This time of new beginnings

Many years ago now, Deb and I, who never send Rosh Hashannah cards, found the perfect ones and made an exception. And while the one I kept is elusive among my unsorted piles, I still remember the gist of the sentiment:

At this time of new beginnings
Let us do everything in our power
To ensure peace on earth
For all people, everywhere.

Though the cards are aged, the message is eternal. Wishing you all health and happiness in the coming year.

L'shannah tova.

To begin...

It's Labor Day for a few more short minutes. Summer is over for all intents and purposes. My semester starts tomorrow night at Swarthmore. GCD begins again on Wednesday after our August break. Fall is a time for beginnings - new shoes, new school supplies, new advenures...

To begin,
Catch your partner's eye
Before you cast off.
Just miss each other as you cross up,
But stay connected by a glance in the figure eight.
Briefly catch hands in the star, in the circle.
Linger, for an extra moment,
Then let the gate sweep you away.

Reunited, dance down the center
Holding a gaze, holding your breath.

Finally turn together,
Wrapped in the music and the moment.
Two move as one.
Begin.

New Feature!

I've long wanted to post photos and images on this blog, without getting overwhelmed by them. Then recently I gave in and started reading Oh Joy, the blog that every other home/design/crafty blog lists as a favorite or link, and while I don't always love everything that Joy chooses to post (she also has a design bit in the Inquirer every Friday), I love the simplicity of title, image, comment. And the comments are simple - a source, 1-2 sentences with a link.

Watch for this feature in addition to my oh-so-interesting to all 3-5 of you who read this posts...

To begin...

I have never been one to keep a journal or diary, with a very few exceptions. I've long been intrigued by the idea - as a creative outlet and a place to just write. But then I've always come down on the side of living life rather than just recording it. Then it hit me that for the last several years, I have been keeping a journal in the form of my ever-present notebooks where I write dance programs, jot down books I want to read, take notes from magazines, rather than just buying them, create packing lists, to-do lists, plan class, and a hundred other things. A read through those reminds me exactly of everything going on in life.

So then why give in to the urge to be electronic? A few reasons: to add writing to the note keeping (perhaps feeding that secret desire to be an essayist), to gather favorite things and ideas in one place, easily accessible, and last but not least, to have at least a passing familiarity with this internet thing (watch as Joanna attempt to caption pictures, create links, make text italic!). We'll see how it all goes. And if I can even keep it up.

This is not primarily a blog about other people, though they may crop up. It's not a tell-all, and in no way seeks to invade privacy. Instead it a collection of thoughts and ideas about pieces of my life, interesting to me, if no one else.

I've created a posting scheme which I completely reserve the right to stray from:

• Saturday - Cafes/Restaurants/Food
• Sunday - Pretty things
• Monday - News: What happened, what will
• Tuesday - Crafts/Projects
• Wednesday - Dance
• Thursday - Books
• Friday - Wish List/Indulgences/Grandiose Plans

Happy reading, oh you 3 or so people who will ever see this. Thanks for indulging me.