EASTER SUNDAY

Today is the day of Resurrection. A day of Gratitude. A day when we are called to action.

I'm cooking, and then going to my daughter's home where the big boys--14, 13, and 10 are coloring eggs and then having the joy of hiding them for the little girls--so much joy in the giving.

But today is also the Day to remember that we have just been through a terrible financial crisis that was brought on by the greed (and sinfulness) of those who we all trusted to monitor our financial institutions. There are other impending disasters on the horizon--GMO's, failure to regulate huge corporate entities such as Monsanto, Bayer, gun proponents, mass polluters--the list goes on and on.

Are we going to have the courage as represented in the Risen Christ and the faith of Passover to raise our voices in a resounding NO MORE? 

Isn't that one of the messages of Easter and Passover? We have overcome fear of death, fear to voice our concerns and stand up for what is right? We, the people, have immense strength and power--we are all part of the Resurrection. Jesus was a radical as was Moses: can we go passive when confronted with their strength and leadership?

Can we see the helpless poor and sick and not help them? Can we stand silent in the face of enormous wrong doing by our leaders? Can we fail to bring our financial criminals to justice? Can we fail to have compassion for the mentally ill? Can we continue to uphold a broken health care system where only those with the privilege of company obtained health insurance have access to adequate care? Can we allow a system based on corporate profits determine care for sick individuals? Can we allow the richest 2 per cent to pay a lower tax rate than the struggling middle class--trickle down economics is a figment of economic imagination. Can we continue to allow women to be treated as second class citizens? Can we continue to allow the rampant prejudice that is so pervasive in every culture without raising our voices in protest?

I THINK NOT.

Today is a day of resurrection of our personal integrity and strength. To follow Jesus who stood for radical action and compassion.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

In honor of St. Patricks's Day. With the understanding that I am 95% Irish and my grandmother spoke with a lovely Irish lilt, I decided to buy something green this week. Well, truth be told, I bought two green things this week. And they were not small green things. They were two very large green things.......
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They are a fantastic pair of 33 inch French Majolica Urns that date to the early 20th century. At one point they were fitted with gilt bronze electrical sockets--can you imagine the size of the shades they must have worn? At least another 33 inches in height, bringing the total height of the lamps to a glorious 66 inches. I will have Roberto removed the bronze electrical mounts (saving them for the buyer) and bring them back to their original urn form. 

I love the detailed modeling--acorns, oak leaves, acanthus leaves and shells....fantastic Renaissance Revival pieces that are definitely a departure from my usual neoclassical favorites. But heck: the stock market is going great guns, the economic forecasts are getting stronger and YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.

Everyone is coming for dinner tomorrow night--corned beef and cabbage and potatoes. Roast pork for the littlest ones. Plus my over-the-top brownies. Then we    are going to talk about the great grand parents who came from Ireland...

Wishing everyone a wonderful St. Patrick's Day--don't forget a little bit (or two bits) of green.

  

Mary & Jones (and Cole)