viola {october 22, 2022}

When I was in 5th grade, the new kid at a new school, musical instrument day came to school. Musicians played, talked about, and answered questions regarding the various instruments to see if there was anyone interested in joining the school’s band or orchestra. I was very shy, I liked music, and the thought of being around people with a common interest seemed like a good thing to do.

The string instrument demonstration fascinated me, especially the viola. I had never heard of the viola but its low, deep, and mellow tones really caught my attention. The conductor explained that the viola most often plays the “inner voices,” the accompaniment parts, whereas the violins get the primary melody parts. The viola was important but not front and center. I could relate to that.

I played the viola all the way through high school and wanted to continue in college. When I went over to the music school and told them I would like to play with a musical group, the first question was, “Are you a music major?”

“No.” An explanation followed that people who aren’t interested in pursuing a musical path really don’t have a place in the music school. It had to do with their idea of commitment and it was there my viola playing days ended.

Playing the viola gave me an appreciation for listening to the background parts in a musical piece or song. I enjoy watching the viola players at the symphony; I listen for their part. It gave me time management and organizational skills, fitting in practice, homework, time with friends, and chores at home. The sense of achievement finally mastering a tough passage. For a quiet, shy kid, music brought about confidence and helped with stage fright while giving a presentation in class. So many benefits, friendships, and life lessons from those seven years of musical instruction.

9 doves {october 21, 2022}

The other day while hand delivering tax returns, my last stop was City Hall at the tax office for the City of Dayton. This mural was in the lobby and it has one heck of a story behind it. It's a story of loss and a story of hope.

A little over three years ago, an angry young man went on a shooting spree in the Oregon District in Dayton, Ohio. This horrible incident rocked the city and its surrounding communities. 

There were so many responses to this and they came in the forms of vigils, businesses raising money for the families of the victims, benefit concerts,  a releasing of doves, and artists creating pieces to express grief and hope and to bring the community together.

This piece is in Dayton's City Hall lobby.

Jes McMillan, a mosaic artist, was inspired by the release of doves at a vigil following the Aug. 4, 2019, mass shooting.

She and her team designed the mural, “a memorial of loss but also of the community coming together,” so the public could take part in its creation.

Upturned hands at the bottom of the mosaic signify the release of the nine doves, each dove representing a person killed. More than 300 people placed one and two-inch porcelain pieces in the sky surrounding the doves. Many wrote messages, prayers and hopes on the individual tiles. Among the sentiments on the tiles are “Dayton Loves You,” “Be Kind To Each Other,” and “God’s Angels.” 

This was art as a therapeutic first response to tragedy. Art to heal, art to remind, art to bring hope.

color and cut {october 20, 2022}

 Beautiful color.

Terrible cut!

wordy wednesdsay...aibohphobia {october 19, 2022}

You have nothing to fear but fear itself.

And palindromes.

Actually, the word "Aibohphobia", meaning "fear of palindromes", is a joke word deliberately constructed to be a palindrome.

Dammit I'm mad.

thought for the day {october 18, 2022}

Big wisdom from a small antique cup:

Say little but think much

street money {october 17, 2022}

The other day after hand delivering some tax forms, extra time was left on the parking meter, it was a beautiful day, so I used that time to stroll around downtown Dayton. It was a walk down memory lane from our year when we lived downtown and my big dog Ted and I would take our 2-3 times daily rambles. As Ted and I meandered, I would typically find coins on the street. During my recent walk, I kept my eyes out for street money. Just this year, downtown Dayton has upgraded to using a parking app to pay for parking so I wondered if technology would take away the amount of coins that fell from peoples' pockets or purses.

On my 30 minute walk, I found 18¢: 8 pennies and one dime. I smiled when I found the dime. I was walking past the Juvenile Court Building and during my time downtown, I never once found a coin around there. Always a lot of people in that area. But the other day, a dime sparkled in the sunshine. When my dad was alive, he found lots of dimes, so whenever I find a dime, it makes me think of my dad.

cleveland rocks! {october 16, 2022}

Game 3 of the ALDS and the young, first year Cleveland Guardians are playing toward the World Series. What an exciting game last night when they were down 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, two outs, and the batter, Oscar Gonzalez, was down to his last strike. He hit a two-run single; the Guardians won 6-5. The Guardians now lead the series 2-1 over the Yankees. My boys were at the game and right in the middle of the post-game mayhem. Here's hoping that the Guardians win this series tonight at their home field!

Photos: Kevin Milstead