Monday, April 29, 2013

Trying, but slowly

Did you know I am trying to create a Japanese garden in Sacramento? Most of you do. Besides my never, never ending alphabet book, (which I referred to back in March of last year...already that long ago?! I am now on J, a year later) the other creative endeavor I spend my time on is the Japanese garden. At the moment, it's not creative. It's oppressive. Nevertheless, it needs to be done. Well, it doesn't need to be done, but I would really like it to be done.

All along, I have been arguing for a Japanese garden to be built because I thought we could use that specific type of beauty here. Last week, I was fortunate to meet with an official of the Asian Community Center here in Sacramento. It was a very constructive and encouraging meeting. As I talked with her, I was reminded of another reason I would like to establish the garden. Talk of Asian-American history and culture fires me up!

It all began when I first learned that my dad was born in an internment camp during WWII. Then I read the memoir Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston, in eighth grade and that solidified my interests. I wish I could say that I had some Irish-American equivalent in my life, if only so my mother didn't feel like I was neglecting the other half of me. (My daughter said to me the other day, "You're white, right?" Perhaps that's why I don't have an Irish equivalent. That side of me is already writ large on my face.)

It was rejuvenating to be reminded of that motivation. I had already been planning on a well appointed facility for classes, talks and cultural understanding. I had forgotten why, until my meeting. I was getting bogged down in the drudgery of incorporating a nonprofit. I am buoyed again by the vision of a meeting place, an especially lovely meeting place, for all sorts of people to get fired up along with me.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Plan on it




A gift from my friend Mary. A 2013 calendar from Italy. Maybe a foreign calendar will help me get things done?
 
The new year is here again. I am a sucker for start-overs and new year's resolutions and fresh calendars.
 
My love for calendars, goes with my need for planning. I am incessantly conjuring possible new routines, ever hopeful that I will find one that empowers me to accomplish everything on my lists. Every dozen or so pages it seems, I diagram a variant of a routine in my sketch book. Neat blocks of time or messy arrows leading from one hour to the next. Wake at six, write for twenty minutes, fifteen minute breakfast/shower/dress, get girls up (of course, I will be ready for the day and ready to tackle any morning grumpiness directed at me by the sleepy children), out the door for school (early of course!)...well, any surprise that I mostly sleep in until the last possible moment and then it's me who is grumpy?
 
I've done this schedule-developing for years now and I don't think any have stuck. Mostly, life just changes and sometimes the change helps me fulfill a goal. My planning, re-planning, over-planning do not appear to accomplish much. And yet, I do not give up hope. I seem to be perpetually one perfectly planned daily routine away from having it all! And to be sure, 2013 will be no different.