Wisdom just has that look to it.

 

(These beaded ornaments were hand made by my mom's mom, Doris,
but the words here are all from my mom.)

 

When in an embarrassing situation such as falling down the stairs in the Ritz Hotel in Madrid at 9AM into the midst of a group of dignified Spanish business men, what do you do? Cry? Turn purple and run back up stairs?  No, no, no. You ask yourself what Greer Garson would do in a case like this and get up with a smile on your face and walk right through the lobby with head held high. Darnn. Wish I had.

After a certain age it is wise to maintain a certain self image by putting on your makeup in the morning looking in a Chinese brass mirror. This is fine until someone takes your picture, then Photo Shop becomes your default friend.

Basic math, Latin and etymology are surprisingly useful.

You can go to Europe and practice your newly learned language skills but don’t try it in China or you might call your Mother a horse. Intonation says it all.

You are not being a bad parent if see a few flaws in your otherwise perfect children. As my Irish grandmother used to say, ”They are not the angels you think nor the devils the neighbors think“

You are not being unpatriotic if you see a few flaws in our otherwise great country. Study our history.

Same is true of religion and spouses.

All Chinese don’t look alike. They have over 30 ethnic groups. If you go there you will see what I mean.

Who is the real American? Before you answer, study migration and immigration.

I don’t have an ear for music nor do I understand the nuance of it, but I love to listen to ‘down and dirty blues’, Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers, disco, early Elvis, Spanish love songs, Harry Belafonte, Kurt Weill, early Della Reese, Abba, religious music, Chinese music, Leonard Cohen, opera, Chamber music and symphonies. It all strikes a responsive chord in me.

Music and art must be taught in the schools. Their benefits are greater than the sum of their parts.

Spanish love songs are far sexier and more romantic than their tame American versions. We puritans don’t know what we are missing.

Choose a century and learn what was going on all in different countries around the world. A lot of variety there.

Choose any country and study it’s history, geography, culture, music, and why they cook what they do.

Choose to learn another language. You will learn a new way of thinking.

If you come to a fork in the road take the middle one.

The basic colors are black, navy, brown, gray and beige. Pick one as the basis of your wardrobe. In addition to jeans and summer white of course. You can throw any color on top. But black works everywhere.

Everyone in Hollywood is always ‘on’. You can’t compete so just sit there and laugh. They need an audience.

The Red Carpet is also walked by nobodies wearing thrift shop clothes.

This is what I think. What do you think? Tell me calmly. No need to come to blows.

 

-Jean Clarice Walsh 2013