I was cleaning a drawer at my parents' house and I found an actual MEDAL that I got in eighth grade, in 1968...for "literature." Meaning, reading. There was another literature medal, also in a plastic case, in that drawer, that had been given to my sister thirteen years later at the same school. I took a picture of the two medals and sent the picture to her. I was proud of us. I put my medal on my old felt hat to wear to my book club on saturday.
Of course, since 1968 there have been no medals for reading, or cooking, or cleaning, or sex, or anything else like that. Just paychecks for going somewhere and doing something. I guess that's pretty good.
Why do I have the feeling, Shannon, that since 8th grade you have been wearing a virtual medal? I was also a great reader in school - the transformative power of that never leaves us.
The third image of the maid breaks my heart. Unless she’s a scientist who has been dusting her precious specimens and just had to reach up to check on something.
I just looked at the artwork again, Meredith - the images, the sensuality of the painting textures, but mainly the spirit of intellectual endeavor, I find really touching.
I was in the middle of household chores, I stopped to read Substack...and there was this.
Think of all of those women out there who read your Substacks, sitting in the same postures as those found in these paintings.
I’m sitting in my bed, legs covered, picturing this, smiling away to myself.
I was cleaning a drawer at my parents' house and I found an actual MEDAL that I got in eighth grade, in 1968...for "literature." Meaning, reading. There was another literature medal, also in a plastic case, in that drawer, that had been given to my sister thirteen years later at the same school. I took a picture of the two medals and sent the picture to her. I was proud of us. I put my medal on my old felt hat to wear to my book club on saturday.
Of course, since 1968 there have been no medals for reading, or cooking, or cleaning, or sex, or anything else like that. Just paychecks for going somewhere and doing something. I guess that's pretty good.
Why do I have the feeling, Shannon, that since 8th grade you have been wearing a virtual medal? I was also a great reader in school - the transformative power of that never leaves us.
The third image of the maid breaks my heart. Unless she’s a scientist who has been dusting her precious specimens and just had to reach up to check on something.
It’s a very interesting and very poignant image.
Love this!!
Thanks Emma.
Lovely!
Thank you!
I just looked at the artwork again, Meredith - the images, the sensuality of the painting textures, but mainly the spirit of intellectual endeavor, I find really touching.
So I'm not the only one who feels like this.