Clare Consultation, LLCPosted on December 18, 2011 by Mary Clare
EX:Change Gift Idea — 100 VOICES
Listen to the voices of your neighbors. One hundred voices from across the U.S. All talking about change. All speaking their dreams. Give the book to yourself, to friends or family. Join us in the EX:Change as it continues to offer its invitation to all of us — Listen to each other. See what is there in those with whom you think you have nothing in common. See what is there in… Read More
Posted on December 11, 2011 by Mary Clare
Priming the EX:Change
Down the street @ Bloke http://blokepdx.com/, Justin-the-botanical-artist is well beyond priming – that happened back in October [EX:C blog, “Bloke – AKA, Barber Babes Redux,” 10-29-2011]. Now, since a few weeks before Thanksgiving, Bloke is hitting its prime for the cold weather Holiday season – the festivities that cry for decorative plants and flowers between Halloween and New Year’s Day. Every time I see him these days, Justin is a little breathless, but… Read More
Posted on December 3, 2011 by Mary Clare
Marsha and Nancy — How We Occupy Change
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the idea of having guest bloggers write to the original three questions of EX:Change and the 100 Voices. (EX:C blog, “These Questions Belong to You Now,” 10-22-2011) When you say the word change what do you mean? Alongside change, what is important to have remain the same? What would be concrete signs that positive change was occurring? Then I got email from Marsha Cuyjet – voice #48…. Read More
Posted on November 20, 2011 by Mary Clare
Onward
Several years ago I became aware of a newly formed nonprofit organization called Onward Oregon http://onwardoregon.org/. Shortly after learning of the organization, I received an e-mail inviting me to be on their mailing list. In that introductory email, following the words “What We Believe” came this: “We inherit the good that flowed from the people who came before us and the societies they created and will continue building on that foundation. The… Read More
Posted on November 14, 2011 by Mary Clare
Office of Blame Accountability
Love is encouragement. Kindness is not weakness. Freedom is scary because, if I am truly free, I can’t blame anyone. These three statements came as small gifts over coffee and tea this morning with my friend Jim. You may recognize him from earlier blogs. Sayings like these are as natural, even essential to Jim as heartbeats. This morning we were talking about being people in relationships – love partnerships, friendships, kinships, acquaintanceships… Read More
Posted on October 22, 2011 by Mary Clare
These Questions Belong to You Now
I’ve had three meetings so far today. One with a Yaqui man who is a veteran and a student. “For me it is a question of balance,” he said. “Internal balance. External balance.” Half of his bagel sat on its small plate with one semi-circular bite gone for the entire time we talked. I also met with a woman activist. She had a question. “I’m just so curious about what people would… Read More
Posted on October 16, 2011 by Mary Clare
A Squirrel Story
Wednesday morning, October 5, I was filling time before my mom arrived at the Portland airport. She was on a nonstop from ATL that had left at 3 a.m. Pacific Time. She turned 77 in September. That’s a long way on little sleep. She’s my hero! The real truth of the matter is, I had been a bit uber–intense (who me?) with getting the house clean and adorable enough for my mom… Read More
Posted on October 9, 2011 by Mary Clare
Video of this Week’s Book Release Event
Books shipped on October 1. By Thursday night at Annie Bloom’s Bookstore in Portland, OR the word was out enough to draw a full house for the first public reading from 100 VOICES – AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CHANGE. We were thrilled with the turn out and completely delighted with the fact that the store sold out of books. Now, thanks to the talent and generosity of friend and volunteer, Jesse Combs here… Read More
Posted on October 2, 2011 by Mary Clare
Mr. Prude – III
“I didn’t make the second cut.” Mr. Prude was smiling. We’d run into one another again in the crosswalk on Sandy Boulevard and I’d turned to walk with him back toward the dialysis center. We stopped to stand on the sidewalk just beyond the old Barber Babes (EX:C blog, “I’m Not Done Yet,” 5-21-2011). Mr. Prude had been telling me about being just back from Joseph, OR where he’d spent a week… Read More
Posted on September 24, 2011 by Mary Clare
Book Release Invitations!
I just sent this email to the 504 people on my “EX:Change Friends and Family” list. Cool number, huh? 504. These are the people who, along the way — as I drove the highways of U.S. in early 2009 and in the time since have befriended me and the EX:Change project and asked to be kept updated. In ten days, what was once only and idea on a cold and rainy New Year’s Eve will show up… Read More