Clare Consultation, LLCPosted on December 10, 2012 by Mary Clare
Today’s December 10
It’s the end of the day, and unlike most days between November and July the sky outside my window is vivid with sunset colors – you know those indescribable shades of pink and purple, hints of orange, red, yellow, even bits of green. I’m in Portland, OR where I live and work – and walk and dance and chit chat with neighbors and laugh and cry with friends. Today I’ve done all… Read More
Posted on December 3, 2012 by Mary Clare
Birdsong in Oregon and VOICES FROM DECATUR
Here we are in December – already. Here we are nearing another turn of season; this time to winter. I’ve been noticing how the calls of birds really do become less present as the days shorten and the weather cools. Maybe it’s an effect of spending the last four years listening to what everyday people have to say. It’s for sure not boredom or lack of distraction. But here’s what noticing the… Read More
Posted on November 19, 2012 by Mary Clare
Neighbors at War and the Possibility of Peace
Today. Right now. Palestinian people and all people in and around the area of Israel known as Gaza — the Syrian people, Afghan people and people in too many other places on the planet to list here are in immediate danger. Some are dying. People = children, youth, and adults including mothers, fathers, grandparents, great grandparents. These people have pets, they live in places where other animals live, they drink water and… Read More
Posted on November 12, 2012 by Mary Clare
Listen to Each Other
Today is Veteran’s Day. I know that among the reasons I am here typing these words onto this screen with lunch cooking on the stove is the presence and courage of the men and women who over time have been warriors in this country and on this planet. I’m not a big fan of armed conflict — not a big fan of war — and still I know that for the largest… Read More
Posted on November 5, 2012 by Mary Clare
Presidential Politics and the #6 Bus
The podcast series continues – in fact, the entire world continues – even here in the days just preceding and just following the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. This past Friday, Alex Ward, the producer of the podcast series, uploaded Chapter 3 – Voices from the Southwest. The radio recounting of my miles on the post-inauguration highways of early 2009 continues. The most important feature of these podcasts for me is the chance… Read More
Posted on October 28, 2012 by Mary Clare
Matters of Spirit before the Election — and a second podcast —
Last night there were fireworks in the rain for the last game of the season for the Portland Timbers — our professional soccer team. The season ended with a tie between the Timbers and the San Jose Earthquakes. I wasn’t at the game. And, true confession, I didn’t know about it. But the sound was enormous for 20 minutes or more. My imagination ran the gammut, but I remembered my friend Dia… Read More
Posted on October 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
In the run up to the election — An ANTIDOTE
Another post so soon??? YES! Here’s an antidote to all the contention and polemic flying around the airwaves and unfortunately, too easily eddying in our own ruminations. We still have over a week before the election. During that time it’s only vastly possible that the theater of opposition will amp up. The essential subtext of all the contention is that we the people not only should but do dislike, disrespect and fear… Read More
Posted on October 8, 2012 by Mary Clare
100 VOICES Podcast Preview
Today my neighbor Darren brought over flowers. Darren is an art connoisseur and downhill ski enthusiast — passions he finances with his career-long work as a rebar guy. He’s the man who goes in when sky scrapers or strip malls are only twinkles in architects’ eyes to put in the steel bar that holds up the whole edifice — you know, the kind that looks like licorice strands but weighs like plutonium…. Read More
Posted on September 30, 2012 by Mary Clare
Plane Delays and Collaboration across Cultures
It is Sunday afternoon. I’m sitting in the Alumni Center of Austin College in Sherman, TX. I’m here for a few days to support a conversation and the development of a relationship between this small independent liberal arts school and Native American Tribes and communities. My job is to keep the listening and speaking going – and to join in the identification of steps to be taken toward building friendship and collaboration… Read More
Posted on September 10, 2012 by Mary Clare
Post National Conventions – the Anniversary Celebration of a Brain Tumor
This morning a friend in Omaha told me about Sam, a friend of his who was off for ten days on a third anniversary trip to the particular beauty of the Colorado Rockies around Estes Park. My friend has spoken of Sam before, describing him as a notably successful businessman who’s built a thriving company that supplies materials for building or renovating homes. Sam’s success, though, is lately not enough to bring… Read More