art museums – 3 Coffees A Day

Accomplished #bostonmfa #morningview (a few weeks ago)

On Flowers by Amy Merrick is a book I spotted recently at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts — I didn’t want to carry the hardback home on the train so it’s on my wishlist for two reasons: it is beautiful and it is a great model for the type of writing I want to do.

I’m in my second year of an MFA program, which some in my world already know (but many do not). I considered heading down this road for years and here I am, right in the middle of the process. A current class I’m taking has me finally focusing on my blog, and investigating my thoughts about what being a writer means to me. Today, this road takes me to what it means to be accomplished, where this program has taken me so far (and where I hope it will go) and the differences and overlap between successful and accomplished.

What does being accomplished mean to me? I felt that before I addressed this question, I needed to know more about the word and its roots as in usage, accomplished is heaped with emotion and I wanted to remove that element to begin my thoughts. From the Oxford English Dictionary, the etymology of accomplish dates back to the 13th century Italian, Spanish, Catalan and Old Occitan (had to look this one up = historical Romance language leading to lyric poetry). Two definitions from the OED standout to me: To fulfil, perform, or carry out successfully (an undertaking, desire, request, etc.); to achieve (one’s object) and to make complete or perfect; to fit out or equip. This definition I found to be worth more consideration, though the OED states it is no longer common usage: To complete, spend, or pass (a period of time); to reach (a certain age). Accomplished to me is a combination of all of these definitions: a completed body of work, a completed course of desired action, achievements of my own definition and to spend periods of time working toward my desired body of work. I try, to varying degrees, to hold to these ideas as I know what I have accomplished to date, and will in the future, as these values are intrinsic — what I consider accomplished may not meet the definition of external forces (though acceptance and accolades are two things I certainly want).

In what ways have you become more accomplished during the course of this program? Now that I’m in my second year, I find the rearview on year one to be one that I absolutely treasure for the change it brought to my life in so many ways: from my ability to start and maintain my countenance and momentum through incredibly trying times to finding my lost writing voice. This is not to say that at times (many) I wondered how I could ever balance this commitment; but I did move through each step because it quickly became apparent that this program is about me and work that I produce is for myself (and readers one day), not work in service to others. These may sound like intangible accomplishments, but to me these are rock solid as I move into a new phase of my life. On the more tangible side, consistency in writing is a major accomplishment, that has led to production — this is one aspect I had hoped to gain by going into this program.

Is there a connection between being an accomplished writer and a published writer? Tricky question. I’ve known many accomplished writers over my life and their work might be buried in government reports, association magazines or bundles of letters — but these writers are not published in the way we might usually think of it. We all want to be published writers, and I think there are many routes to publication — I would love a best seller just like every writer, and I hate rejection emails just like every writer — but I know I’ll feel the most joy if I’m producing work that I feel good about and it finds its way to the right publication for the work. One great aspect of this course in publishing so far is expanding my own thoughts on avenues — some of which I already knew about but hadn’t put the “publishing lens” to before. Yes, I would love to publish my thesis in book form and have it reach readers that find it meaningful.

Is there a difference between being successful and accomplished as a writer? Yes. Success also has many layers to it and definitions society ascribes to it that make it something of a minefield to me. There are bestsellers that I will never understand and cannot get through; and plenty of essays that feel like gibberish from successful writers. There are many accomplished writers that put in all the elements that could lead to a bestseller, but never attain that ranking — so in many ways success can be artificial. I think this one really depends on how we define success for ourselves. I used to think I would love to give up my day job (currently teaching English to college students) and write as my main activity/income generator — but now I’m not so sure; yes, I would like to write and also earn from that, but I also know I need different inputs and I have a lifetime of skills that I want to and should use as well. Moving toward a more writing-friendly day job is certainly in the forefront of my mind as I write this post (teaching composition doesn’t mean the composition professor has a ton of brain cells left over for her own creative work each day). To wrap-up: yes, there can be, should be, and are differences between successful and accomplished but these don’t necessarily need to be in separate silos — there should be cross-over on this winding path.

Season of Rebirth: Burning Man Temple and Calatrava’s Oculus

On the the blessings of living in the megalopolis of the DC to NYC corridor is the possibility of visiting beautiful sites mere hours of days apart. On Christmas, the opportunity presented to visit Calatrava’s Oculuson the World Trade Center site and just days later, the Best’s Temple for Burning Man at the Renwick. While I didn’t seek out each site for any sort of spiritual experience, both left me with pause given we are working through the season of rebirth, renewal — and new beginnings.

The Temple as well as the Oculus honor those that we mourn and desire and the eyes are naturally drawn skyward — which for the Oculus brings a rush and multitude of layered memory. Calatrava’s soaring design is meant to embody just that — a bird flying from the hand of a child. The innocence of that image is felt — and the color in the evening, resembles the sky on that day most of us remember clearly — a day that started like most other fall days. The bird metaphor embodied in the design, one can hope is that the spirits of those lost are now free and while evil struck, a return to innocence is possible.

For the Temple, the fresh and fragrant smell of balsa wood also elludes to hope, while reverent lighting provides a moment of heavenly breath. Visitors’ messages to loved ones link the Temple to the site of the Oculus where messages were left for days and months after the fall of the Towers — perhaps it is the written word that provides a moment of renewal in our belief that those we love are not truly gone from our grasp — that memories are closer than we think.

While the Temple is set to come down on January 5, there are still a few days left to experience the installation but the Oculus offers a permanent destination for reflection.

Out with 19 in with 20

Growing up, I heard repeatedly that whatever you were doing at midnight on December 31st would set your path for the year. When added to the fact that I was born on January 1st, the amount of pressure auto-built into those two days was immense, literally from day one. Then I decided to get married on December 31 as well (it seemed celebratory at the time), and it’s a complete pressure cooker. Not to mention, most of my favorite restaurants are closed on New Year’s Day.

Now that I am solidly in middle age, I still feel this trifecta of the holiday squeeze. We’ve tried to move any celebration, minimal as it is, of our anniversary away from the end of the year landmark which is a step. For New Year’s Day, it’s best to focus on what is available — though since we no longer imbibe, and sobriety is now for the cool kids, it does seem a tad ridiculous that there is such a long list of closures on the first day of the year.

Taking all this into account, my truisms for ending this past year should serve me well into this new year as well.

Rely on Asian restaurants – always. Chinese, Thai, Indian — have several favorites and one is bound to be open on January 1 (much like Christmas). This year, City Lights of China in Dupont Circle opened right on time at 11:30 am — just in time for brunch with friends. Next, rely on tried and true institutions — there will always be a museum open, somewhere close by. This year time at the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum — and the piece above reminds me of my own olden days of New Years gone by on the town (Karen LaMonte’s Reclining Dress).
Stick to the basics when it comes to activities — what do you really love? What is the one place that offers solace? For me, it’s the East Potomac Golf Course. It’s where I met my husband, played endless rounds with friends in my 20’s and it’s where my kiddo had her first golf lesson. It’s no country club, but it is gold. We really should’ve gotten married here.
Midnight — well that’s all bonk. On the years I’ve been fast asleep it didn’t predestine me to great sleep the following year; the years I’ve been out late champagne-ing with friends didn’t necessarily predict a year filled with bubbles. Now we hygge on the last night of the year — carpet camp-out, appetizers from Trader Joe’s and possibly too much pie. This year, I did forget to light our TJ cedar candles; and don’t think I don’t miss black dresses, stockings with runs and the champagne — because I really do and I hope this kind of celebration circles back. But for now, it’s hygge.
I am not too old. For all of us at midlife, squeezed between generations, career changes and concerns over college savings it is completely daunting most days to figure out how to get all the laundry done and ponder anything new. My own vow (not resolution, I don’t believe in those) is to remember every day that I am not too old to have what I truly want whether it’s a PhD or a book deal — it’s all about the focus and most importantly, eliminating obstacles. A fresh decade awaits – as Oprah famously mentioned several years ago — we’re going to be 50 (or any other age) regardless.