Clare Consultation, LLCPosted on May 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
“We have to talk about these things”
I am back in Portland. Three weeks, now. Shortly after my return I receive email with the subject line: yes-youmadeit/Dr. Dapo! My dear and long-time friend, Dr. Dapo Sobomehin (voice 90 in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change), wanted to get together for coffee. This morning we finally made it to the corner of Hawthorne and SE 37th for a few hours of catching up. Every time we meet, I am compelled… Read More
Posted on May 18, 2012 by Mary Clare
Turn Around — Another Take on 99%
Last night I got to have a long phone conversation with my friend Barbara Gutkin. Barbara and Terry have known me more than half my life. They also happen to be two of the Americans in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change. Barbara and Terry are experimenting with retirement. Barbara retired for a while, then decided to go back to work a few days a week because she missed being active… Read More
Posted on May 11, 2012 by Mary Clare
10,589 Miles Later
Here are some things I have come to know: The land of the United States remains vast and more beautiful than any imagining. The people of the United States remain more capable of wisdom, kindness and cooperation than our media and leadership lead us to believe. GPS systems can get you almost anywhere – sometimes by incessant nagging, sometime with astonishing grace. I hear there may be an annoyingly breathy replacement coming… Read More
Posted on May 2, 2012 by Mary Clare
American Words Heading West
A few days ago, a poet in Colorado Springs said to me, “I’m really not interested in theory. There is far more that is real in art. I like keeping my work close to life itself.” Later in the afternoon, a first year student at Colorado College said, “It’s been amazing to me to see how much we aren’t told about history in public school. Unless someone tells you, you never really… Read More
Posted on April 23, 2012 by Mary Clare
Gearing up for the Last Leg – 100 VOICES 2012 Road Trip
I’ve been on a rest stop 9000 miles down the road since March 3. Whitewater, Wisconsin – a rural community between Milwaukee and Madison where the Sweet Spot Coffee Shoppe greets the morning; farms, families, schools, businesses (conventional and cyber) and a university fill the day; and the newly opened Black Sheep Restaurant brings culinary art to the evening. In the two turns of winter to spring that I’ve spent here (last… Read More
Posted on April 17, 2012 by Mary Clare
Notes on Leaving
It is early morning in the middle of April. I am on a bus leaving Oxford, UK. I have kissed my daughter on the cheek more than twice. We have hugged one another many more times than that. Each embrace as if it were the actual goodbye – the one that would leave our parting fully signified and safe. All through, we smile into each other’s eyes to fill the gaps between… Read More
Posted on April 13, 2012 by Mary Clare
Listening International – A Brief Report from the UK on Friday the 13th
Yesterday I came into the Oxford University offices for public health. I was there to meet up with a friend and colleague. A slight woman greeted me. In contrast to the reserved decorum I have come to expect, this Oxford official nearly skipped up to meet me, smiling young and radiant above a cascade of pearls. Josephina was curious about my accent, about Oregon. She brought me water. I asked how long… Read More
Posted on April 3, 2012 by Mary Clare
Where are the White People?
Sometimes I turn to internet sources for news updates. Huffington Post, NYT, stories posted to facebook, local papers’ websites for learning about where I am along the road. Often there are stories with photos of crowd scenes. Some are international, but I’m thinking today of domestic stories – Occupy, Tea Party, vigils, protests on the National Mall or at statehouses across the country. In the case of crowd photos from the U.S.,… Read More
Posted on March 27, 2012 by Mary Clare
Under the Hoodie
No, Geraldo. It’s not the clothing. It’s about looking under the hoodie. mc By now, most Americans are aware of the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old young man who was visiting his father’s home in a gated community of Sanford, Florida. Trayvon lost his life to a single gunshot fired by a man who lived in the same community. At the time the fatal shot fired, it was dark. Trayvon, who… Read More
Posted on March 16, 2012 by Mary Clare
Warming Trend and the Cool Constant of Cooperation
Today is the third above 70 degrees in Wisconsin. Locals clearly love it. So do I. And … really? 70’s in late winter here in a U.S. state that shares a rather large lake (Superior) with the Canadian state of Ontario? Maybe it’s the Texan in me who can’t imagine anyplace else acting in total defiance of the seasons. Maybe it’s my vigilant interest in our reading the trends to avert calamitous… Read More