Purple Passages and Feet in the Creek

marianbeaman

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

– Langston Hughes in Dreams

 

Dreams always come in a size too big so we can grow into them. – Josie Bisset

 

. . . if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

– Henry David Thoreau in Walden Pond

 

Grandparents

“But grandparents, imbued with a different sense of time, create a narrative arc across generations. If parents are the forward momentum of a child’s llife, we become the curators of traditions.”    –  Ellen Goodman/Washington Post Writers Group quoted in the Florida Times Union.

“Our echoes roll from soul to soul and grow forever and forever.”  – Alfred, Lord Tennyson in The Splendour Falls on Castle Walls from The Princess

 

Psalm 78: 2-4

2 I will open my mouth with a parable;

I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

3 things we have heard and known,

things our ancestors have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their descendants;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

his power, and the wonders he has done.

New International Version

 

Being Special, Unique

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.   – C. S. Lewis

While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die – whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness.    – Gilda Radner

Conventional is not for me. I like things that are uniquely Flo. I like being different.          – Florence Griffith Joyner, Olympic track and field star

 

Deep Summer

Heat Wave: “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”    – Sam Keen

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.     – Henry James

My dad at the Grandpa Martin farm
My dad Ray Longenecker at the Grandpa Martin farm,  circa 1920

People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.

– Anton Chekhov

 

Your turn!

Did any of these quotes feel like an “Aha” moment for you? Will you add one?

Coming next: “I’m All Ears” with a Cliff & Marian tiff

26 thoughts on “Purple Passages and Feet in the Creek”

    1. You are welcome, Melodie. The Ellen Goodman quote appeared in the Florida Times-Union years ago, the piece found yellowing in my “clip” drawer. I snipped out the article without the date, so the attribution is incomplete.

      Yes, bloggers, scrap-bookers, photographers – we are all curators of tradition.

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  2. Marian — The photograph of your father is beyond adorable! You never cease to amaze me with the photographs — both new and old — and video clips that are seemingly at your fingertips. I have nothing like that at my beck-and-call.

    You asked, “Did any of these quotes feel like an “Aha” moment for you?”

    The one that resonated to my core is: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” by C. S. Lewis

    Wonderful to keep in mind for those we meet in person and/or with today’s technology — on line.

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    1. You know, Laurie, I didn’t think that the stacks of photos stuffed into our piano bench were anything unusual. Or even that my Aunt Ruthie had a movie camera, but now I realize it was unusual in the 1940s and even more so among the Mennonites. So, I am truly blessed in that regard.

      When I spotted the C. S. Lewis quote it reminded me to respect the humanity of everyone I meet. I’m glad you reminded us to carry that into our online community as well.

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  3. Here’s one for your collection on uniqueness. Cather understood how each of our selves is composed of different parts: “Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of her, that was selfless and exalted, Thea had a hard kind of cockiness, a determination to get ahead. Well, there are passages in life when that fierce, stubborn self-assertion will stand its ground after the nobler feeling is overwhelmed and beaten under.”
    ― Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark

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    1. Also an admirer of Cather, I remember being introduced to the bold Antonia in Ruth Brackbill’s Intro. to Literature class. I wonder if you had the pleasure of her tutelage too.

      I appreciate your special lines from The Song of the Lark reminding us to dig deep into the well of fortitude. Great complement to the quote collection. Thank you, Shirley.

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      1. I’m not familiar with the summer is the time to be lazy. 🙂
        Sam Keen obviously didn’t have a garden to keep up with. I’d say deep winter is my lazy time watching the snow fall, the fire glowing warm, a quilt, a hot beverage and the assorted family member or pet or friend to enjoy the down time.

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        1. You are right – Sam Keen was speaking only for himself and other summer vacationers. You make winter-time sounds so cozy, Athanasia. Fresh canned goods in the pantry and frozen produce in the freezer: Time to retreat into the cocoon of pleasure you describe in winter-time.

          Thanks sounding off on this one. I’ll bet other gardeners feel the same way.

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    1. Welcome to my blog! As a matter of fact, I publish a monthly installment of quotes with the title “Purple Passages.” You want want to search this category for more. Glad you liked the photo too!

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  10. Marian … I especially love the quotes about dreams.

    Here’s one I like from Paluo Coelho: “You must be the person you have never had the courage to be. Gradually, you will discover that you are that person, but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent.” (I believe that this was Cary Grant’s mantra. He did reinvent himself and was an amazing star.) 😉

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    1. Pretend and invent, sounds a little like fake it till you make it. Lots of entertainers like Madonna have done just that to great effect. Thank you for adding the one by Cary Grant.

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  11. My fave is; “While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die – whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness”. – Gilda Radner

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