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three things we love

Ed Asner

The world lost a true humanitarian and a great actor last weekend--one of my absolute favorites: Ed Asner. It turns out he was one of Michael Moore's favorites too...Read here the statement Moore released upon learning of Asner's passing.

I happen to have a great Ed Asner story of my own which highlights my chutzpah, starting at a young age: I was living in Barcelona (where I lived from 1980-1985) and saw on the news that Ed Asner was in town. Being someone I really admired, not only due to his role as Lou Grant, but also because he was a political activist and always on the "right" side of political fights, he reminded me so much of my Dad. And because I was missing my father so much and I thought they were very similar in personality, political beliefs, etc, I thought--maybe I would try and find out where he was staying and just go over there and see if I could run into him..." My first guess of hotel was correct--The Ritz--and before I had even just asked if he was a guest, they put me through to his room and the next thing I knew he was on the other end of the phone. I stumbled with words before blurting out--I am an American, living in Barcelona, and you remind me so much of my dad...I was wondering, could I take you out to breakfast (thinking if I asked for breakfast, he wouldn't thing I was trying to pick him up). The next thing I knew he said, fine, but why didn't I come to his hotel and we could have breakfast there and he would take me out..." I coudn't believe my luck--I was goig to meet one of my idols! Next morning came around, we had a great breakfast and great conversation, and then he was due for an interview on a radio show. Since I knew Barcelona, he asked if I would go with him to show him where it was. When we got there, the interpreter didn't show up and the next thing I knew, I was filling in for the missing translater! I don't think I did a good job (that is no easy profession) and I remember speaking Spanish when I was supposed to be speaking English and vice versa), but we got through it and I guess I did good enough that he asked if I was free--maybe I could accompany him around Barcelona, kind of like his guide and assistant. Well, I said SURE! and I ended up spending the next three days with him, going around to different interviews, meetings, etc. You see, the TV show Lou Grant was a big deal in Spain too and the Spanish people loved him! One of the highlights of my time was going along to the Liceu, Barcelona's Opera House and sitting in on a dress rehearsal with Placido Domingo performing. Joan Baez happened to be in town also, and becaue famous people form some kind of club, she was invited to come too. I got to meet them both and sit in on a behind the scenes rehearsal--so much fun!
One other thing I learned for sure during that time: it is not fun to be famous. Ed's son, Matt, flew into town (I think he had been in Russia) to be with his Dad, and all they wanted to do was to spend some nice time together. Asner was so flooded by people asking for his autograph all the time and being the nice guy that he was, he didn't want to say no, so he ended up being interrupted every minute and not being able to really be with his son. I realized then and there that being recognized all the time is a curse, not a pleasure...

New York in Song

I do feel like an ostrich but I am needing a break right now from the news--just too much for my sensitive soul. As music seems to always do the trick, here is a smattering of some of my favorite songs about the city I love..To wake you up and get you out of bed this morning, the good old Ramones' and Rockaway Beach. And then let's go to the beautiful song The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon and Garfunkel. I am sure you are not surprised to see Leonard on this list too, in the Jennifer Warnes version of First We Take Manhattan and from his Songs of Love and Hate album, Famous Blue Raincoat. I haven't heard Joni Mitchell's Chelsea Morning in a long time. And of course how could I leave out the good old standards by Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra. and Duke Ellington's Take the A Train. And just to round it out with a different genre, a collaboration of Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes Empire State of Mind and a celebration of hiphop history from way back in 1987 entitled South Bronx.

Poet Jericho Brown

Jericho Brown. Photo courtesy © Brian Cornelius

Krista Tippett is a font of knowledge and her podcast ON BEING is my go to when I am looking for a little spiritual boost or a kick in the ass to keep going. I tuned in and found this great conversation from their archives between her and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Jericho Brown. Listen to it here.

Poetry is one of those things that most people are afraid of for some reason or another--Brown describes that when he gets on a plane, a sure way to not be bothered by others is to say right away that he is a poet...He says a lot of things too that make a lot of sense to me and I quote a few of those here: On the subject of hope: “Hope is always accompanied by the imagination . The will to see what our physical environment seems to deem impossible. Only the creative mind can make use of hope, only a creative people can yield it…”
His definition of integrity: the ability to be who you are, no matter the audience" and on writing: "you haven’t written anything until you say something you didn’t expect to say—and that is the beginning…" and "the more authentically and deeply we can speak from our particular experience, we speak to the particular experience of others….not quite logical that it should work that way..."

It is not often that poetry makes Time Magazine. Here is one poem of his that did:

FOREDAY IN THE MORNING
by Jericho Brown

My mother grew morning glories that spilled onto the
walkway toward her porch
Because she was a woman with land who showed as much
by giving it color.
She told me I could have whatever I worked for. That
means she was an American.
But she’d say it was because she believed
In God. I am ashamed of America
And confounded by God. I thank God for my citizenship in spite
Of the timer set on my life to write
These words: I love my mother. I love black women
Who plant flowers as sheepish as their sons. By the time the blooms
Unfurl themselves for a few hours of light, the women who tend them
Are already at work. Blue. I’ll never know who started the lie that we are lazy,
But I’d love to wake that bastard up
At foreday in the morning, toss him in a truck, and drive him under God
Past every bus stop in America to see all those black folk
Waiting to go work for whatever they want. A house? A boy
To keep the lawn cut? Some color in the yard? My God,
we leave things green.

Brown, a Louisiana native, is the author of The New Testament and Please

Worth a listen too also is a virtual conversation he had with Nikky Finney, his old writing teacher, an an acclaimed poet and award winner herself .

painting of the week

Gert Mathiesen, mixed media monoprint on rice paper, available in giclee print only, 70” x 44” approx. $4500.

artSHOP:
Small Framed Animal Prints

on sale this week: $100 each (reduced from $150)--email pamsmilow@me.com to get discount

Please donate to the Innocence Project

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 and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.