Author: Sheila Yates

We’re going to enter an engrossing period of fast-paced change in the world of design!
Firstly, there would be a gathering…But, where?  You know how it is. New beginnings always mean LOCATION, LOCATION! But which location?

Granted, the U.S. had Frank Lloyd Wright; Germany, the Bauhaus; and England, Wm. Morris, but Paris had a whole conglomeration of memorable characters who would flourish and create radical new design movements of

MINIMALISM, SURREALISM and MODERNISM.

They would entwine and develop almost simultaneously!

THE CORRECT ANSWER???   OF COURSE, PARIS!

Surely the most mixed bag of design diversity ever imagined. If the economy was a virtual roller coaster, the center of design was a giant ferris wheel, steeped in pomposity, going round and round.

The same thing over and over.

The new idealists were bored. They wanted their place in design history and all were ready. Combined with their human story, a perfect scenario was created for our vicarious visit as we navigate some important design history.  Hop On Board!

One of the earliest of Minimalist’s ‘in the beginning was Adolf Loos who wrote in 1908 “Ornament can be equated with crime.” And he set forth his reductive principle of plain moldings and the barest of essentials creating furniture that was solid, stolid, and unadorned as shown in his hallway.

Loos was creatively unique and outspoken. He strongly supported an article with an awesome title discussing the value of having buildings designed by more than one architect expressing this view…”I am an opponent of the trend that considers it desirable that a building along with everything in it should be designed by one architect…the building can have a monotonous appearance as a result.” The title of this article doesn’t seem to have a lot of hope… “Spoken into the Void”.

He entered an international skyscraper competition and designed a colossal Doric column…

1922

the Chicago Tribune considered it a design travesty and it was easily rejected.  It was a time for new design waves… design that was on the brink of fresh insights and innovative ideas.

Therefore, it seems to be expedient that for any of us experiencing run-of-the-mill closet overload——too much furniture and never enough wall space for art collections to consider implementing today’s motif:

MINIMALISM!!!

Loos studied internationally, Chicago, New York, Vienna, and Paris where he became enamored with the black American dancer who rose to phenomenal Parisian fame and popularity…her tribute to minimalism was in the form of dancing minimally, no clothing as Josephine quipped…

“I wasn’t really naked, I simply didn’t have any clothes on.”

On June 3, 1906, Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in the slums of St. Louis, MO. Growing up, she cleaned houses and babysat for the wealthy. She was a mere child when one employer burned her hands as punishment for putting too much soap in the laundry——Josephine was eight years old.    Trying to get to a better place, she ran away at age 13, married and divorced in that year, learned to dance and was signed to dance for a vaudeville show. When she was a 15 year old, she met and married for the second time a railroad worker William Baker. Her second marriage was also short-lived but she kept the Baker name throughout her life.

From there, she went to Harlem where she performed in musicals, danced to bands led by Duke Ellington and other American jazz musicians eventually arriving in Paris at the time when there was  a newfound obsession with black culture, and a generation of French men and women who collected African art, jazz, and danced the Charleston. When she swung onstage in her costume of bananas sewn to a skirt and a necklace of swinging beads er costume, consisting only of a short skirt of artificial bananas and a beaded necklace, she became an iconic image and a symbol both of the Jazz Age and the Roaring twenties. Baker was stunning, as shown in this image by the artist Paul Colin, 1927.

She enchanted audiences by dancing a comic jungle-type Charleston. (Theatre des Champs-Elysees spokesperson Ophélie Lachaux in 1921 told the AP, “And, that’s why they asked Josephine to dance something ‘tribal’, ‘savage’, ‘African-like’.”)

She advanced her career in ways unprecedented for a woman of that time. Leading couturiers in the ’20s, dressed Baker, jewelry was designed and created for her that she sold along with her famous hair and skin pomades. With the profits, Baker moved into the Château des Milandes,

a 24-room mansion in southwestern France; adopted 12 children from around the world; called them her “Rainbow Tribe”

and kept a menagerie of exotic companions such as a cheetah.

Josephine was always a woman of the people and for the people: During World War II, she aided the French Resistance by using her celebrity status to capture information for that organization, smuggling secret messages in invisible ink on her musical sheets. Josephine housed resistance fighters at her chateau and supplied them with visas. She attended parties and diplomatic functions including parties at the Italian Embassy that brought her in the orbit of high-ranking Axis bureaucrats. She collected information on German troop movements, and which harbors or airfields were in action. After the war in her uniform of a Lieutenant in the Auxiliaire Feminine, the Women’s Air Auxiliary of France.

Josephine was confident that her celebrity and connections would protect her, and that no one would suspect her of espionage. She wrote down intelligence on her hands and arms, pinning notes inside her underwear.

She said, when asked to volunteer, “France made me what I am. I will be grateful forever. The people of Paris have given me everything… I am ready, captain, to give them my life. You can use me as you wish.”   And Josephine was ready!

During the March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs in Washington, D.C. in 1963,  she was, notably, the only official female speaker to give an address at the March on Washington. Josephine stood alongside Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In her speech in front of a sea of people, she declared:

“You know, friends, that I do not lie when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents… But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.  And when I get mad, you know that I open my big mouth.  And then look out ‘cause when Josephine opens her mouth, they hear it all over the world…”

She hid Jewish refugees and weapons in her château. The Bakerskin cosmetics she had developed and sold helped pay for the poor and wounded after the war. Never once did she ask for or receive compensation for her wartime activities.

She received the Croix de Guerre, the Médaille de la Résistance, and Légion d’Honneur.

She died on April 12, 1975 and more than 20,000 people crowded the streets of Paris to watch the funeral procession on its way to L’Église de la Madeleine. The French government honored her with a 21-gun salute, making Josephine Baker the first American woman buried in France with full military honors! (* Vogue 1916)

Loos was not the only man enamored with Josephine, there were scores of others.

Ernest Hemingway described his fascination with Josephine Baker and later added that she was “The most sensational woman anybody ever saw. Or ever will.”

This is the house Loos designed for her to be built in Paris with horizontal bands of black-and-white marble, (some say this was because she was a  mulatto, probably far-fetched).

An enclosed swimming pool taking up two floors would be a dominant focal point. Skylights and a circular cafe was included for an entertainment center.

(One writer suggested the stark and cantilevered design baffled Josephine.)

The house was never built. 

PARIS (AP) — France is inducting Josephine Baker — Missouri-born cabaret dancer, French World War II spy, and civil rights activist — into its Pantheon, the first Black woman honored in the final resting place of France’s most revered luminaries.

French President Emmanuel Macron decided on her entry into the Pantheon, responding to a petition. In addition to honoring an exceptional figure in French history, the move was meant to send a message against racism and celebrate U.S.-French connections.  A coffin carrying soils from the U.S., France, and Monaco — places where Baker made her mark — were deposited inside the domed Pantheon monument overlooking the Left Bank of Paris. Her body stayed in Monaco, at the request of her family.

Josephine will forever be loved by the French people!

EUGENIA ERRAZURIZ  offered an admirable & exceptional second example of Minimalism!

Born in Chile of enormous wealth from family silver mines, she married a rich landscape painter Jose T. Errazuriz and moved to Europe. And yet, Eugenia made this quote her mission—— and she meant it…   “Throw out and keep throwing out!

Elegance means Elimination!   Eugenia Errazuriz!”

She introduced the color, Inca Pink to Parisiennes from her native Chile. It became a popular sensation when it was reintroduced as Shocking Pink by the Couturier Elsa Schiaparelli who made it her signature color by mixing just a little white into magenta in the late 1930’s. A new fashion color was born. Other couturiers would follow!

Eugenia charmed, captivated and influenced society, poets, musicians, writers and designers.

Her path to elegance was light years ahead of its time. It consisted of simple materials – brass, cotton, linen, muslin curtains, whitewashed walls and highly polished floors of fir, pine and stone.

“A house that does not alter,” she liked to say, “is a dead house.” “If the kitchen is not as well kept as the salon … you cannot have a beautiful house,” she declared.

The entry level to her home in Paris.

She combined her living and dining rooms into a single space.

Eugenia loved using antiques in her selective displays where her table was set with eighteenth century silver flatware saying, “It would be wrong to forget that people of taste existed in the 18th century.”

Living Room

Eugenia kept two paintings in her living room.

Both by Picasso

She stood out for the unconventional sparseness of her rooms.There were no formal bouquets. Instead, plants were displayed in their own containers.  She was partial to the scents of jasmine, lavender, lemon verbena, and rose geranium.

Eugenia launched a vogue for integrating garden furniture into upper-class interiors. The rudimentary original models of public gardens tables and chairs would emerge in the most elegant classic modernist forms.

In his book,  “The Glass of Fashion, 1944 “

Cecil Beaton paid this compliment to Eugenia, “Her effect on the taste of the last fifty years has been so enormous that many of the concepts of simplicity, can be laid at her remarkable doorstep.”

She forever valued art and sent Stravinsky 1,000 francs a month, plus a supply of tobacco.  He was HER composer. Picasso became HER painter, completing twenty-four drawings of Eugenia. Their friendship spanned 42 years.

White on White Portrait of Eugenia Errazuriz by Picasso 1921

Eugenia sent Picasso to her Biarritz villa to honeymoon with his first wife Olga. 

“The pianist Artur Rubinstein:” I have never known anyone with the unfailing uncanny taste of this woman. Whether in art, music, literature or interior decoration, she see, hears, feels, smells the real value, the real beauty.”  But Eugenia’s pursuit of exquisite simplicity and her generous donations to artists would not be cost-effective.

As the Second World War ended, her money had dwindled and she sold her belongings.

She was unable to restore her spirits. She returned to Chile and when seriously injured in an auto accident, said, “I am tired of living.  I wish to help God to take me out of this life.”

Eugenia stopped eating and died in 1954,—

“a minimalist to the end!”

Sy’s Salient Points: I had the privilege of meeting one of Josephine Baker’s adopted sons in New York City. My husband, daughter and I were there when I was scheduled to give a lecture on this very topic Minimalism at the Javits Center during a Thanksgiving Holiday. We had been told there was Restaurant and Supper Club called Chez Josephine on Theatre Row owned by Jean-Claude Baker. As I understand, he was not officially adopted by her, but became a part of her life when young and took her name.

We made reservations for six, two family friends joining us. Someone in our party asked if the owner was there that evening——he was and Jean-Claude joined our table for a bit  in our front window alcove table.

Needless to say, it was a lovely interlude as I shared some snippets about my lecture of Josephine, and he shared a story of the woman he called his Mother.

Jean-Claude Baker in Chez Josephine

Blog illustrations are from my original slide presentation for ASID, a design organization and various internet sites.  Part 2 of Minimalism soon to follow…

Happy May Day and almost summer vacation Darling Blaire!

WAS SHE INFLEXIBLE AND HEADSTRONG?? MOST ASSUREDLY!

HER MANTRA——

“IF I LIKE IT, IT’S RIGHT, IF I DON’T, IT ISN’T!”

DOROTHY was,———to the “manner born,” accustomed to grand houses, servants to answer to her every need, and an endless supply of money; best known as wealth and privilege. From both her mother’s and her father’s side——her ancestors and relatives were the first settlers in our American frontier(1630)——including, a long list of statesmen and a signee of the Declaration of Independence.  And another great, great Grandfather owned 75 clipper ships in Newport Harbor that carried valuable merchandise to and from the Orient.

BLUE CHIP

PLEASE MEET————DOROTHY DRAPER!

But firstly——there was a bit of a glitch——a galumph and a garump. An aberrant intervening began at age twelve and kept going into her teen age years. Years that would achingly loom for this little young lady!

Remember Alice in Wonderland when Alice’s life became “Curiouser and curiouser”? Because at age 12, her life took on Alice’s “curiouser” gauntlet.  Did she step through the looking glass to become Alice in Wonderland? She did!

Dorothy’s mirror showed a fledgling adolescent who kept growing taller and taller——taller than all the boys and girls in that small super upper crust enclave of Tuxedo Park in 1901 where she lived. Finally, after four long years during a family dinner party, she heard a man at a nearby table, exclaim “La jeune fille——queue jolie,” “What a good-looking and graceful young girl!” Dorothy finally emerged as a lovely statuesque 5’9” young woman. And, she had learned to glide into a room making every entrance an occasion, as her mother did.

Heads turned!

Hence forward, her indomitable and invincible spirit would carry her through.

Dorothy married handsome, tall, and witty Doctor Dan Draper from the Draper bluestocking family of clever, well-read, and highly intellectual women and men. Dan had been “a man about town” and their early years of marriage were spent socializing abroad in Europe and the U.S.                                   

It was also a time when she unknowingly had a glimpse into her future! (Dorothy decorated Dan’s bedroom in a fabric that cost “twenty cents a yard,”——with an unheard of fabric in her set, “blue denim!”  Blue denim would not become popular until the early 1950ties.) This was 1912!

Dan Draper and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were school friends, as were their wives, sharing many youthful events. As Dan’s prominence and brilliance rose, he began spending more and more time away from home embracing the study of exceptional diseases, one of them being poliomyelitis. (Dan became President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s personal Doctor at the onset and throughout  his struggles with polio.)  In the future he would also be credited as being the father of psychosomatic medicine after studying in Zurich with Dr. Carl Jung, the disciple of Freud.

Despite the fact that she and Dan had three children, Dorothy had unlimited free time. A live-in nanny resided with the children exclusively. Dorothy found she loved decorating their home. Visiting friends and guests were enchanted with her decorations——offering to buy their house with her furnishings and move right in——no changes. The Draper’s sold and moved down the street to a larger house. Guess what! Someone once again made a bid for their house and moving was becoming a pattern of life.

In the course of time, Dan Draper spent more time at his lab and completely lost interest in a social or home life with Dorothy.

At first decorating homes did keep Dorothy engaged, but she detested pleasing her client’s taste——and was ecstatic when asked to design a new museum in Greenwich Village. The goal she set for herself was to perk up and spice up museum decor——sooo——Dorothy designed vibrant sapphire blue satin curtains lined with a new shade——“chartreuse” as the linings. The equally colorful pull cords were bright scarlet.

It was a splendid accomplishment for this nouveau decorator!

Unprecedented design foresight was anchored deeply in Dorothy’s design DNA. She splashed onto the scene with a bright and effervescent color palette that evoked areas of nature, banishing beige and brown from her palette. calling them “gravy” colors.

In the twenties, Dorothy was a pioneer in the use of oversized flowers, (cabbage rose chintz)———bold contrasts and graphic black and white marble floors pushing and bending the boundaries of safe choices into more daring personalized interiors. Her signature colors were dark green, dead white and scarlet with a sometimes nod at turquoise and fuchsia. AND, she never cared about the opinion of others——with no training, she savored her own decorating taste!

In the 1930ties, she was given a marvelous commission——the lobby of the Carlyle Hotel.

Her lobby floor was of black and white marble while using images of a Holy Roman Empire theme. With dramatic friezes of horsemen, gladiators, runners and bust of Roman heroes, satin draperies and circular banquets softening the look, the lobby was a standout and would continue to be for multiple years. The drama was complete and the Carlyle did not renovate the lobby for years.

BREAKING THE MOLD!

REALITY!

Dan, after 17 years of marriage asked for a divorce. It was unexpected. She could not believe Dan preferred another woman and one twenty years younger. Dorothy was deeply hurt even though she had been devoting almost complete time to her own career. They had been a charismatic couple, rich, photogenic and popular. A beautiful family that tangibly had begun to lead separate lives. Divorce terrified her and in her mind meant that she was now a social pariah…

AND MORE! Equally heart rendering for Dorothy was the confluence of disastrous monetary events that also put her at the epicenter of shocking losses. She could not fathom that her early life style would change.  She deserved a rich, monied married life——her birthright was carved in stone. She was convinced she had been promised to be rich forever, but then…

——1929———— IN A SPLIT SECOND——HER MONEY WAS KAPOOT!
DOROTHY WAS RELATIVELY  “POOR”!

A feeling of darkness led to a point where she felt she couldn’t cope but she would and did so. Impelled to seek a form of forceful mental strength, Dorothy sought and found a successful mentor. His teachings of self-belief would virtually take her to to a world of decorating stardom. With fervor and zeal, Dorothy studied and accepted the visualization techniques of Norman Vincent Peale.  (Followers were to “overcome their fears because nothing consumed energy like fear.”)

TIME TO SOAR, DOROTHY——
CHUTZPAH!

Destiny was omnipresent when another developer admired her talent, initiative, energy and imagination on the Hotel Carlyle lobby. He hired Dorothy to resuscitate a block of dreary cold-water tenement flats he owned on Sutton Place. The neighborhood was not desirable and she was given a very small budget for this “address of nobodies.” There was one positive——an excellent river view!

It was said that she paced up and down this Sutton Place street and then the spark of an idea surfaced that would bestow mega attention on Dorothy and that dreary urban landscape. Her idea was to make the building disappear!——

FROM TENEMENT FLATS TO IN-DEMAND LUXURY APARTMENTS
DOROTHY painted all the flats JET BLACK!

The windows, fire escapes and balconies were a flat white and for individuality each and every door was painted a different bright color. They became sought-after luxury apartments. And it increased her  power two-fold——she got society to move to an unfashionable neighborhood!

When Dorothy began her popular business in 1925 she believed anyone could have her look of “Great Beauty” by eliminating clutter, conspicuous antiques, and matching furniture ensembles. She called her style,

“Modern Baroque!”

She needed to create new opportunities as hardship still continued to overshadow life with the market’s 1929 financial wreckage. She found balance by moving into one of her own newly designed Sutton Place flats with her third child, Penelope who was given the one and only bedroom while Dorothy slept on the sofa.

Dorothy painted everything in that small scale apartment sky blue——walls, moldings, ceilings, furniture, picture frames and even a tall mahogany secretary  along with the same blue color draperies.  She wrote an article for magazines on how she had made their small apartment look larger sharing details and how-to’s——Vogue and Harper’s photographed it and included Penelope’s dog.
The woman’s magazine Good Housekeeping recruited Dorothy to write a monthly column focusing on affordable ideas for making homes comfortable.

Boundless ambition led her to write books on self-decorating and entertaining for middle class housewives as she continued to remodel her life into one of  positivity.

Side note: I have a copy of this 1939 book “Decorating Is Fun” with 245 pages filled with well-thought out directions and prudent meticulous advice for that time period. Following ex:

She adored mixing styles and periods in her own haphazard manner and loved large black and white marble floor tile with walls of white plaster appliques using grand scroll and shell motifs——her plasterwork, shiny black patent leather walls, striped wall paper walls so wide they had to be stenciled on, art deco, chintz, and her love of the baroque were her forte.

Her punched-up color wheel combined grass green, scarlet, wine, watermelon, coral, turquoise and yellow.  Always providing the piece de resistance in her eyes———lots of gleaming white and black!

She did not like small men throughout her whole life, plus she did not like wood——painting it white, also she abhorred posts, pillars, spindles, wainscoting, panels, spandrels, shutters, sconces, molding, beading and fretwork.  

Years later when Dorothy was asked if she felt combining home life and a career to be difficult. She replied, “Absolutely not!” (Dorothy failed to mention she was helped along with a household staff of at least seven, two live-in maids, a live-in cook, a nanny who lived in the nursery, a day cleaning lady, a furnace man, plus a secretary or two for her business.)

Dorothy  continued to push boundaries through innovation, championing sustainability while delivering timeless solutions well into the 1950’s.

Dorothy died at age 80 in 1969.

EXAMPLES FROM FAMOUS DECORATING COMMISSIONS BY DOROTHY DRAPER:
PLASTERWORK MOTIFS from HAMPSHIRE HOUSE APARTMENTS

 BLACK AND WHITE MARBLE FLOOR——DRAKE HOTEL——CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

WALLPAPER EXAMPLES

THE GRAND HOTEL——MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN

THE 1952 PACKARD  “FASION-KEYED BY DOROTHY DRAPER”

“THE HIGH STYLE OF DOROTHY DRAPER” EXHIBITION WHERE A WHOLE ROOM WAS CREATED USING HER EXACT DESIGN WORK——

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. MAY, 2006

Dorothy Draper’s most iconic commission was the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia featuring 500 rooms and. surrounded by 3,000 acres and is a story/blog in itself!

INSIDE THE GREENBRIER

THE CLOCK ROOM

CANDOR, POISE, AND SELF-BELIEF

DOROTHY DRAPER
SHE WAS INVINCIBLE!

Sy’s Salient Points: Previously there was a New York Design Week every year  at the end of October where I was asked to lecture for a few years. At that time, glorious Christmas decorations appeared like magic. My husband, daughter and I had a small tradition of going to the Carlyle Hotel for drinks and hearty snacks after my lecture.  We always invited some New York friends to join us for evening cocktails. I have many, many good memories of those joyous occasions.

My husband and I stayed at the Greenbrier and attended lectures while also exploring the interiors and grounds of the Hotel’s 3000 acres——not all 3000!  The brightly colored interiors are fun and dynamic. On one section of the grounds are small cottages to rent. Dorothy nicknamed the hotel “a Brobdingnagian monster of a bowling alley,”

Carleton Varney, her protégé who worked with her bought the firm after Dorothy died and it is still in her name today. Varney’s two sons now run Dorothy Draper & Co.

Various print and encyclopedia sources were used for this blog.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY DARLING BLAIRE

ST. LOUIS UNION TRAIN STATION  1894

I took my mother’s hand as we made our way into St. Louis’s 1894 spectacular Union Train Station filled with freeways of train tracks, gold leaf ceilings, arches and richly colored stained glass windows. My mother and I walked down the vast indoor entry staircase under the glorious Whispering Arch.

I couldn’t resist——I whispered to my Mother, “Did you hear a whisper?  She whispered back to me that we had to proceed to another area to hear our whispers. “Right now,  we immediately need to find our train track. ”

The arch was stunning with a Tiffany stained glass window in the background.

We were on our way to a new adventure: my first ice skating adventure. It was a summer ice skating program and we were to be there only three weeks because we did not want to leave my Daddy too long who was at home alone. I would take lessons from a coach who taught beginners and then I would take a figure test where three judges would check to see if I was on the right skate edge when I created a pattern on brand new clean ice.  (Perfect circles counted big time and that was pretty much what my first test comprised——perfect circles, traced on the right edges——Big Time For Me!))

Example: (Skater in below illustration is practicing part of an advanced pattern where three circles were completed on one foot using inside and outside edges with loop patterns on top and bottom.  After completing those first three correct circle sizes on clear ice, he is practicing it over and over . Here he is pushing off to start one more time on an inside skate edge.)                                                                                                                             

At 11 year of age, I was petrified to stand in front of those judges and do my first simple circles of edges. But that was only the genesis of what would be years of more tests, years of standing in front of judges on clear ice (a nervously and jittery, hopeful)  skater creating those compulsory figure shapes well. Moving up to more and more difficult tests.  During  the winters, I skated  at my home rink in St. Louis.

My summer skating experiencer s took place in different states and Canada with continued learning sessions of foot work, jumps and spins. Whole days are set aside for testing and the skaters who tested on that day checked on bulletin boards at the end of the day. If you found your name posted on the bulletin board, you passed. Thrilled and nonplussed, my eleven year old self saw her name that first summer in Minnesota——I passed my first test!

I want to offer a few breadcrumbs of a new design force in the design trade that is and will-be a gee whiz true-value happening now and forever more; a topic I would like to discuss more in 2026. It’s an important and extraordinary doozy.

If we travel behind the scenes to 1984, we happen upon Professor Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University who wrote a book titled…..

“Biophillia.”*

(When I first encountered the word biophillia, no kudos from me. I thought it sounded like one more fancy term that would never be important to me or would ever interest me,— I  was wrong.) As Professor Wilson explained, “…it may well tell us why individuals fill their homes with plants and pets and are instinctively drawn to certain landscapes.” In other words, it is a human tendency to commune with nature and be closely tied to other forms of life. Biophillia completely captured the attention of architects and designers with myriad bells & whistles.

Because the basic principles of this universal future trend features the affiliation of nature inside our homes and buildings. It offers a system of ideas intended to strive and explain how to recuperate, regenerate, and make people healthier by helping other life and even planetary systems actively introduce natural light, outside views, greenery and different techniques of construction. Bring the Outside In!

That is an important premise of the doctrine of “BIOPHILLIA.”

(One precept of this design phenomena is a return to the framing of buildings using the construction method of “mass plywood”.)

The aforementioned example shows the sensitiveness of Biophilia where this building used a linked network of exposed metal structures including staircases that were erected with minimal “on-site labor.”

Equally important in the above building is the employment of the “mass plywood” method where massed plywood architecture uses large portions of salvaged trees. It is more affordable and is a faster build.)

The architectural plans of the 2028 San Antonio Airport will include another component of the use of “mass timber” that shall contribute lightness and flexibility. An ideal method for fast and lean construction crews completion.

Biophillia has abundantly diverse and copious facets to delve into and my blog will explore more in the future.

In the spirit of showcasing the attributes of healthy wellness is the gift of beautiful outdoor scenery, I want to again turn back the pages, this time to the 1990’s and share a story and a poem that led me to being a teeny-tiny participant in a yearly art gallery show and I am not an artist!

My husband and I shared a friendship with a talented couple, one, a painter and his partner, a mat artist. They offered a yearly doozy of a fantastical art show in their home of a “thousand rooms”.  Guests walked over bridges, around small pools and outdoor landscapes into gallery rooms throughout the property. Their presentations were genuinely thoughtful and engaging.

The artist asked me if I would write a poem that described a favorite painting of his for that year’s gallery show.

My poem is a Lilliputian expression of Biophillia where I hoped my prose would share a form of synchronization with the majestic outdoors of the natural world and lead us “into the gallery” through this artist’s artful vision.

“DESERT SHADOWS”

Nature’s monuments belong to the shadows and to the sun, to the rain, to the clouds, and to the wind, – where enchantment is spun

Noble canyons rise to rocky summits and stand alone venerable thickets of brush where chasms are honed the lure of the desert offers its dry river of stone

Glowing – a shaft of light

Celebrate the season – celebrate life!

Poem by Sheila Yates

My husband and I agreed, the whole event of writing my poem and attending the gallery show was a lovely and special celebration!

Sy’s Salient Points:

*The term biophilia was used by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), which described biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”

I love walking around the grounds and park sides of my retirement facility. It reinforces pleasureful upbeat feelings and a sense of belonging to nature. I bring the feelings of being “outside back in” to my apartment.

I  hope you enjoyed reading Desert Shadows and my wish to each and everyone is for all to have……A Harmonious and Festive and Safe Holiday Season!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year My Darling Blaire

I had never heard of this park! Nor, was it like any other park in my memory. Yes, it had rolling hills of greenery, trees and flowers galore, streams, rivers and lakes, but inside this park was a small village—a locked village. Residents were free to come and go; it’s just that you or I could not come and go. We could not enter those locked gates unless we had an invitation——we had to FIT IN!!!   (I personally would have had to peek through the gates.)

This was the home of a noteworthy and moneyed society. Hands down: you just had to be really, really rich to live here. It was called Tuxedo Park and following is its story and the story of a pretty little girl named Dorothy Tuckerman who was born into this exclusive community.

Tuxedo Park was in the Ramapo mountains about 40 miles from New York City and its representation of the Gilded Age when it opened in 1889. Originally only twenty-four future residents received a welcoming nod to live in this park where only the preferential lived!

Firstly, it’s time to talk about a group of the gilded glitterati of the late 1880’s and one of the “glitterers” who lived in New York City. This glitterati was the first man to be called a millionaire. Count Pierre Lorillard IV, the tobacco king!

And…from day one, Pierre started out in the haute monde. He grew up in a 68 room solid stone mansion of precise fabrication.

Count Pierre Lorrillard IV,  inherited thousands of acres of undeveloped wilderness from relatives in the state of New York that had formerly been a winter utopia for local Indian tribes. Pierre wanted more and more of that wilderness——and Pierre was an

outstanding poker player.

EASY PEASY———,

DUCK SOUP!

Pierre went on to win a lot more of that acreage with those poker skills of his from some of those same relatives. He formed a private fishing and hunting community in his beautiful out-of-doors countryside surrounded by awe-inspiring large and small lakes. This region of timeless beauty was filled with blueberries surrounded by clumps of rhododendrons and dogwood.

Pierre Lorrilard imported 1800 workers from Italy in 1885 and built them a shanty town with a mess hall and bunk houses. Wasting no time, Lorrilard hired an architect, Bruce Price to design cottages covered with russet and gray shingles along with buildings that had the appearance of having been there for hundreds of years making those 5,ooo acres of wilderness worth more by tucking living spaces into the surrounding woodland while still keeping the original woodland with its magical heart. His workers built thirty miles of graded dirt roads and a water and sewage system——the first complete one in the world.

They built a main picturesque gatehouse manned by a police force and police station, twenty-two cottages, two blocks of stores, village stables, a post office, drugstore and market, all covered in moss and lichen. Then the Italian craftsmen built a four-story clubhouse matching the other old-time looking structures with one hundred guest bedrooms and one bathroom. There’s more!

A village theatre complete with stage footlights. He called his village and park, “Tuxedo Park.”

        About Tuxedo Park: Part One

Tuxedo Park opened in the fall of 1886 with a gala Autumn Ball!

Seven hundred guests arrived on three special trains from New York City and were then transported to the clubhouse in green and yellow brightly painted open horse-drawn buses and tallyhos. Gamekeepers came out from the forest wearing green and gold uniforms while walking along the roads wearing Tyrolese hats decorated with large perky black cock feathers. The whole picturesque domain conveyed an atmosphere of celebration. Sightseers were allowed to roam the property on this one opening occasion and could be found checking out the one bathroom in the clubhouse. Some were transported in barges on the lakes with eight-men rowing crews wearing sailor suits. Continuing with the green and gold club colors were full liveried attendants who worked as footmen, waiters and hallmen to attend to clubhouse guests.

AND

One of the founder’s sons, a member of the Lorillard family had  just returned from England where he was a guest of the Prince of  Wales who wore a short hip-length formal jacket. No tailcoat. Lorillard had the tails removed from his tailcoat and wore a Satin Lapel Dinner Jacket to the First Autumn Ball. He named his tailless black jacket the tuxedo after his father’s,”Tuxedo Park.”

The “tuxedo” short jacket caught on and became fashionable for formal wear.

In reality, Tuxedo Park was a fortress. You could not enter without an invitation. There was an eight-foot fence around the property with a private police force on guard around the park grounds day and night and at each of the four gates to the dominion.

Children played freely. In winter, there was skating and skiing. servants dragged sleds and bobsleds to a toboggan slide a half mile long that was electrically lighted at night. Sleigh bells jingled as the children traveled between the distant great housesthey played on their ponies at horse shows, had dog shows and bicycle races, and swam in the lakes.

Prior to Tuxedo Park becoming a luxury village to the rich, this unparalleled Indian hunting and fishing sanctuary was to be no more. Lorillard had the lakes stocked with one hundred thousand bass and German carp. Unfortunately for the bass, nothing could stop the carp from eating the bass. The carp grew fatter and fatter!

Eventually the children managed to domesticate the deer whereupon they could be found adorned with pink ribbons.

Furthermore, when the beaters flushed the imported quail and pheasants toward shooting parties, the birds soared and surpassed the hunters flying to the blue skies of freedom or escaping to open fields where they thrived and enjoyed their future liberty.

One of the first cottages to be built was the Bruce Price Cottage designed by Bruce for his wife Josephine. He was also the architect for all the original buildings in Tuxedo Park.

BRUCE PRICE COTTAGE

TUXEDO PARK ARCHITECTURAL VISIONS OF BRUCE PRICE:

THE CHANLER COTTAGE

THE LORILLARD FAMILY COTTAGE

ORIGINAL TUXEDO PARK CLUBHOUSE

There was also a Tuxedo Park Club membership of four hundred who were invited to visit and stay in the clubhouse as guests for parties, sporting events, and celebrations and be a part of this American posh one-of-kind home town.

It was the first Country Club in the U.S. Guests came by trains owned by some club and resident park members.

Pierre invited two dozen patrician families to join his exclusively gated community of residents. Paul Tuckerman and his bride, Susan were among the original invitees to reside there. They were among this group of a private sort whose names did not appear in print at this time, but were extremely rich.

Susan Tuckerman’s flair for new fashion ventures caused raised eyebrows as she became a style-setter when she rode her horse wearing a divided-skirt sitting astride her horse, Susan continued to do so when she could be seen strolling around the lake wearing a tweed skirt that cleared the ground showing her ankles and yet, Susan was still considered to be a perfect lady.

Three years after the bride and groom moved to their new home, their first child was born. Her name was Dorothy and one day in the future, Dorothy would turn heads with her own brand of style-setting. One of her childhood friends was her cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt. The Tuckerman’s erected five residences in Tuxedo Park throughout the years, including a red brick mansion where they lived with their two children—Dorothy and her brother, Roger.

Surrounded by woodland, Dorothy’s home was impeccably decorated and treasures were tastefully displayed. There was a desk owned by a Tuckerman ancestor, Oliver Wolcott, signer of the Declaration of Independence, wine coolers given to his son by George Washington and imported Chinese screens, silks, furniture and carvings brought from China and packed in green tea.

THE CHILDHOOD HOME OF DOROTHY AND ROGER TUCKERMAN

Although the children of the village roamed freely throughout the property, they were not allowed to roam into the Tuxedo Park Clubhouse, but it did allow the children to enter its prestigious interiors on Sunday afternoon where the clubhouse served hot cider and doughnuts. Of course, wearing their best they were also under the supervision of their nannies and governesses.

DOROTHY DRESSED FOR CIDER AND DOUGHNUTS

Exclusions existed even among the richest of the rich who might wish to live in Tuxedo Park. Actually all races and creeds were excluded unless you were of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant breed. Mark Twin who rented a cottage in Tuxedo Park said,”Good breeding conceals how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of others.”

You could say, this was exemplified at Tuxedo park!

         MARK TWAIN OUTSIDE HIS COTTAGE

And the pretty little girl named Dorothy grew up under the tutelage of tutors and her governess Mademoiselle with a lot of freedom and not a lot of formal education.  A two year stint at a fashionable Manhatten all-girls school was an unhappy experience and she was allowed to return home to study with tutors and Mademoiselle. Her independence and individuality were her major strengths and yearly trips to Europe compiled her excellent French and knowledge of art, light and color, antiques, fashion and jewelry.

But first, she had to experience the frustrations of being an exceedingly tall young teenage girl…

Part Two, Coming soon.

SHE WAS INVINCIBLE!

Sy’s Salient Points:

This extraordinary biodiverse village and architectural wonderland with its beautiful landscapes made this historic village unique.

The predominant figures in Tuxedo Park concentrated on inclusivity and virtually no flexibility. In 1873 Mark Twain co-authored a book titled “The Gilded Age,” a satire of the leading figure of the day. The label stuck for the period from roughly the 1870s to the early 1900s, an era characterized by industrialization, wealth, and political corruption. 

Research: Lecture series——Sheila Yates, author——Carleton Varney, Britannica, Wikipedia

Happy Halloween Darling Blaire!

I have invited a “guest writer” to share a part of the magical happenings from the land of Rapa Nui. Her story brings forth the sensory experience of the strength and humanism found in this unique historical site. Blaire’s visit has enriched my knowledge of the compassionate kindness of the Rapa Nui community.

EASTER ISLAND

       The Moai Statues at Sunset: My granddaughter Blaire joins the traditional “good night” sunset.

(Every statue on the island faces into the island. Are they watching over the past and the future inhabitants of Rapa Nui ?)

Blaire:

“Easter Island is the most remote place that you can travel to by commercial airplane. This summer, I had the opportunity to go with my parents, and it was an incredible experience that I will never forget. From Arizona, we took an hour flight to Los Angeles, eleven hours to Santiago, and then another five to Easter Island. Between flights, we spent time in Santiago exploring the city, flying down to Patagonia, and seeing the beautiful glaciers. 

History/Sights:

Easter Island is known by three different names: “Easter Island”, “Rapa Nui”, and “Isla de la Pascua”. These three names might sound extremely different, but one thing is for certain – the island is full of history that connects us as people. It is known most famously for its statues, the Moai. I will get to that later, but first I want to touch on some of the other amazing experiences available. My top three would have to be …

1.  The Quarry (Ranu Raraku)

2.  The statues themselves (Moai)

3.  The volcano (Orongo)

The Quarry:

The Quarry (Rano Raraku) was definitely my most anticipated and rewarding sight. Upon entering, there is a “toll/check” booth. You have to have a guide to enter, and some of the sights you can only visit once on your trip! After that, there is a small table with different kinds of rocks. Each rock has a specific purpose for creating the statues, and the location of the quarry was chosen with immense precision along with the rock’s durability and appearance.

(The hats on some Moai are red lava and the statue’s bodies are black lava. Each kind comes from a different part of the island.

Walking through the actual quarry was a life changing experience. There are statues along the way that have been broken or are just simply “practice” pieces. So, they are discarded and left in their final resting places.

Each statue is cut out in one piece, so there is no way to fix it once it breaks! There are even some statues that had been started on during the chiseling process, but are forever frozen in their original place.

The people of Easter Island would then take the finished statue and transport it to its final location.

The Actual Statues:

The Statues (Moai) After a 15 minute drive, we arrived at the most famous sight (Tonariki) – 15 statues lined up in a straight line. There are three more empty spaces, forever empty and waiting to be filled. The process is the same: walk up with our guide, the toll person stamps our passes, and then we enter. The statues are huge – some at least 40 feet tall! Most are bare headed, and some had special “hats” on, that were made at a different preparation site.  Each face/body is specific and different.  I stood there in awe, imagining myself speaking to the Moai, hearing them say, “I am here to protect my people; please respect us as we respect you.” I wish I could have gone up to feel closer to them, and to bask in all their glory. I could not, because of the barriers protecting them. They are exquisite!

Walking around the island, there are statues everywhere, left not fully finished. Some people say that there are bones buried underneath, but no one knows the true reason for these statues being lined up in their meticulous spots. I asked my mom what she thought and she said, “The basic things you need to survive are water, food, and shelter. After those are secure, people can begin to create.” This perfectly explained the purpose in my head. We might not know the exact reason, but we know that people like, and also live, to create. This gives us worth and joy in today’s age, so I have zero doubt that it was the same in the past.

The Volcano:

The volcano (Rano Kau) was actually our first stop of the day. We visited Orongo, the village at the top of the volcano. This sight is one of the few that you need a guide, but can also enter on your own from the opposite side. The side that we entered with our guide featured a few signs with information on the volcano, as well as a perfect view of the “Motus” – three islands serving the “bird man competitions”. This is when each chief, or person representing the chief, had to compete to show their rank on the island. A special bird would lay its eggs on one of the Motus. The competitors had to climb down the volcano into the water, swim to one of the islands, find the egg, and swim back with it intact. The first person to find the egg wins!

There is also another way to access the volcano, through driving or hiking. My parents and I hiked and got to see the other side of the volcano. It’s a gorgeous view – looking at a giant empty hole in the ground. It’s surreal to think about, that this volcano used to spew lava that hurt, and sometimes killed, people.

Now, the previous angry and violent creation is a hollow and filled with beautiful flora and fauna. I love to think about Mother Nature, and of what she is truly capable. The volcano also has healing properties, being where “Rapa Mycin” was founded (an important anti organ rejection drug), along with being one of three of the island’s main sources of water. Yet another one of earth’s beauties and legacies.

Culture:

Another favorite part of this trip would have to be the people. As someone who has traveled a fair amount, I know that locals aren’t always fond of Americans. They also aren’t usually afraid to show it. But from the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt welcomed. Each person local to the island has their own personal story, and it shows in their every day lives. There is virtually no crime, and it feels safe to walk at night. Even as we walked through the cemetery – each person was dedicatedly mourned. Their resting spots are kept clean and are decorated, with string lights hung around to keep the area bright. The people of the island value their own in death just the same as in life, which I found especially beautiful and moving. As we walked around the island, multiple people told us, “yurana”. This is the native tongue for hello. Some people spoke magnificent English, and others spoke broken English, but everyone always made sure to say “yurana.”

So, yurana! To everyone, thank you for reading about my experience and my section of my Granna’s incredible blog, and thank you for reading about my experiences and taking the time to get to know me, just as you do with my Granna each month.                         

I love you Granna – thank you for asking me to be a part of this, and good wishes in your happy birthday month!

Sy’s Salient Points: Blaire’s story takes us to a far, far distant shore where her fresh viewpoint infused our experience of Rapa Nui’s calm mood. We met the kind hearts and gentle souls of the island’s peaceful and stable populace who are surrounded by their bold iconic and ancient forms dispersed amidst them in their unspoiled land.

Blaire Darling, Thank you for being the first Guest Writer on my blog. I love the fact that your energy, flair  and warmth speaks to us through your writing.

Love,
Granna

Happy Sophomore Year at your University, Blaire!

LET IT BE!!!

Her irrepressibly “radiant” personality fashioned itself upon and around me. We actually had a sweet ‘je ne sais quoi’ warmth when we first met, a pure sense of a flow between us. Her timeless elegance grounded and enriched our amity, in other words, SERENDIPITY!

IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE, LIVING FOR TODAY!!!

Elle and I connected so easily. Perfect companions…we saw breathtaking views together…for those who know… sunrises, sunsets and shadowed vistas were revealed… as we moved forward…together.

It was…our iconic desire to be friends forever. And…                                                                                                                to wit, we also agreed to always be honest with each other. (Sooo…important… between “forever friends!)

COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW!!!

Truthfully…It was such a happy union. Elle and I… were together for…sigh… twenty-six almost-always… well…mostly happy…perfect years.

She was the soul of generosity…

I’m gritting my teeth, trying to stay resilient, but this is a terribly, horribly burdensome, demanding…and…or… or…all of the above happening…

DON’T CARRY THE WORLD UPON YOUR SHOULDER!!!

You see, you are all probably too young to be exposed to my enormously tough and challenging dilemma! (Please, please…you guys…do not worry your pretty little …or …handsome, well-formed heads…even…for a nanosecond, but…regrettably, it’s all true…I have a violent, murderous streak..an.. all-powerful inclination to…be on a tear, you know what I mean. If you see…my dukes out…or…a meat-hook look on my jowls…be assured…this event…is soon…to happen. A development…never, ever  meant…to happen…

NOTHING IS REAL!!!

Our deep…and…terrific constancy was… like…a…bottomless pit. It… defied…categorization.`And now..sizzling murmurs…the early stirrings…of a…dizzying traumatic…one-time impulse. Actually, my being…so… heartsick gives me….the sense…that…I am about to… commit…literally…a…crime of passion. ..because…  our future separation…to me…is what…the sea… is…to a fish: home!

FUDGE,…I know…you know, all the above…does make me sound…a bit reckless, but…it does not…have  one thing…to do with…reality. Truth be told…                                                                                                                              (Yes…all you…sweet hordes out there…you are safe…no worries…if…we happen to meet…indeed…I am  just …a real,…puny…weak…wimp!)

Sob…It’s… my profound despair..,all because..The Grim Reaper…has…come for…sob…my Elle!!!!

NOTHING YOU CAN DO, BUT YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO BE YOU IN TIME!!!

So sorry…just a bit…of knee-jerk reaction…                                                                                                                      Absence is not…good…for the heart! I…sort of saw…”it” coming. Elle just wasn’t as smart and noticeable…in her outlook. It was pretty disappointing…at times…only… a little spunk,…no peppy…getting up in the morning… now, it was…soft mutterings…when we met …each day,…her pristine free spirit…quelled.                                                    So lamentable…her wonderfully sweet ego… was bruised.

In my most…quiet way…I’m whispering…trying not…to make a sound… because…I do not want Elle to hear,…it  really was not the same…(lower whispering)…there was not..that same….dazzling… play of light…on her shimmering hood…as when we first met.

Wringing my hands…in…the gloomy twilight…she…doesn’t seem to understand…she’s breaking my heart,,,we must …part company…we.shall each be…alone…                                                                                                              More sob!

TAKE A SAD SONG AND MAKE IT BETTER!!!

It’s hard.. to remember…when it all started…to…go downhill. We…each…became…one-dimensionaL.              Kind, but firm…I finally old her…my mountainous decision…

At…this …very moment in time…. the realization…that we now…have…limited moments… together. Such a  bittersweet…be-all and end-all juncture…sob…just a few more…hours…it’s breaking our hearts.

Farewell,…my…still…somewhat…sleek…ELLE, .”parting is such sweet sorrow.”

DON’T MAKE IT BAD!!!

When I think back…to Elle’s…earlier fastidious…shiny, deep charcoal exterior…her crisp clear windows; there was never…anything coarse or shallow…about those lustrous…glossy, bumpers…or those spiffy wheels. Granted paradoxically…I was also…a bit…more dapper at that Time. Not exactly shiny, but reasonally …way back…twenty-six years ago…

I knew she was determined…to say… a courageous good-bye…dead silence.                                                                  Oh dear…Elle’s tires were hugging the ground with… defiance…the timeless and elegant chrome sparkled …but…in her vanguard, so, so very sadly, her headlights were…staring off…into space…

My gait…was purposeful…definitely…not sloughing off…as I slowly rolled…my walker …into the middle of street.                                                     PICTURE YOURSELF IN A BOAT ON A RIVER!!!

As Elle started her good-bye,…she became a..dark silhouette against  the sky…she was sobbing…her tears…building…up…and then…draining…almost…all over the road…(probably)… from the air conditioner.

Elle…bravely… turned…her wheels…away…sob… gaining traction…my walker…and…I…stood alone…in the middle of the street…the street darkens…I feel a chill…as…a cloud…surrounds me…and my walker..steadfastly standing alone…in the middle of the street…

NOTHING YOU CAN SAY BUT YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE GAME!!!

I am yelling…Dear Elle…may your journey… be filled with joy and success as I try…my best…to almost jocosely…say…Adieu, my Elle…Adieu…

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS!!!

I am counting on the core of the many stages of change we each experience during our entire lives…                           to move forward and LET IT BE!                   .

*

Sy’s Salient Points: The songs of the Beatles make us feel grounded and connected in their poetic phrases and melodies. They activate our feel good senses and are delightfully spirited.                                                                                                                          The above “Advice From The Beatles” song titles refer to the expressive thoughts and feelings of my emotional experience in the donation of my car and my decision to give up driving. It was solely my decision and I wanted to tell each of you my story,  the story of the transference of my life as a driver into a rider!                                                      It was not my easiest or happiest of decisions, but the Beatles said it well…              “LET IT BE!!!

*”ADVICE FROM THE BEATLES” I recently acquired the above Beatles Format  from Damien, an unassuming and erudite Lift driver and raconteur. Our conversation was lively and engaging. It was a thoroughly pleasant drive and anyone fortunate to have him as their driver will be well pleased.

Darling Blaire, Happy End of Summer Days as you remember Easter Island and the Chilean Countryside while planning your Sophomore University Year.

 ANATOMY OF FRIENDSHIP…

ENLIGHTENMENT!

Betwixt and between a few hundred apartments and villas…where I live…there is harmony…the enlightenment kind…because friendship transports and supports…

It’s an old folks home…no Medieval or Gothic architecture…nope, straight ordinary, fairly handsome Modernistic buildings… planted around a large acreage…glorious landscaping…gardeners galore…the type of scenery you can swoon over…with every few steps.

Hundreds of perspicacious residents…

a few formidable because this is unequivocally the place for opinions and smarts…you can’t have an arrangement of mostly grey or white hair…along with, no hair…not offering tidbits of superior enlightenment…or assertive leadership…or downright bossiness or…site wise…superb and sublime humor. Nope, not in this old folks home.

Because it’s an  “old folks home”…unfortunately, that also connotes finality..meeting get-togethers become bankrupt..and the song “so long…farewell…auf Wiedersehe… goodbye”…comes to the forefront.

Aye, that is the hardest one of all.

It hangs in the air around you. Old folks do live…with that certainty…you cannot really, really believe it is yet… another ending…and always a hard one.

Each friend…was so special…

Please…meet…two of my lasting friendships…BETTY

So many good books to share. Betty did most of the sharing as book after book appeared in my apartment…her books came as gifts from her daughters…her own private lending library to me. I bought red wine for her…when meeting in my apartment…(wine not quite as lasting…as the written word in a fine book…is it?)

She was enterprising…

she had a sweet classy food shop…her cook store brought luminary chefs to teach classes, intermingle and share highlights…Betty’s shop…was stocked with enticing goods…one tempting product after the other…best, always, to take your wallet!

She was born to garden…learned her skills from her Canadian Grandparents when she was a little girl…took a train from the state of Washington all the way to Alberta, Canada… all by herself in a train stateroom…dressed in her best…

marched to the dining car…nodded and smiled to strangers… waiters watched over her…she delighted in the attention.

Betty worked the soil and created a verdant garden…our old folks home has set aside two areas for residents…her assigned plot was assiduously looked after…she delivered tasty, juicy tomatoes all over the place,…my favorite gift…chives…sometimes some flourishing flowers…herbs… still gardening at 95!

She packed a few books and took theatre classes in London and New York. Didn’t hide away in her hotels for meals…nope, solo dined at fine restaurants with one of those books for company,…loved well-prepared food…took in a lot of theatre and sightseeing…an independent lady.

Most notably…Betty married Ray…their honeymoon was in Alaska… countless new friendships…

Ray worked on commercial fishing boats…that summer to earn money for university…Betty worked for money to feed them…both pushing the boundaries of hard work…they loved every minute.

And then…three gorgeous, outstanding daughters and a marvelous son…lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren…all wonderfully caring to Betty who now lived alone…in an apartment above me. They had to say good-bye to Ray…three years ago…along with the rest of us…in our old folk’s home.

Ray, Betty and I were three amigos…

always, a humorous outlook …parties were joyful…special times…

(Ray left a timeless mark…an accomplished artist …intuitive at connections…a warm vibe for meeting and greeting at resident gatherings…together, they radiated friendship, openness and warmth.)

And when Betty and family said good-bye to Ray…their support for each other was so very closely linked.

Betty and I  met in each other’s apartments…just before dinner…often with a glass of wine… (Wine aficionados would not seek us…probably be ostracized from their wine club…we dumped ice cubes in our wine glasses.) We chatted…we considered each other substantially informed..didn’t solve any worldly problems…always tried… not likely.

Solace unfolded… memories emerged…humor and books ruled…affable empathy…

And…then…too soon…Betty became ill…yet again…good night…goodbye…

I will never forget how Betty’s friendship fulfilled a sense of positive harmony…                                                                                              She was my friend who was all she could be…no limitations!

JOSEPHINE: We were friends for 84 years…what could be better? It happened in St. Louis in third grade…Josephine or Jo sitting at her wooden desk with her dark Italian curls doing arithmetic…as I entered the classroom for the first time …the epitome of shyness with my red hair and gold rimmed glasses. (I was the only one in the classroom with glasses and red hair…definitely underrepresented.)

And so…third grade began…a bunch of eight year olds looking forward to recess. Most of the class had been together since kindergarten… I stood against the fence…that first day…of course, feeling lonely watching them play dodge ball, tag, hop scotch, jump rope…whatever was the in-game of that day…passionate in their energy to win…They were not unfriendly…they didn’t see me but when they did…my startled “how did I get here” look behind my glasses disappeared…and laughter bounced its way forward…

We waded through those elementary grades…

Jo and I were not best friends…her best friend was Helen…mine, Beverly, but together…it all turned into a group of twelve…

We formed a “permanent” club…when we were twelve-ish “The Tacky Teeners”…pretending we were teenagers…I think I came up with the “Tacky” part…didn’t pay attention to the real meaning of tacky…but then again…maybe it was a perfect fit.

Sadly…we had no bona fide goals….all twelve landing at one another’s homes on a Friday night.  We created a game called Murder… some of those black basements with furnaces, coal chutes, trunks, cast-offs…scared the wits out of us….as we skulked and ducked behind barriers… it was not an intellectual gathering of future scholars.

The tangible showpiece of the night was food.

The parents who were stuck with us for the night…actually created virtual feasts—-one Mother out-showcasing another…and then, our Daddy’s picked us up for the drive home…at least…those of us on the perimeters….(one block held four Tacky Teeners.)…happy Fathers living on that block…usually their Mother’s came.

Helen, Jo and I took long bike rides together…sometimes more than twenty some blocks…upon reaching our destination on one occasion…we had a churlish spat…we couldn’t bike home together…we were not united!

We each took separate corresponding streets…pedaling as fast as we could… indignantly checking each other as we arrived on side streets…had to see if the other one had caught up…usually arriving at each side street at the same time…haughty looks…and then faster pedaling…didn’t speak again that whole day.

Jo and I scattered for college…although she went to Michigan State with us…to check it out…they had an ice rink on campus…I was still a bit in the throes of skating.

I moved to California, marriage…but when we visited my family in St. Louis… Jo steadfastly had a party for us…old and new friends (especially Margaret). Sometimes, I would see…one of Jo’s three adorable children…peeking out on the festivities…throughout and always…their family togetherness…was warm and welcoming.

Margaret and her husband built and owned Tara Point Inn including the Tara Point Cottages…on a spectacularly high bluff…on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River…a gorgeous B and B overlooking the “Meeting of the Great Rivers”…where the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers merged…great dreamy mattresses with plush accouterments awaited us in the Inn….tucked below the bluffs…restaurants, parks and quaint shops to explore.

(A man named James Scott…tampered with a levee… caused a primary breach…the Mississippi River flooded in 1993…a major flood…the deluge immersed the lower streets and roads on Margaret’s Illinois’ side… newscasters from all over emerged…they stayed at Tara Point Inn…their broadcasts took place from there…. James went to prison.)

Jo, Margaret and I traveled together…

river cruises…it was serendipity until…a sad early good-bye to Margaret.

Her imprint was beyond measurable.

St. Louis was home to bitterly cold winters…Jo rented a condo in Naples, Florida for a few months…and so…I began my visits…Naples has a serene elegance…soft white sand beaches, beautiful homes…an unbelievable amount of classy shops…spectacular sunsets…and much more.

A few years later…Jo bought a condo…happily…

I became the designer. The plan… I would fly to St. Louis… where Jo had secured..a rather humongous and old van…it was brimming with the cast-offs of family and friend… largish bits and bobs…like the one tied on top…a rocking chair???…two impecunious women driving…they looked like…they were on the bread-line…11,000 miles later…rattling into Naples..

We only had a week…the scene was set…at the starting line…our flurry of activity…a need for speed and motion…GO!  Thrilled for her trust…

We hired two workers…from another outdoor job… to unload the van…the fabric ordered had arrived…the new sofa was  arriving in four days…we bought paint…hired a drapery lady…found an upholsterer…recovered chairs…pillows…purchased used lighting fixtures…hired installers…fans…electrical…painted chairs…did not stop for one minute…worked to midnight each night…found every nook and cranny in Naples… we made the design work!

Jo’s father had wet macular degeneration…it was hereditary for some…it was for Jo…

She was encouraged…to join a clinical three-year study…experimental…big eye company. At the end of her three years…no improvement…one more visit…one more injection…into the vitreous part of the eye…

he  missed…………………………………………

stabbed her in her eye’s pupil…

She was blinded in that eye…had little sight in the other…Dr. said he was so sorry in court…wringing his hands…was worried about his grand-son that day… he was exonerated… but the company… paid a substance to Jo for the rest of her life…

She didn’t need the substance…she needed what sight she had before the study.

She was always valiant…in any face of adversity…she joined a Lions Club program in Michigan…Leader Dogs for the Blind…an intensive three week training program…Jo returned to St. Louis…with her new soulmate…Nina.      (In the Hindi language…Nina means…”beautiful eyes”…)

Adventure was in our future…with my dream two legged friend… and…a four legged black Labrador. In our travels… I was their silent partner…because… I was not to offer even a glimmer…of a direction.

Nina’s job…lead…and only listen to Jo.

As I am writing this…today is June 19 …it is Jo’s 92nd birthday…when visiting…she shared…her vivid and warm-hearted St.Louis family with me…their smiles and laughter…truly welcoming.

I shall never forget…my darling eight year old friend…and…our times spent together…filled with laughter…generosity…loyalty… trust…certainty…   She was my friend, a friend who was all she could be…there were no limitations with Josephine.

Friendship is vision, constancy, collaboration and the ability to agree, disagree…I have and will…always cherish… each and every…friendship.

My two friends…and others…leave a gift of style, flair, pizzazz, kindness, trust and more…their loss is unfathomable.

Optimistically I shall take from all…old and new…their…love of discovery…quiet strengths…as my future shining example.

Sy’s Salient Points: In my life…friendship…is…and will …always …be built….to endure.

So many friendships over the years…that shall…continue..to define…and inspire…then…and now…

What could be better?

My friends are fearless…

Graphics: Various publications: National Geographic, Smithsonian, etc.

Happy Birthday Carol Jean

Have a  splendid family trip to Easter Island, Darling Blaire

We all know that a red rose stands for passion and love but can the communion, passion and fervor of Artificial Intelligence (AI) transfer to seniors to stand for AI’s end-all solutions to elder questions? Can it add structure and purpose to our lives?

Let’s query Gemini AI about exactly how “It” wants to contribute to our senior lives?

Gemini: “What do you suggest for enhancing the life of a healthy woman in her seventies?”

“That’s a fantastic question!”

Gemini immediately cut to the chase: For a seventy-year-old active woman, AI holds the potential to significantly enhance various aspects of her life, promoting independence, well-being, and continued engagement. One example from the 18 point Gemini response was…

”Medication Management: AI-powered apps can provide reminders for medications and track adherence.”

Naturally, I was curious…How can it manage my dosage? Great news! It sent me a lot of info inside another large category of Topics (9) and Subtopics (14).

Example:  “Insights: By analyzing adherence data, Gemini could potentially identify patterns or suggest reasons for missed doses, leading to more targeted interventions.”

But, there’s always a caveat! AI systems using large language models (huge datasets of wordings) don’t  understand the creations by concept, only that certain words relate to other words.  This occurrence is termed…

“AI Hallucinations”: Like all large language models, Gemini can sometimes generate inaccurate or nonsensical information. This risk must be mitigated in healthcare applications through robust validation, human review, and clear disclaimers that the AI-generated information is for informational purposes only. Aka, it makes things up! Hmmm, Now that I know a dissertation’s worth of AI, of course, I was curious and asked Gemini if it had a picture or drawing of an AI Hallucination that I could see. You bet it did:

Surreal Eye with Psychedelic Hallucination

Good to know! If anyone asks me to describe an AI Hallucination…I plan to carry a little card with the above two pictures and I’ll just whip those pictures right out. Then, they shall know as much as I do! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I am doggedly determined to continue learning about AI. Therefore, I specifically asked a question of two different AI-powered sites regarding a day in in the life of a retirement facility resident. Stick with me, AI has downright good answers!!!

MY QUESTION TO COPILOT: Create an hourly plan for an active woman in her seventies in a middle- to high-end retirement home.

CoPilot: Here’s a well-rounded hourly plan for an active woman in her seventies living in a middle- to high-end retirement home. This schedule balances physical activity, social interaction, mental stimulation, and relaxation:

Daily Routine for an Active Retiree

7:00 AM – Wake-Up & Morning Routine

• Gentle stretching or yoga
• Shower & get dressed
• Light breakfast

8:00 AM – Outdoor Walk or Light Exercise

• A stroll in the garden or neighborhood
• Water aerobics or chair yoga

9:00 AM – Social Coffee & News

• Coffee with fellow residents
• Catching up on the news or reading

10:00 AM – Hobby or Learning Time

• Art class, knitting, or music practice
• Taking an online course or book club discussion

11:00 AM – Light Physical Activity

• Strength training or balance exercises
• Tai chi or a short dance session

12:00 PM – Lunch & Leisure

• Nutritious lunch in the dining hall
• Casual conversation with friends

1:00 PM – Rest or Meditation

• Relaxing in a lounge or quiet room
• Meditation or mindfulness exercises

2:00 PM – Social & Community Engagement

• Volunteering or helping organize activities
• Attending a lecture or discussion group

3:00 PM – Creative Time

• Painting, crafting, or journaling
• Playing an instrument or singing

4:00 PM – Afternoon Walk & Chat

• Strolling with a friend or pet
• Light gardening

5:00 PM – Pre-Dinner Relaxation

• Watching a favorite show or listening to music
• Puzzle games or crossword solving

6:00 PM – Dinner & Socializing

• Enjoying a balanced dinner with friends
• Engaging in meaningful conversation

7:00 PM – Entertainment or Games

• Trivia night, bingo, or card games
• Watching a film or attending a musical performance

8:00 PM – Wind Down & Reflection

• Gentle stretching or a bath
• Reflecting on the day, gratitude journaling

9:00 PM – Bedtime Routine

• Reading or listening to calming music
• Sleep preparation

“This plan ensures variety, social connection, and self-care while maintaining an active lifestyle. Let me know if you’d like any modifications!”

[Isn’t it stunning how they seem to know exactly what our routine is or should be.. and yet, they have no real understanding of the associated words at all?  Unbelievable!]

FOLLOW-UP BY ME, THE REAL DEAL: I would like to offer a window into the real daily life schedule of an active woman in her seventies. She is a dear friend living in the retirement home where I live. Her schedule includes pickleball matches where her fluid movements on the court set up winning volleys, drop shots, and cross-court slams. And, she is an outstanding bridge player where her worthy skill set enables her to travel with her partner for tournament play. She is adept at bold moves of strategy when communicating with her partner to win this mind sport. There’s more:

She serves on committees and her ultimate piece de resistance——she picks up her grandchildren after school, takes them to soccer, baseball and lacrosse matches and is their most vocal cheerleader.

Are you ready to see her schedule?

“Hakuna Matata” meaning this energetic schedule is “No Problem” for her!

6:00 – 6:30 AM Wake-Up & Morning Routine

7:00 – 8:00 AM Walk to the Rose Garden  Observe spiritual, mediation and thank you time. Prune and tend to roses as a member of Rose Garden Committee three times per week.

8:00 – 9:00 AM Light Breakfast  Cereal and milk. Change to sports outfit and walk to Outdoor Sports area.

She challenges the top male and female players using sport-specific techniques with the mastery of a professional. Being a bit tired, does not stop her from walking back to her apartment—— an appreciable distance.

10:30 AM- 12:30 PM Hydrate  Shower, Lunch is premier shake. Change and dress for the rest of day.

Bridge. What better way to stay sharp than with this game of skill and scout’s honor… she’s already really sharp!

Possible flux schedules: TV or Excursions or Pick up one or more of grandchildren from school and take them to their sport’s matches to watch individual games. (They all play on winning teams…naturally take after their grandmother!)

6:30 PM – 8:00 Dinner  Socializing and dining in one of the retirement’s homes restaurants or ordering from a dining room menu to dine at home.

8:00 PM – 11:00 or 11:30 Wind Down & Lights Out
Read, watch TV news and shows, pre-sleep routine.

Pretty spot on AI!!

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CHAT GPT: Create an hourly plan for an active man in his early nineties in a middle- to high-end retirement home.

Here’s a well-balanced hourly daily plan for an active man in his early 90s living in a middle-to high-end retirement home, with an emphasis on staying engaged, maintaining independence, and enjoying his social environment, while also being mindful of his health and well-being.

🕖 7:00 AM – Wake Up & Morning Routine

• Wake up: Gently wake up with a morning greeting or soft music.
• Personal hygiene: Shower (with assistance if needed), shave, brush teeth, and dress in comfortable clothes.
• Optional: Some light stretching in bed or by the side of the bed.

🕗 8:00 AM – Breakfast & Medications

• Breakfast: Enjoy a nutritious, well-balanced meal (e.g., oatmeal with fruit, eggs, whole grain toast, etc.).
• Medications: Morning medications, with staff assistance if required.
• Socializing: Chat with other residents in the dining room or over breakfast.

🕘 9:00 AM – Morning Walk or Light Exercise

• Activity: Take a morning stroll around the grounds (or indoor hallways if the weather is bad), with staff or fellow residents.
• Alternate: Attend a group exercise class, such as chair yoga or tai chi, designed for older adults.
• Hydration: Ensure a water break after the activity.

🕙 10:00 AM – Cognitive Engagement or Hobbies

• Option 1: Enjoy a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, or reading the daily newspaper.
• Option 2: Engage in hobbies like painting, woodworking, or knitting (if the resident enjoys creative activities).
• Social Time: Chat with friends, or join a casual group discussion (e.g., current events, history, books).

🕚 11:00 AM – Community Activity or Program

• Activity: Participate in a planned activity like a cooking class, a discussion group, or a live performance (e.g., musical act, lecture, or poetry reading).
• Social Engagement: Bond with other residents over shared interests.

🕛 12:00 PM – Lunch

• Meal: Enjoy a nutritious and tasty lunch, with plenty of options for heart-healthy or dietary needs.
• Socializing: Dine with friends or family members if they are visiting.
• Medications: If applicable, take any afternoon medications.

🕐 1:00 PM – Quiet Time or Nap

• Rest: Take a short nap or relax in a quiet space.
• Alternative: Engage in a calm activity like listening to relaxing music or reading a book.

🕑 2:00 PM – Afternoon Social or Creative Session

• Option 1: Join a group activity like a book club, art class, or film screening.
• Option 2: Participate in light gardening, birdwatching, or a walking club, if available.
• Social: If he enjoys chatting, invite a family member or friend for a catch-up visit.

🕒 3:00 PM – Afternoon Snack & Relaxation

• Snack: Have a light afternoon snack like fruit, nuts, or yogurt with tea or coffee.
• Relaxation: Take time to relax with a favorite hobby (e.g., listening to an audiobook, playing cards, or watching TV).

🕓 4:00 PM – Physical Activity or Wellness Session

• Physical Therapy: If recommended, attend a scheduled PT session or mobility training.
• Exercise: Participate in low-impact activities like walking, stretching, or gentle swimming (if the facility has a pool).
• Balance Work: Practice balance exercises to improve strength and stability.

🕔 5:00 PM – Dinner

• Meal: A lighter but still healthy dinner option, such as grilled fish, chicken, or a vegetarian dish.
• Socializing: Enjoy dinner with fellow residents in a lively atmosphere.
• Evening Medications: Take any required evening medications.

🕕 6:00 PM – Evening Entertainment or Socializing

• Entertainment: Join in a social hour, a game night (e.g., bingo, cards), or a music performance.
• Relaxing: If he prefers a quieter evening, enjoy a classic film, documentary, or nature show.

🕖 7:00 PM – Wind Down & Quiet Time

• Relaxation: Settle into a calm, quiet space for reading, light stretching, or listening to soft music.
• Social: Chat with staff or neighbors about the day’s events, or reflect on personal memories.

🕗 8:00 PM – Prepare for Bed

• Bedtime Routine: Begin winding down with a warm bath or shower (if not done earlier in the day).
• Night Routine: Brush teeth, change into pajamas, and take any final medications.
• Optional: Read or listen to a story, or have a gentle conversation with a loved one.

🕘 9:00 PM – Sleep

• Rest: Ensure a restful sleep environment with soft lighting, or use white noise if necessary.
• Monitoring: Night staff are available to ensure his safety and well-being throughout the night.

“This schedule can be flexibly adjusted depending on his personal preferences and energy levels. Some days may require more rest, while others may have more opportunities for social or creative engagement. The goal is to create a routine that promotes well-being, independence, and a sense of community while still considering the natural changes in energy and health that come with age.

Let me know if you’d like more details or adjustments!”

FOLLOWUP BY ME, THE REAL DEAL; Here is a day in the actual life of a good-humored and accomplished friend in his early nineties who lives in the same retirement home as I do. He has built his life by beginning each day with a fresh perspective on well-being and doing something about it by using his former engineering, mechanical, and carpentry talents. As a major part of the volunteer Helping Hands Resident Organization, he puts forward meticulous craftsmanship in restoring, refurbishing, and supplying 14 different types of assistance devices to fellow residents who need motorized scooters and wheelchairs, top-notch walkers, canes and more. At the time of this writing, most of his mornings are spent creating specialty wooden toys at the Hobby Shop with other woodworkers where pieces and parts of wood spring to life in the form wooden trucks and cradles to be donated to charities, children’s hospitals or sold to individual residents.

6:00-9:00 AM: Wake up: Personal Hygiene, Light breakfast of banana and cereal and then takes time to visit the coffee room.

9:00 – 11:00 AM: Hobby Shop Woodworking, A self-contained separate building on the retirement facility’s campus holds major carpentry and electrical equipment, tools and lumber storage. It is for the use of responsible residents at our retirement facility to create individual and group carpentry. As of now, woodworkers have set aside time to build Stake Bodies Form Trucks and Doll Cradles that flip upside-down to turn into a rocking bed.

(AI Overview – A “stake truck” is called that because of its removable side stakes that are used to form a “fence” around the cargo bed.)

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Return home for lunch by using the tram. (Our retirement facility uses motorized vehicles that hold seven maximum passengers with drivers to aid residents in visiting different areas of the retirement property.) Lunch is usually salad with his successful crop of tomatoes and dinner leftovers.

1:00 –3:30 PM: Takes tram to the South side of the retirement property where he has an assigned garden plot proudly raising succulent tomatoes usually three times per week. (There are two areas set aside for garden plots on campus where residents can petition to be assigned individual garden areas to grow vegetables or flowers.) Otherwise, he is back at the Hobby Shop or Helping Hands garage repair shop and equipment storage area sharing his expertise and talents. (So great of this multi-skilled resident to help so many residents in need of mechanized scooters.)

3:30 –5:15 PM: Refresh, bathe, and rest before heading to dinner.

5:15 –7:00 PM: Dinner Enjoys dinner in the dining room and socializing with fellow residents.

7:00 –10:00 PM: At Home Relaxation: TV, conversation and thankfulness for a well-spent day. Prepare for bed.

10:00 PM: Lights Out.

According to Greek mythology, the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, named the rose after her son, Eros. The letters of his name were rearranged to form the word “Rose.” They are cherished for their vibrant colors and rich history. And now, the vibrant emergence of AI has begun to create its own rich history as it keeps advancing with more and more innovations. But we should be cognizant and realistic: the stem of a rose has thorns representing difficulties and imperfections suggesting we must be prepared for info overload and that AI is prone to bias and error that can often be referred to as “hallucinations”.

We stand in awe of the enigma of AI as we learn to navigate its groundbreaking resources. Should we be resisting? Of course not! There is a giant audience of seniors who want to be informed and challenged…as A.G. Sulzberger the publisher of the New York Times (May 18, 2925) said, “Information is power, right?”

(Of course, in this quote he was discussing the hurdles of journalism in today’s world.) But, our senior population does know…Information Is Power!)

Sy’s Salient Points: My very own small caveat,,,

The residents I know in my retirement home challenge themselves to stay active, increase their learning power, engage in friendships along with versatile social and learning activities. They are resilient, have foresight and continue to envision positive futures.

Please know, I am aware that as a mere mortal my thimbleful of AI knowledge, aka machine thinking means that I feel hopeful of trying to actively understand and explore how AI can enrich my life and yours!

Happy Summer Vacation My Darling Blaire.

My Movers, Doers and Pathfinders Blog is dedicated to my cherished friend Betty Jean Barnecut.