Rewinding

CURLING UP by a fence post is a fine way for a local raccoon to relax but for me unwinding means rewinding and untangling my thoughts with a walk in a world where unexpected bliss or misfortune lurks around any corner.

On good and bad newsdays it's reassuring to see that cozy cottages still reside beside big old trees in some places.

Babies still enjoy fresh air from their buggies near the grayish-blue sea.

Puppies like the Golden Retriever (below) still draw oohs and ahhs from adoring crowds and ...

mysterious paths still invite walkers to explore each twist of the pebbly sand.

On good and bad newsdays birds still sing and build nests in most places ...

and weeping willows, not yet green, still dance in the breeze.

Dreams still transform into reality with mortar and stone.

Smiles still greet each new day and there's plenty of joy to be found.

A leaky basket of woes also rolls around but as children's author Judy Blume once said, "Life goes on if you're one of the lucky ones."

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

A Study In Generosity At The University Of BC

BESIDES LEARNING why they need umbrellas in Vancouver, students at the University of British Columbia delve into a treasure trove of knowledge they hope to one day share with the world. Perhaps they will also learn that although the brain tops the list of subjects begging for innovative thinking it takes heart to make the needed research happen ... and a generous spirt.

The Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at UBC shows an artistic impression of brain cells etched in the glass. Understanding of the brain is in its infancy as is the newly constructed building I visited with my husband who is dealing with a neurological condition that began over two years ago.

We were impressed with the nearly 135,00 square foot scope of the facility largely made possible by Mowafaghiana, a longtime philanthropist of humble beginnings who learned lessons in generosity early from his mother.

His desire to bring all the multidisciplinary areas of brain health under one large umbrella was triggered more recently after he suffered a stroke. This unfortunate health crisis turned out to be fortunate for those with various movement and other disorders seeking answers now and into the future.

How often have you heard about someone down and out who would give you the shirt off his back? Generosity is not exclusive to the rich but when there is little to lose perhaps it is easier to give than when wealth accumulates?

No so for 87-year-old Mowafaghiana who went from being bankrupt to gaining and giving away millions. He no doubt would agree with Albert Pike who said, "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

Of course giving is not only about dropping some loose change in a panhandler's cup or constructing big buildings. Sharing time, talents and non-monetary acts of goodness also have ripple effects.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

The Tiny Gift That Gives Me A Lift!

DOES YOUR imagination soar at the thought of grabbing this tiny red umbrella to take a spin around the room and out into the blue horizon?

The ornament was one of the gifts my daughter gave me at Christmas this year. She discovered it nestled in a vintage shop crammed with tantalizing used goods and thought of me right away. It gives me a lift whenever I see it dangling at the window.

Although I am certainly no Mary Poppins, it is nice to be associated with umbrellas. An umbrella to me (and Penelope) is a canopy for protection against the splashes, a magic wand with which to make a wish, a handy stick to ward off a stumble, and a parachute geared for adventure rolled into one tidy package.

This perfect gift made me realize how sometimes challenging, but always gratifying, it is to find the right thing for the right person. Have you considered what your perfect gift would be? Perhaps you already have it. Great thinkers have pondered on the less tangible gifts that cannot be contained in a box:

"Health is the greatest gift … ,” according to the Buddha and my mother who used to say that as well.

Voltaire said, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “I think at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.”

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

BCers In Italy, Switzerland & France; Pt 12: Through The Looking Glass At Versailles

IN MY WORLD I've been thinking about the Lewis Carroll books and how our visit to the beautiful Palace of Versailles last October reminded me of a distorted version of the Alice stories.

It is an unexpected afterthought on my part. In truth, the opulence enjoyed by the royal family resulted in the tragic "off with her head" consquences for Marie Antoinette in 1793. Her husband Louis XVI had been executed months earlier during the French Revolution.

The clipped symmetrical trees ...

meticulous vast courtyards and ponds ...

reminded me of scenes surrounding the Queen of Hearts character.

Rows of figures looked like giant chess pieces reminiscent of the Red Queen.

Blooms past their seasonal prime were dug up. The last few (pictured above) might have objected if they could speak like the flowers did in Carroll's tale.

We saw traditional statuesque apparitions mostly of gods and goddesses.

But (as in Carroll books) unforeseen characters also appeared at the palace.

We had the rare opportunity to view historical art in juxtaposition to modern works. Japanese artist Takashi Murakami created a contemporary Oval Buddha. Although I have seen many concepts of buddha, this some 18 foot statue made of bronze and gold leaf is truly unique.

Nearby was an even more unique golden fence and gateway to the royals.

People were constantly in front of the ornate structure taking pictures so I captured only a portion of the entrance way not open to the public.

I took a peek before entering from another location near the gate.

There it was ... the chateau of Versailles that began as a hunting lodge and evolved into a residence and retreat from the main palace in Paris for generations of French kings.

This was the ideal setting from which royalty could overlook their impoverished countrymen and soak in the breathtaking countryside filled with game and ponds stocked with fish.

Although it wasn't quite like going down the "rabbit hole", there was the appearance of a Mad Hatter through the palace doors.

There was much controversy about having Murakami’s creations displayed temporarily at Versailles. Many locals considered the work insulting.

Nonetheless, the artist wanted to bridge historical art with popular culture.

Many were not convinced and felt much the way Alice did in the Wonderland book when she said, "I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it."

There was unquestionable significance to the artistic expression (pictured above) that I believe is of Louis XVI. The misguided king went from a lavish lifestyle where aides chosen to monitor his bowel movements apparently felt honored to being despised and killed at the guillotine.

Such a horrific ending was likely not dreamed of when the royals slept in their luxurious beds.

What comforts elaborate fireplaces must have brought to hush their worried minds within cold palace walls.

It WAS like stepping Through The Looking Glass when entering the enormous passageway known as The Hall of Mirrors. The stunning construct within the palace began in 1678. It was built to magnify the power of the monarchy to other regions that might have been a threat.

Glass was extremely rare then. To showcase such a luxury item, Versailles sought the famous glass makers of Venice. Hopefully, the legend isn't true that the workmen who built the mirrored walls were killed to keep the art a secret. Despite the paradoxical lifestyles where the wealthy were seemingly blind to cruelty and poverty, Versailles stands alone as an incredible work of art. The glassy glitter of mirror and marble, the chandeliers and gilded statues all reflect a love of beauty so profound it is impossible NOT to carry a torch for the wonderland of Versailles.

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Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

Kindly Buddha Comes To BC Town

IT WAS A WEIGHTY MATTER when the four-ton Buddha was unveiled at the Nghiem Monastery courtyard in Aldergrove.

Carved in Thailand from BC jade, the statue took five years to complete and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 2009.

Its illuminating presence and friendly face captures the imagination and is intended to inspire universal compassion as it travels the globe.

Although hundreds of thousands of people have viewed the icon, many more were expected.

Few people could resist taking photographs of the imposing figure that gets star treatment wherever it goes.

Tea candles were lit to provide opportunities for individuals to participate.

People were able to light sticks at the foot of the statue ...

and place them in a bowl with their hopes and prayers.

I learned that the Buddha's design and kindly demeanor is based on the Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodh Gaya in India.

Inside the Monastery I saw a large bell and monks quietly eating a meal.

There was also a colourful drum nearby that was silent and still.

Further within the Monastery there was a sacred place that was open to all who were shoeless.

A dignified Buddha was displayed there with a distinctly more serious air.

In a small corner of the courtyard a pretty statue was easily overlooked. If it were human, it might have been green with envy at the attention the visiting Buddha was getting.

Soon the waiting crane in the background would take the large statue away.

The jade Buddha will next appear in Seattle and likely continue to travel for several more years before settling in the Great Stups of Universal Compassion, near Bendigo, Australia.

What an honor that this symbol of peace was created from gemstone discovered in the mountainous regions of British Columbia.

Explorers can discover more sites from around the globe at My World.