the moment, and the musical gift he didn't know how to embrace, truly deserved.

Bravo, Camden.

#CamdenMusique

#LeVarBurtonReads

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

The licencing and ordination of celebrities isn't a new phenomenon. Little Richard, Lady Gaga, Adele, Conan O'Brien, Angela Winbush, Al Greene, Emma Stone, Ian McKellan, and Hugh Jackman are among celebrities who are also clergy.

Recently, another noted, celebrated actor made a religious decision, that many consider a big deal, some consider a surprise, and others act as if it's a miracle, and an answer to long ago uttered prayer. There are of course, those who actually know him, who aren't shocked at all. Is the overwhelming response because of who he is? Is it a dramatic decision and life change, or a mere continuation of who he's always been?

Is the glee, and even relief expressed, because people assumed he wasn't already a Christian? Had the self-righteous among us disqualified him, because of his secular profession? Is his new vocation considered a coup? Has "the church" successfully wrangled him from the world's clutches? Is that the story being told?

Could it be, that a man in his latter years is simply shifting gears, and exercising another talent?

Have churchgoers been more performative and fictional in their Christianity than he has ever been in his roles on screen?

Church folk like claiming people. They like celebrities, too, and tend to be personality driven, respecters of persons, sometimes.

One thing's for sure, the sermons will be magnificent in their eloquence--after all, he is an actor, and a mighty good one. He's used to studying. He won't trip over or mispronounce words or phrases, lose his place, or go off on tangents. He'll stick to the unadulterated script--and that's refreshing. If he does improvise, it'll be intelligently done.

A tree can't just up and decide what fruit it is going to bear. Affixing pears to a fig tree, won't make it a pear tree. Figs are going to show up every time. And so it is with people. Whatever is wired and rooted--whether wisdom or foolishness-- will always show itself eventually, enthusiastically, unashamedly, and publicly. It can't hide, nor deny itself, no matter the environment, arena, or stage.