three things we love

Louis Armstrong illustration by Austrian artist Adi Holzer, who currently lives in Denmark,.

There is a lot of controversy around facebook these days and I share this hesitation. But one of the indisputable facts is that it is a great big bulletin board that enables people to share, across the globe, little gems like this one, courtesy of my Samoan friend Lelei Lelaulu:

“A grandson of slaves, a boy was born in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans. His father abandoned the family when the child was an infant. His mother became a prostitute and the boy and his sister had to live with their grandmother. He was gifted for music and with three other kids he sang in the streets of New Orleans for coins. A Jewish family, Karnofsky, who had emigrated from Lithuania to the USA, had pity for the 7-year-old and brought him into their home. Initially giving 'work' in the house, they fed this hungry child. There he remained and slept in this home where, for one of the first times in his life, he was treated with kindness and tenderness. When he went to bed, Mrs. Karnofsky sang him a Russian lullaby that he would sing with her. Later, he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs. Over time, this boy became like an adopted son of this family. The Karnofskys gave him money to buy his first musical instrument. They sincerely admired his musical talent. Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used Jewish melodies in some of his compositions. The young boy grew up and wrote a book about this family who had adopted him in 1907. In memory of them, and until the end of his life, he wore a Star of David and said that in this family he had learned "how to live real life and determination." You might recognize his name. This little boy was called Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong."

Steel Cut Oatmeal—it’s all about the toppings!

My favorite: peanut butter, maple syrup and banana

If you are coming out of the pandemic like me quite a few pounds up, oatmeal might just be a good breakfast choice: it is healthy and filling at the same time. Nutritionally speaking, oats are great because they are a water-soluble fiber-- which leads to a nice feeling of fullness, can help with the regulation of blood sugar and lowers the harmful LDL-cholesterol, so reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The only problem for me is that the last time I had oatmeal was at Judgment Ridge Camp in Keene, New Hampshire in 1967 when I was eleven years old and I absolutely hated it and said never again. Claudia, my college roommate who I just shared a house with for a couple of weeks, has the steel cut variety every morning so she convinced me to try it again 54 years later and provided me with a good recipe. Never say never. I am a convert! The trick was staying away from the mushy instant stuff and adding the right toppings! She personally combines the oatmeal with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a little bit of honey or maple syrup. Voila! Delicious and totally filling. I now realize it is all about what you add on top.

I am not a royal watcher. In fact, I got into a heated discussion recently about the value of monarchies in general (you can guess what side I came down on). But as of late, Prince Harry of the British Royal Family is speaking out in important ways about his own mental health issues around the death of his mother and his role as part of the royal British family. His new series collaboration with Oprah Winfrey entitled The Me You Can't See on Apple TV is an attempt to unstigmatize mental illness and bring it out of the closet. Harry's treatment has included a type of process called EmDR which particularly interests me and is something I have personally experienced with a therapist I have grown to trust in Portland, Maine.
EMDR, (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of therapy that was specifically designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in soldiers, but is now also being applied for wider use. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. The goal is to help patients process upsetting memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the trauma they suffered by “reprogramming the brain” (in lay terms) through methods that include rapid eye movements and tapping. To find out more about how EMDR works and its effect on the brain, click here and watch here to see Prince Harry in his own EMDR session.

painting of the week

Pam Smilow Three Blood Moons mixed media on canvas 50” x 80” $8500

This week's featured charity:
National Dance Institute

Another Self Portrait going grey in the time of Covid…

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her, check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.