a little red hen

Visitors from Baltimore and Beyond

Judy Lombardi called one night from Baltimore, "We're coming in this weekend.  Can we see you Sunday brunch?  My friend Heidi from London--I've told you about her--I'd like to bring along, maybe her kids will be with her.  Talk to Carol about people she wants to invite."

Talking with Carol I learn that a couple she knows are making a move to New York similar to ours twelve years ago.  Except he's already retired, spouse still working.

Sunday morning, Judy on cell phone.  "In Soho, on the way.  Where should we get food?"  Judy and Carol had never been to Zabar's, definitely the place.  Always a treat to have Judy in the kitchen.  I remember her making spaghetti and sauce at our house in Baltimore.  The tomatoes used were ones she and Ron grew--twenty-eight plants?--in the backyard.

Heidi brought the cerise-colored tulips behind Judy's head and her two children.  I thought they were going to be little, but was wrong.  They were amazingly mature post-teens.   Because she used to do work about HIV/AIDS, Heidi was interested in the Condom Amulets.  I showed them the ones still with me and not lounging on the wall at Knitty City.  Gave the three of them New York City's 2007 condoms.  I have to move theses along because they are dated; the 2008 model has a musical video

Carol is a dedicated bird-watcher and as she looked out our window was rewarded by a visit from a sparrow hawk who enjoys the plentiful community of pidgeons in the neighborhood.  She has been a longtime vigiler in Baltimore with Women in Black, a worldwide peace network.  We spoke about our frustration, how we were once in the minority.  But even with the majority of Americans  believing the U.S. should be out of Iraq nothing changes the administration's position.

Susan and Jamie, the recent NYC arrivals, brought a delicious flan she had made.  One of my favorite desserts.  We talked about how joining The Transition Network and one of its peer groups might be a useful way to get integrated into the City.  As she began to look at Clara Parkes' The Knitter's Book of Yarn sitting on the coffee table, we found a pattern we both liked.  "Baby Soft Cardigan" is the one I'd like to make for Zoe in Portland from bright green yarn Ron has spun.

All in all  a perfect afternoon for us semi-homebounds and covered all the bases of our concerns.  I told Judy how her advice to get a Canon digital camera like hers (SD850) has been a fine addtion to my life in images.  Ron even spoke Yiddish with Heidi who  originally migrated to England from Germany.  Her children, also fluent in German, could understand him but were surprised by the relationship of the languages.

Harlem Knit Circle Rocks--Lacewise

Saturday, March 17, a sunny morning brought out an overflow crowd  to the first session of "High Tea in Lace," free class at the popular HARLEM KNITTING CIRCLE.

Lisa Daehlin, left, knitter/opera singer, famous for lacy designs in Vogue and Interweave magazines (check out the knit wire bracelets on her left arm), and HKC regular, had High Tea notion.

Njoya, right, dynamo who began HKC a few years ago, thought it would work--but was amazed by the crowd--59 women, one man. Like Lisa, she is full of ideas for stretching fibers' boundaries.  The  week before, Njoya arranged HKC participation in an environmental crochet extraganza to raise awareness about endangered coral reefs... article HERE in New York Times.

Click on images below for overview beginning with a knitter who has shared expertise with me in the past and is pleased with her lace skills, Adeline from Big Apple Knit Guild, token male...

 

Mysteries of symbols used on charted knit patterns, guy answering crocheter's question, books to browse...

Unusual Njoya moment-- she takes time to sit and knit.  Many are intrigued by the way Lisa stashes yarn while teaching--a signature style that led to design of her Breast Pouch Condom Amulet.  Her new website is http://www.delisa.us/.

Did I mention that New York's new Governor, David Paterson, is from Harlem?  Get acquainted...come to uptown Manhattan and knit or crochet with Njoya's friendly group (Saturdays weekly around the corner from me at the George Bruce branch of the New York Public Library, West 125th).  Session II of "High Tea in Lace" is March 29.  Please bring a little food to share...and plan a visit to the Harlem Studio Museum a few blocks east on 125th Street.

My symbol for post written one-handed.  Fell down a short flight stairs just before High Tea.  Took photos, then visited the local ER.  Left hand awaits  verdict of orthopedic surgeon on March 19....same day is 5th anniversary of invasion of Iraq.  Met a woman at High Tea who said she will knit at protest by Grandmothers Against the War.

Roxie Discovers Hats and Mirrors

"Would it fit Roxie?"     My daughter-in-law's question. I was talking about the small collection of my own baby clothes--one dress, two overalls, a slip, a hat--that I'd recently washed.   Should I photograph them, transform them into an artful statement?

Her question was unexpected, more personal.  Roxie was now too grown for the blue lawn dress.  After 70 years, it's too worn for my vibrant granddaugher.  I would try my baby hat.

In January, she'd allow the hat to entertain her on her grandfather's head, on a doll.  It was a few weeks past her first birthday. Roxie's primary focus was steps between closely placed pieces of furniture.

By this month, she has moved ahead to walking, even running.

As a lark, I put on  this  little black hat as Ron held her.  She did not take it off!  Where would this lead?  A game perhaps.  I offered her Grandma's hat.

Here was an idea that literally had legs; she hurried to the full length mirror in the next room to observe herself.  Roxie had moved to the next level of consciousness:  fashion by hat,  a delightful game for the three of us.

Latest sweater made for her, hen of course.  Charming pattern from Amy Bahrt's book, "Creature Comforts", could have been easier to follow.  Classic Elite's "Bazic" wool, very nice to work with on #7 needles.  Yes, highly impractical to make a white sweater for a one-year-old.  I get carried away (link to lyrics from 1944 musical, "On the Town").

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Hat tip to Eduardo Porter who writing in today's New York Times about the huge sums that will be needed to arrest global warming :

"People often sacrifice the future to the present.  We may love our children and grandchildren.  But since they can't vote, we stiff them in the public sphere...The best case for bold action now is that it provides insurance against the chance of an unfathomably grim future...Averting that...is worth quite a lot of investment today."

Read it all in, "Are the Grandkids Worth the Money?"

Super Tuesday: 21st Century Possibilities

Enormous changes in my lifetime.

What better reflection of that than this four-language sign near my polling place?

As others await to see who "won" between Clinton and Obama, I celebrate where this idealistic and flawed country has moved.   From celebrating white women's "progress" in the 1940s--which brought us to Hillary Clinton running for president.

And these courageous African-American women in Georgia, politicking before the 19th amendment was passed, are among the major players who have brought Barack Obama to try for the same prize.

This is the triumph of affirmative action.  It's what Ron and I grew up with in immigrant families.  These values were absorbed by our children whom we admire as they are passed on to grandchildren.

Dark voices will make every effort to get our attention in the coming year, to speak to our fears of difference and change.  They will try to divide us.  For those of us who worked toward the goal of true democracy, it's time to step aside and listen.

Elders can support the move forward by those younger.  Let's bring along the best from the 20th and join hands in the 21st century.  [click on images to enlarge] 

Your New Year and Mine...

   

Little Red Hen Channels Emma Goldman

    courtesy The Emma Goldman Papers, University of California, Berkeley. 

LYSISTRATA film appears briefly in NYC

"Where did you get that shirt?" Joan Wile asked.  We sat next to one another along with a bunch of other Grandmothers Against the War for a screening about the unprecedented, worldwide, anti-war theatrical happening in 2003, Operation Lysistrata, (film clips at this link).  It was Joan who had emailed me about it.

Joan is the instigator of the GAW, the group that has held a peace vigil, rain/shine/holidays, every Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:30 in front of Rockefeller Center. She is one of the 18 grandmas arrested here a couple of years ago for their peaceful protest at the Times Square Recruiting station.  Out of that initial action, the Granny Peace Brigade grew,  now includes a counter-recruitment effort which is described--with videos--at their website.

The film shows the time before the Iraq War began, the  energetic anti-war ferment.    Malachy McCourt, who sang to all us marchers in February 2003 as we rallied against the impending war, sat behind Joan and me.   "...Tens of millions of people took to the streets all over the world....organizers say half a million in New York City [more here at Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now" site]. 

"Joan, we were so hopeful then," I sighed.    The film reminds us that many young people responded to the immodest notion of performing Lysistrata in cafes, parks, living rooms all over the world.  Michael Patrick Kelly, the filmmaker and his co-producer, Suzanne Hayes Kelly, answered questions about their documentary.  The screening was part of their effort to secure the small amount needed to produce a CD for distribution through their website.  [Contact Aquapio Films to learn more.]

It was cold as hell that March 3 in New York City.  Did one happen in your own locale (list here)? Imagine:  high school students--home-schooled 15 year old in the film used plastic dinosaurs for his unusual performance-- people all ages all over the U.S. diverse colors, gender prefs.  Touch-and-go to find a group in North Dakota but two cities signed on.   We owe a lot to Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower, who conceived The Lysistrata Project.  That night the play was presented to a sold-out audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  Appearing were Kathleen Chalfant, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, F. Murray Abraham, many more New York-based actors. You can see them in the film--along with wannabes worldwide like you and me.   

Joan and I, tee-shirt-wearing grandmas, continue to be hopeful, ask questions of authority.  She did not know details of The Thought Crime Bill.  Have to tell her about my latest idea after hearing the latest on The Bill.  It's skipped into the Senate; new number is S.1959.  Targets the internet in particular.  Five years ago we reveled in our freedom to protest--though the film reminds that not everyone supported the huge demonstrations nor the performance of Lysistrata itself.  Restrictions on the internet would deprive us of the unprecedented connecting possible through the ether:  59 countries and 1,029 readings. 

Frustrated about Iraq? Try Counter-Recruitment...

David Solnit emailed last year to ask if he could use a photo of mine for his upcoming book about the Army of None Project.   It was on my blog last year: Harlem Grandmothers   stand smack in front of Harlem's U.S. Army Recruiting Station on West 125th Street.  I'm proud to have its message among the many powerful ones he used.

Elderblogger Maya's Granny wrote a fine post this month after watching the first Ken Burns' World War II series.  She echoed many of us who know there's something very wrong with the way Americans have disconnected from those now serving in the military.  Where do we go with this feeling? 

You may be surprised if you read here regularly, but Ron and I had no idea how long hundreds of activists like David and Aimee Allison, his co-author, have been working in this useful way.  A way thats an opportunity for people like you and me to use our energy to help young people understand what it really means to enlist.  They have filled their book with strong black and white images and much information.  They gave a compelling presentation here in NYC that was one of the most enlightening educational encounters we've had in a long time.

[The website, Courage to Resist, lists dates for the national book tour happening now. Army of None will be in Salinas, California on November 14.] 

An artist, David started with an engaging puppet show geared to an adult audience.  We laughed a little, booed the villains.  Aimee was a medic the the Army Reserves till her discharge as a conscientious objector during the Persian Gulf War.  She'd joined as a way to pay for college. Ater nine years, she still had to pay her own way to a Stanford education.

Two women were introduced, told how they'd worked with other counter-recruitment activists to produce a four-by-five-inch FREE pamphlet, The New Yorkers' Guide to Military Recruitment in the 5 boroughs.  Sixty pages filled with facts and figures-- "Facing a Recruiter," page 14, "War, Combat, & Your Contract," page 8-- of immense usefulness to a young high school student being leaned on by recruiters.

A click on the link makes it possible to download your own copy in digital format.  The authors hope, "You'll create a guide like this one (but better) in your own community."  That's on page 59, with links to information on getting started.

Possibility filled the room at Bluestockings Books.  We were energized by the synergy of presenters and audience--all much, much younger than ourselves.  The bookstore has copies of all these materials.  "What Every Girl Should Know about the U.S. Military," is available from both the Women of Color Resource Center in Oakland, California, and War Resisters League in New York City. 

A thorough and positive description of the contents of Army of None in The Indypendent ends on an ambivalent note,  "...as long as most dissenters...remain content [with] ritual forms of activism that prioritize self-expression and asserting...moral rectitude, it will be difficult for the patient, day-to-day antiwar organizing envisioned by the authors to take root.  But their book is a valuable guide for those ready to try."

What is this little red hen ready to do-- old lady who inadvertently became counter-recruiter by holding up a Gray Panthers' banner in Harlem, wears Grandmothers Against the War button all times?  I seized on opportunity at my doctor's office last week.  On the way, the 125th Street crosstown bus passed same Army Recruiting station and I patted my canvas bag, the one with the button.

When M, the lab tech came to take my blood (we've known one another since he was in sophomore year of night school college) I asked, "Last time you told me about military recruiters calling you with their money offers when you were a high school senior."  Told him about Army of None, gave him a copy of the "New Yorkers' Guide to Military Recruitment."

"Do you believe they called me again in my senior year of college--how do they get all this information?"  M was glad to have the book; it tells how the government obtains just what he'd wondered about.  His college education was on full scholarship, but he was pleased to have a way to speak to others in his community of color in Queens. In that moment, two more became counter-recruiters.

On the way Tuesday night to hear Susan Faludi on her latest book, The Terror Dream, I had dinner with arrested-Granny Judy Lear.  Talked about how the picture in the Army of None was a time we'd demonstrated together.  "Oh, she said, "Barbara, one of  the Grannies, does that!"  Goes to high school college nights where recruiters always show up. Here's a model for older activists:  Barbara seeks out parents of the students to exhange about the realities behind the offers made.  I'm waiting to hear more about this from her.

Do you dream?  I'd like to see Army of None inspire many more of our growing numbers of aging Americans to action.  Is there a Guide to Military Recruitment where you live? 

Would you raise your arm into the air the way people in China once did with Mao's Little Red Book...I can see it now:  a crowd of us on the Mall in Washington--boomers and our crowd of elders all together, waving copies of local Guides, of Army of None, as we lift each and every voice to shout, "Not with our grandchildren!"  Please, Elders, dream and act with me. 

Grace Paley, A Remembrance

Remembering the late Grace Paley in New York City, the link takes you to a video created by Liza Bear, one of many, many longtime admirers. 

You will join an outdoor gathering in Greenwich Village  of a  group of friends who recently created a memorial that was peace rally plus a reading-- a perfect tribute to the writer and peace activist who died this summer at 84.

Reading Grace's poems, the biographer Bllanche Weisen Cook  gave an enthusiastic rendition of her delightful poem of appreciation for old bodies.  If you know the poem and where to find a copy, please let me know.

Update:  Thulani Davis remembers this long, creative life at Women's Voices for Change. 

Focusing On the Prize--Despite Airport Anxiety

Early tomorrow morning we leave to see our family in Portland, Oregon.  Here's Zoe and our daughter on a recent vacation in Michigan ( included some long airport delays).  Last night, this not-quite-two-year-old exclaimed, "Granma," several times on the phone.  Overwhelmed!  Next, her 5-year old brother outlined projects we'd have together during our two-week visit.  I continue to be amazed about having three grandchildren, two of them now talking.

Distractions from impending airport trauma were undermined by today's post at Time Goes By.  Under the spot-on title, Elders and the Unfriendly Skies, Ronni Bennett says it all--not just for us slower-moving people but tall folks, child-carrying families.  Please go there, read it, then write something on your own blog about the way once pleasurable travel has become a drag.  Or should we select a dates on which bloggers would simultaneously post.  My spouse threatens to go barefoot to Security; photo will document the event.

Perhaps a Month of Passenger Indignities would get attention from the TSA, airport personnel, and, let's see, there is another group.  Oh, yes, the United States Congress.  Do you think?  Can't improve health care, can't stop an endless, illegal war--maybe this would be more within their limited abilities.         

Last week the latest sweater for nearby Roxie received its final touch. Maxine, knit advisor at Knitty City, suggested "Flower Power," from Nicky Epstein's recent book of knit flowers (link to review).  Just whenI think I have enough books!   For those who do not knit, see it as a high art, I point out that input from others often improves the work.  I asked Roxie's mother, a graphic artist who does not knit, "Flower on the left or right side?"  Her reply, "How about in the middle?" 

Did I mention there is still a stamped envelope in my baggage so I can reclaim knitting needles confiscated by TSA?   Has not happened in a few years,  but you never...

Update:  When we went to the deli for food to take onto the plane, we ran into Marie Runyon, 92 year old activist from the Granny Peace Brigade.  She was dressed up to go to dinner at a place she says has, "...great Margaritas!"  Legally blind, she travels around the neighborhood with ease.  Next time I'll ask her what it's like for her in airports, dealing with TSA.  You don't mess with Marie!

[Several posts written before departure will appear while a little red hen travels...including one from momentarily-retired blogger, Xtreme English.]