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by Sally O’Kane McClintock

Twelve packed boxes stand in the way of my reaching a life “all sorted out.”  Stored neatly in the living room and covered with a decorative cloth, the boxes wait for me to summon the courage for a final sorting. Others may consult practical books on sorting their possessions, but a playwright and a poet are my guides. But because of them, I am stuck in the middle, between postponing and exploring.

Whenever I think of sorting my things, I remember Davies’ recurring plaint in “The Caretaker”:  “Got to go to Sidcup, get myself sorted out.”

In this play by Harold Pinter, Davies is a tramp who calls himself Bernard Jenkins rather than Mac Davies. When questioned, he insists there are papers in Sidcup that will sort this all out: “They tell you who I am.” But he never makes that trip for the documents, blaming lack of shoes or bad weather—always something.

Unlike Davies, I have papers here in my desk that explains my three last names. Birth certificate, marriage licenses, and divorce decree tell who I am.  But I am like Davies in postponing my own sorting.  While most of my stored items are organized in cabinets, basement, and the garage, there are still those twelve unsorted boxes in the living room.

Some bear strange labels: “By the file cabinet.””On the card table.”  Cancer had come to me while living in Vermont.  Chemo was in my life. In a hurry between treatments, my children were moving me west to live near them.  My husband had died the year before.  “Label those boxes when you pack them,” I said as I flew off to Tacoma, “so I know what›s in them when they get there.”  There was no time for me to finish the packing.

Nine years later, a cancer survivor, I look at the labeled boxes and wonder what was “by the file cabinet,” what was “on the card table.” I could open the boxes and look.  But I hesitate, although there might be some precious things stored in them.  Somewhere there’s a jade necklace my father gave me when I was a teenager, bought from a drunken sailor, he said, on a San Francisco wharf. Or I might find my wooden pin of the old woman who lived in a shoe. I had the pin from childhood, the size of a button, with a tiny scene of the woman and the shoe and the children.  In which box might it be?

Still I hesitate to open the boxes and finish the sorting.  I know that sorting is more than uncovering and rearranging the items stored.  I may also uncover my own self, as I remember what was once—or may still be—important to my life. And perhaps consider rearrangement.

I wish I were bold enough to be guided by the poetry of T.S. Eliot, as he writes about exploring in “Four Quartets 4: Little Gidding”:
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

If I explore those final twelve boxes, perhaps I will find my jade necklace or my little pin. But to arrive where I started? What would that mean?  And what would it be like to know the place for the first time? Like Davies, I am fearful.

And thus I balance between postponing and exploring, caught between the play and the poem.  The jade will have to wait. And the old woman in her shoe. Why chance a life all sorted out for a possible glimpse of eternity— or of nothing?

Contributing Author by — June 5, 2012 in Everything Else

For folks residing in nursing or retirement homes, the days can be long and lonely. Fortunately there is an organization whose mission is to match volunteers with residents to visit one on one.
Marilyn Soderquist, Program Director for Friend to Friend, said that many seniors residing in facilities have their physical needs taken care of, but what they lack is a friend.  Friend to Friend started in 1974 in Des Moines, WA. They now serve King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Pierce and Thurston counties.Friend to Friend draws their volunteers from a variety of areas said Soderquist, such as reading about Friend to Friend on the internet, in the newspaper or word of mouth.
“We ask for two references for every person who volunteers and they are all subject to background checks,” said Soderquist.
Some residents prefer their visits to take place within the facility, while others enjoy an afternoon out for coffee or to shop.  “One resident in Bellevue asked to go to a tavern for oysters and beer,” said Soderquist.
Volunteers take the residents to do things they might not otherwise be able to do.  “Right now, many are planting gardens in their own flower boxes. Some watch ballgames together,” she said.
Connie Benjamin began volunteering with Friend to Friend five years ago and finds the experience, “Absolutely wonderful.”  The lady she volunteered with was named Dottie.
“We saw each other every week and we had a wonderful rapport and when her health failed and she moved to another facility, I followed her there,” said Benjamin.
Dottie has since passed away at age 95, but Benjamin said, “It was good to share my life with her. We shared all of our adventures.”  Benjamin said she learned all about Dottie’s past. “We were almost like family,” she said.
Soderquist said the program is unique. “It is the only program that does this work in five counties. Every facility can meet the physical needs of the residents and they do a good job, but there is no way they can reach the emotional needs of every resident.”
Volunteers visit at least twice a month at their convenience for one year and the visits benefit the volunteers, residents and the staff who care for them Soderquist said, adding, “We went to a volunteer appreciation the other night and one of the volunteers who had been visiting her friend for six years said it was the most rewarding thing she had ever done.”
To learn more about Friend to Friend contact Marilyn Soderquist at (206) 870-4266.

Joan Cronk by — June 1, 2012 in Everything Else

For the third year in a row, Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass, and Washington State History Museum are joining forces with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,500 museums across America to offer free admission to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. From Memorial Day, May 28, through Labor Day, September 3, 2012, active-duty military personnel and up to five of their immediate family members are eligible for this offer, which is valid for all military branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active-duty National Guard and active-duty Reserve members.

“Through Blue Star Museums, the arts community is extending a special invitation to military families this summer,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “This is both an opportunity to thank military families for their service and sacrifice, as well as a chance to create connections between museums and these families that will continue throughout the year. Especially for families with limited time together, those on a limited budget, and ones that have to relocate frequently, Blue Star Museums offers an opportunity to enjoy one another and become more fully integrated into a community.”

This year museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative, including more than 300 new museums this year. Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and children’s museums.

Local Blue Star Museums include Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass, Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Seattle Art Museum, The Museum of Flight, Wing Luke Museum, and The Henry Art Museum. For a full listing of Blue Star Museums both in Washington and around the country, visit http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums.

Press Release by — May 25, 2012 in Everything Else

William Bender holding "Abbadon." Photo by Joan Cronk

The Fred Oldfield Heritage Center in Puyallup, with its old west theme was the perfect venue for the recent showcase of the South Puget Sound Woodturners.
Joella Oldfield, Executive Director of the Fred Oldfield Heritage Center at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, said that the art of wood turning has been done for “hundreds of years.”
Members of the South Puget Sound Woodturners (SPSW), invited woodturners from three other states Oregon, Idaho and Montana to join them and over 100 pieces were displayed at the art show.
Ed Quesnell, a member of SPSW said, “The purpose of the show is to educate the public about woodturning and the art and the procedure that you go through.”
Ninety-four-year old Oldfield, a well-known local artist, was in attendance, as was SPSW member and founder Ted Bartholomew, who is 92. The two had never met before and Joella Oldfield got a real kick out of watching them interact.
Fred Oldfield has been referred to as the “Granddaddy of Western Art,” and his generosity with his craft is well-known.
Bartholomew is also generous with his knowledge of woodturning. Not only is he an extremely proficient woodturner, he also has built many lathes and taught classes for years.
“There is something about people from that generation that makes them tough and strong,” Joella said.
SPSW member Bill Bender won the Judge’s Choice award for his piece, “Abbadon.”  This was the first time Bender had entered a piece and he was pleased with his win and encouraged to enter more events in the future.
Bartholomew walked away with an Honorable Mention ribbon for his turned hat with a knit band.  The People’s Choice award went to Paul Crabtree for piece called “Majestic.”
SPSW President Dan Stromstad said it was a great event. “It was really nice of Joella to put that on for us,” he said, adding that they have received many positive comments from folks who attended.
SPSW has over 200 members, the youngest being 11 years old and the oldest, Bartholomew. Both genders are well-represented within the group.
“Our club teaches a lot and I think that is why we are so popular because we have a constant source of great teachers, plus our own teachers within our own club,” said Stromstad, adding that everyone is willing to share.
“We have done a great deal to improve the meetings themselves by purchasing a new lathe and equipment and a better sound and video system,” said Stromstad proudly, adding that the SPSW is the largest club in the State.
The friendly nature of members and their willingness to share are two of the things that make the SPSW a very popular club.
“I joined the club and went to meetings and learned a great deal and tried and tried, but when people took the time to hands on teach me, then I really excelled. Now I’m doing that for other members,” said Stromstad.
This was the first year for the woodturners event at the Fred Oldfield Heritage Center and members hope to make it an annual event.

Joan Cronk by — May 23, 2012 in Everything Else