3/31/25: Grandma Moses didn’t start painting until her 70s. She figured if her hands couldn’t embroider anymore, they might as well try something a little messier.
Next thing you know—bam!—art museums, greeting cards, and people saying things like “folk art legend.”
So if you’re sitting there thinking it’s too late to start that novel, take that class, or learn the banjo… Grandma Moses would like a word.
Preferably in oil paint.
3/27/25: Oops, missed a few days there. Shame on me, although I’d just offer in my defense, the missing updates say as much in their own special way. Still, shame-shame-shame.
3/23/25: “Trust your ability to exercise the choice of action and direction during the ‘words on paper’ stage. Sometimes your characters might alter the story line and you may not know whether to let them do it, or not. Let them do it. See what happens. The worst that can happen is you’ll spend a few days realizing you made a mistake. It’s important to make mistakes; out of accidents, and mistakes, springs creative spontaneity.” Syd Field, Screenplay
3/22/25:
World:
Hive: Why yes, due to popular demand, we’ll give you the world’s first musical farce (that we know of). Coming soon to a charming theater in Provo near you. (We can’t reveal what the show is, and of course, there’s no connection between series of posts of The Fork’s journey and the new musical farce coming soon.)
3/20/25: Didn’t quite get the good news we were hoping for at the doctor’s office today. In the elevator to parking, Suzanne hit the one-star button and deemed it a fitting review of the day, which gave me a much appreciated laugh. Back at it tomorrow.
3/19/25: Strong suit.
3/18/25: Remembering things is not my… um… my…
3/17/25: Some signs are not as clear as other signs, like this upside down one way sign I came across exiting the freeway. But finding out about a submission opportunity 4 hours before the deadline? That’s about a 7 on the clarity scale. Read on…
3/16/25: I was chatting with friend today who is facing retirement with some trepidation because he’s not sure what the retired version of him looks like or what he’ll do. It made me think of something Diana said about her fridge art when she hit 74. I said to myself, “If I don’t become a _________ right this very minute, I never will.” (Click here to find out what her thing is.) What fills that blank for you?
3/15/25: Come on, little golden fork. If you can make it there, etc. But first, let’s see how you play in a slightly smaller metropolis (Provo, for example), shall we? Read on…
3/14/25:
Me (every morning): Ya know, this isn’t so bad. I think maybe I’m turning a corner.
Me (every night): This is the worst. Morning me, you’re an idiot.
3/13/25: Today’s commute spent loosely defining theory of a life in three acts, to be fleshed out in another commute. Act I, birth to sometime in the 20s: the set up. Act II-20s to sometime in the 50s-60s: confrontation. Act III, 60s+: resolution. Act III can be further subdivided. 60s, Act III freshmen. Welcome to 15% discount at Denny’s. 70s, Act III sophomores. 80s, Act III juniors. 90s, Act III senior seniors. Super-seniors thereafter. Denny’s actually pays you to eat there.
3/12/25: Once on a whim, a daughter and I went to the Sundance Film Festival without any tickets, figuring that if we struck out, we could rub shoulders with the stars (only with their permission, of course). Turns out the stars go home after the first week (shoulder fatigue, probably) and the only show we could get in was a documentary, “Young at Heart,” about a chorus of senior citizens whose set list consisted of unexpected selections. Never condescending, often funny, overall deeply moving. Something about having a senior hooked up to oxygen rise from his bed to sing Coldplay’s “Fix You” not long before passing away to really hit home. Check it out if you can. In the meantime, there’s this.
3/11/25: “Since we’re only here for awhile, might as well show some style.” – James Taylor, Secret of Life
3/9/2025: Fridge magnet calling me out. Word. If I had to say something, it would probably be this site you’re on (thanks, btw).
3/8/2025: 3/7 happened, but the daily didn’t, on account of some days are a bit brutal like that. But 3/8 has already more than made up for it. You’ll see what I mean in this coming Monday evening’s fridge post. Clear your calendar!
3/6/2025: The more I reflect on it, the more I see Breaking Hip as more than just creativity in the arts in life’s Act III—it’s about creativity in kindness, in service, and in the courage to keep learning and growing. Hmm…
3/5/2025: Who do you know who is thriving in life’s Act III and whose efforts should be celebrated on the Breaking Hip fridge? Might even be you! Info.