"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

Max Ehrmann, "Desiderata"


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Monday, January 7, 2013

Happy Edge




Rooted.  8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board



Good morning! (Yes, it is morning somewhere in the world, hehehe!) It seems ages since I blogged. So many things are happening in my life and the world. I have been so busy at work. Extremely busy. So, if I have been mute about a lot of things lately, it is because I am preserving my energy to deal with realities, several of which I consider impractical and burdensome or bureaucratically onerous as we implement Obamacare. My job is to convert the law's interpretations to clinical decision support modules. Do I have the edge? Well, it feels more like clinging to a cliff. Fortunately, my roots run deep and so I cling. Just like these trees I have drawn for Illustration Friday’s theme. I drew these images this past weekend. I decided to use colors, hopefully in a subtle way. 




Ta-al Lake and Ta-al Volcano. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board



The above is an illustration of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. On August 13th, 2011, my daughter visited the place with my sister, her aunt, Tita Leah. I miss my sister, if indeed angels in heaven come from good humans, there is a new angel up there. I would like to think that she visits and looks down upon us here once in a while. I was not able to make that trip but my daughter took some amazing photographs. At that time, my sisters, brothers, and I all gathered together to be with our sister. The doctor gave her only two weeks to live if she did not undergo brain surgery. The lung cancer had metastasized to her brain. Our sister fought bravely but seven months later she passed away. It was a month and two days after her 60th birthday. She would have been 61 this month. I miss my sister very much. Yet, as time goes by, the pain and sorrow change to a sadness that somehow seems to comfort more than hurt. The memory of my sister inspires and strengthens me. Though I am sometimes sad, thinking of her fills me with love. In life we are blessed and gifted with the best relations but some are taken away too soon.

Also, this month, my family will be all smiles, two other special reasons and celebrations. It's the epsilons' birthday month. They are epsilons no more. This week,  we will give thanks and celebrate my son's birthday. Then in two more weeks, we celebrate my daughter's birthday. These two have brought my husband and me enormous pride and joy. I could dedicate a whole blog about the adventure of raising children in America, but suffice to say, their father and I love them so very much and we are so proud of them.

At home when I light candles, I do so to honor my ancestors and dearest departed family members, but I also give thanks and celebrate life. Such is the state of things. I guess after all, I do have an edge. Life is good. Thanks be to God. Amen.




Edge. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board


Edge Too. 8"x11" colored and black pigment ink on 11"x14" Bristol Board






Posted by Ces at 6:40 PM Labels: , , ,

11 comments:

  1. ~ah my dear friend...i am sure she is with you more often than you know...quietly guiding you and giving you a gentle push...

    as for you babies...don't hey grow so fast...brightest of birthday wishes and blessings be upon them each day that comes forth...

    the first tree on top...i saw a heart in the middle...my eyes could be playing tricks as me though as i pretty tired...hehehe...each though quite beautifully drawn...

    be well and much love~

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  2. Gorgeous drawings, especially those trees that make the best of difficult surroundings, clinging to their scant support however they can & reaching for the sun, though buffeted by harsh winds. To me they are even more beautiful than the lush, pampered specimens. And so it is with people.

    Love always to you & your family, both present & departed.

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  3. I love what Curious Art said, so true. Your drawings are always amazing, I looked at them one after another and each time I thought wow, this is the most beautiful so far... But at the end I could not choose just one. Just beautiful, all of them, and your words too.

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  4. Birthday wishes filled with goodness and love to your wonderful family!

    How astoundingly divine and beautiful, dearest Ces! There is serenity and strength in these images. I would argue that those with deep roots do not cling. Quite the contrary. They are the ones that hold everything together.

    Tsup tsup tsup tsup and one more tsup for good measure.

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  5. Lovely, lovely, lovely Ces. So glad to see you post. And many happy birthday wishes to you epsilons. :D

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  6. "Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky" and this is it!
    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fGcBNOeuLqw/UOpA-3PgHhI/AAAAAAAAlac/mKGsi2IomWY/s1600/Edge3_2.jpg

    omg 'tis so beautiful i could cry...

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  10. Hello Ces, your work is so amazing, wonderful!! I haven't visited your blog for a while, since a little after Renee's death- suddenly you popped into my head this morning! Glad for it - your work inspires me! SO MUCH! I think that I might just drop everything and go draw something....something conceptual like "holes without edges"...

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  11. Amazing...these images are so powerful...I am thinking there was influence drawn from Japanese painting?

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