In Honor of Fidel

There are many friends we meet throughout our lives...some come in and out, and some are lifelong friends. We lost one of the latter yesterday - and one of the best - in Fidel.

For three years we saw Fidel's struggle and determination to fight his way back, but he dealt with problems and complications that always seemed to set him back. But, a fighter he was.

A vibrant, interesting, intelligent, and genuinely sweet man, Fidel was also hilariously funny, loud, and outspoken - and he generally had most of the people around him laughing. With his Nigerian-English accent, his voice was as classy and unique as he was. I am so sad that such a larger-than-life, dynamic, spirited person with such a big heart was taken from us way too soon.

We will miss you, Fidel. That wonderful, hearty laugh. The teasing and the sarcasm - which was always quite entertaining - and the upbeat attitude. Your sense of humor was only surpassed by your courage. And the many, many people who spent so much time in the hospital with you was a real testament to not only the kind of person you were, but how much you were loved. 

The world will be a little less sunny without your light in it, and all your friends will always miss you. Rest in peace, dear friend.

 "May the Lord bless you and keep you..." (Num. 6:24)

A Tribute to Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak passed away last week at the age of 83. He was a beloved author known for his children's books with wonderful stories and illustrations...and an imagination that seemed to know no limitations.

In an interview with Stephen Colbert earlier this year, Mr. Sendak was asked why he wrote for children. He said:

"I don't write for children. I write, and somebody says, 'That's for children'… I like them as few and far between as I do adults."

But the writer is more than just a bone-picking curmudgeon: "There is something in this country that is so opposed to understanding the complexity of children," he said.

He also wrote very different, and much darker, material than most authors of children's books. Noted in an article by the New York Times:

In book after book, Mr. Sendak upended the staid, centuries-old tradition of American children’s literature, in which young heroes and heroines were typically well scrubbed and even better behaved; nothing really bad ever happened for very long; and everything was tied up at the end in a neat, moralistic bow.

Mr. Sendak’s characters, by contrast, are headstrong, bossy, even obnoxious. (In “Pierre,” “I don’t care!” is the response of the small eponymous hero to absolutely everything.) His pictures are often unsettling. His plots are fraught with rupture: children are kidnapped, parents disappear, a dog lights out from her comfortable home.

Perhaps that is why his books have been loved by children and adults for years. His sense of humor, creativity, and perspective was fresh, and very unique. 

His favorite book was "Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life," but his most famous was "Where the Wild Things Are." 

I found myself having to visit a little local bookstore in Linden Hills in South Minneapolis: Wild Rumpus. Although mainly for kids, it's a favorite store for many adults too. The store has a smaller front door within the regular door for children, and many real animals hanging out throughout the place. The entire atmosphere of the store is quite fitting to its name - you can't help but think of Maurice Sendak when you stop by. The store's name, after all, was taken from his most famous book, when Max was "dancing with the monsters in a wild rumpus."

Mr. Sendak will be greatly missed. But, fortunately, his legacy will remain in print to be enjoyed for many years to come. 

 

© Photograph by C.Y. Hunter

Some Fun Ways to Tie Scarves

I love wearing scarves all year round. A versatile accessory, a scarf can add color and style to an otherwise neutral outfit. Although there's nothing like the silkiest ones, even on the coldest winter day, there are many other soft, flowing fabrics. Whether wrapped around your neck in different ways, in your hair as a headband, tied around a high ponytail, used as a belt, or attached to a purse strap, scarves can be used in so many ways. I love to loop one around my black leather bag - it not only adds some color and a bit of style, it can also be pretty handy when I want to tie my hair back (anyone with long hair can attest to this one).

Found on Scarf Knots, this fun, well-done YouTube Video covers some great ways to tie scarves around your neck. There's a couple pretty creative ways I hadn't thought of...

The Joy of Books

As anyone can see from my ever growing list of books on this blog, I love to read. I go through phases with different types of books, but I always have at least one going at a time.

I always carry a large bag - it must fit a book, my camera, and a notebook or journal...it's important for writers to be able to jot down observations, after all.

A self-described Francophile (even more so after visiting France and feeling so at home there), I also love anything to do with Paris, Provence, and other wonderful towns in France. Well, pretty much anything French...the language, the fragrance of French Lavender, the food - the list goes on.

One of my favorite blogs is French Essence, for obvious reasons, but I particularly liked the writer's post near the end of March entitled The Joy of Reading. She talks about her love of reading like a true book lover:

"I have a feeling that you know how much I am smitten with books and reading. It got me thinking about why some are always close to the written word and why others aren't so inclined. I can't leave home without a book or my Kindle in the handbag, I can't catch a flight or board a train unless I am fully stocked with books... I carry enough print for all emergencies... delays, breakdowns, insomnia... I cannot be without my 'literary friends', ever. Perhaps some might consider this an eccentricity, I regard my attachment as essential... and I don't feel 'dressed' unless I have reading matter by my side. I have learned that life involves much waiting... waiting for appointments... waiting for children... waiting for friends... waiting at airports and train stations... just waiting. Reading helps pass the time and in a productive way... Reading can settle the nerves, lift the mood and most importantly teach. Reading can be a best friend and reading means you are never lonely..." 

"Our home in France is overflowing with books... coffee table tomes, fiction, non-fiction, dictionaries and encyclopedias... We might be seduced by our iPads and Kindles for on-the-move-convenience (and I would not want to live without either of these... they are an incredible luxury) but this has not and will not stop us collecting the hard copies... Books are about far more than content alone..."

 I have to say I agree wholeheartedly. What else can I possibly add to that except livres sont merveilleux!

Stylin' Shoe Cabinet

What can I say, I'm an IKEA fan. I guess I like mixing the modern (and, let's face it, not too expensive when you decide to do something different), and vintage pieces - along with bright artsy pieces, travel finds...and of course anything Parisian or French.

But, in looking for a new way to store my shoes, I had to admit this was pretty awesome. I don't have as many shoes as a lot of women I know, granted. But, the beauty of this is they are stored away in a dust-free cabinet that looks like a china cabinet, takes up very little space, and holds ten pairs of pumps. It was pretty enough, I decided it shouldn't be hidden in the closet after all...and reasonable enough in price that more can be added.

IKEA "Bissa"

Since I own a lot of boots that are easily put on shelves, it was the pumps on the floor that would literally disappear into boxes. This really just inspires me to dress up and go out even more...I mean, look at that awesome top shelf!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Many blessings, happiness, and peace to everyone. May the promise of Easter renew your hope and joy!
 

Missing the Fashion Mark in Minneapolis

I enjoy reading magazines like Elle. It's full of fun fashion information, beautiful photography, and really good articles on pop culture and things happening around the world.

However, I was a bit puzzled by an article in the March issue entitled "High Fidelity." The author, Louisa Kamps, is an excellent writer, but I think she really missed the mark in her article on Midwest fashion when she wrote about Minneapolis:

"Then there's cold, cold Minneapolis, where Scandinavians flocked in the 1800's to toil in the lumber and flour mills and whose descendants are the originator of the hipster-beloved woodsman look: buffalo checked logger coats, earflap caps, and leather lace-up boots, the higher the sexier, particularly on women. Minneapolitans are fiercely loyal to their heritage brands, such as Minnetonka Moccasins' golden tan mocs."

My first complaint is one I hear all the time from local residents: it isn't ALWAYS cold in Minneapolis. We have seasons here just like other places, and even our winters can really vary (this winter has been really warm with very little snow). The joke is if you don't like the weather, wait a couple of hours and it will change. We also have colorful autumns, warm springs, and some very hot, humid summers.

Secondly, I've yet to see a earflap cap or buffalo checked logger coat in the city - and the only lace-up boots I've seen are hiking boots when you're out hiking (or perhaps shoveling snow). The "higher the better" is only seen on tall, leather boots when they are the current trend, and who's fiercely loyal to, or even wears, Minnetonka Moccasins?

The author went on to say:

"And, as a friend reports, people here have finally figured out how to mix a bit of Prince - that other native-style power of tower - with their Paul Bunyan. Hence, the woman spotted clubbing in a Fleet Farm barn jacket, shiny Marni parachute pants, and towering Azzedine Alaia platforms."

When I read this part, I actually had to stop and look at the cover of the magazine to check the date. Prince? Was this written twenty-five years ago? His movie "Purple Rain," which was filmed here, was released in 1984. I really don't see him influencing fashion here. And parachute pants? Was this woman perhaps out dancing on Halloween? 

It almost seems like the author is basing her ideas on the movie "Fargo." Minneapolis is not as it was depicted in the movie. It's a growing, metropolitan city - and it's actually quite a mixture of cultures. Sure, there are people with Scandinavian roots, but there are also Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Russians, Europeans, a lot of displaced east and west coast people, and very large Somalian and Hmong populations. Until you have really been to this area, you can't really appreciate the diversity or honestly see it for what it is. I couldn't write about favorite cities like Paris, London, San Francisco, or New York until I had actually spent some time in each one. Many myths are often dispelled pretty quickly. 

As far as fashion goes, I almost always wear high heels, whether it's boots or shoes, as do a lot of my friends and acquaintances. I also wear dresses, skirts, textured and opaque tights, lots of scarves (silk, not wool), and fashionable jewelry. I have friends that even walk around in high heels when it's really icy and snowy (although that's where I tend to draw the line...I take them along in a leather tote bag as I'm not quite as coordinated as they are). Everyone I know dresses in current and very chic outfits, or has a very distinct style of their own. We also have some great vintage shops here with awesome pieces to mix in with everything else. I'm sure there are exceptions, but what I see in the fashion magazines I see here.

I suggest the author come to town and watch the businesswomen downtown on their lunch breaks as they stroll through Macy's and Sak's in their stylish skirts, dresses, blazers, cashmere sweaters, tailored pants, classic trench coats, and high heels. Then, check out Uptown near Lake Calhoun. It's home to some hip shops with high end and trendy clothes - and everything in between. Stop by on a Friday or Saturday night and you'll see women in the most current looks with rocking stilettos and a great new clutch or bag.

This isn't even to mention the Mall of America. The biggest mall in the country, it has over 500 stores. It has great anchor department stores like Nordstrom's and Macy's (Bloomingdale's, unfortunately, is in the process of closing), offered right along with many designer stores and funky boutique shops. You'll see many women - and men - in stylish, hip, and up-to-date outfits strolling throughout. Then, of course, right next door to Minneapolis is St. Paul, our capital (and the second part of the "Twin Cities"), which is a whole other story.

Although I appreciate the author's humor, I don't care for the inaccurate generalizations. Minneapolis is not New York City, but it isn't Fargo either. I know what I see here is a lot of beautiful, stylish, trendy clothing - and many high, high heels...and there's not a earflap cap or Fleet Farm barn jacket in sight.