Art About Town... Placerville, California ( Druid Memorial ) And The Leaf Of The Day

"The holy grove, carved a century ago by the druids, was designed to amplify emotion to a cathartic crescendo. You see, druidism (as did most early religions) realized the essential truth that faith is an emotional, rather than a logical, response to the world.

 They designed their places of worship around this fact. Love, fear, guilt, rapture, these are religious words. Believers feel their belief. Skeptics contemplate their doubt."

~Scott David Howard

Three Days and Two Knights

Placerville, California, is a strange place. For a town that only has a little over 10,000 people, it has a lot of stories in it's rich past! Firstl of all, the town has had four names, Old Dry Diggins, Dry Diggings, Hangtown, and eventually, Placerville. The Gold rush, as you might expect, played a big part of it's past. I will share some new photographs and describe it's "Old West" persona in a different post, because it is a truly fascinating place, with some quirky and off beat characteristics to it. A part of the town is even said to be haunted, and has been featured on more than one paranormal research and reality show!

 But for this post, it's all about an interesting memorial that sits on the opposite side of town. Alan and I must have passed this memorial a hundred times, over the years, as we went to Lake Tahoe or Apple Hill! But it wasn't until this past summer, that I took the time to check out what it was. As it turns out, it is a memorial dedicated to Fredrick Seig, who created the first Druid grove in California, in 1859. The memorial was presented to the city of Placerville, by the Fraternal Order Of Druids, on September 5th, 1926. While I know that memorials are not, technically speaking, public art, I think this memorial is so interesting and quite lovely, so I am adding it to my own Art About Town, public art series. It's fascinating, don't you think?

Like I said, Placerville is an Old West town, and I am thinking about taking a day in October, and just walking from one end of town to the other, just to see all the interesting details, and learn about it's past! There is a lot to take in, from the "Hangman's tree" to all the historic homes around town! There are some really great mid-century signs, mixed in with more modern buildings and businesses. There is a bell tower in the center of town, that was erected in the 1800's to alert firemen, should a fire breakout, and the town even has a link to John Studebaker, the automobile maker! So, there's a lot to look forward to, as I move through this autumn, searching for autumn leaves, and learning about the contribution of California to the history and lore of the Old West.

 #5 Leaf Of The Day

September 26th, 2018

Cull Canyon

~Mood: Creative

~Me

 

9/11... 15 Years Later

Flight 93 Memorial

Union City, California

2014 

 

"What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is the ability to mourn people we've never met."

~ David Levithan

It's been 15 years. I think every year I repeat my astonishment that so much time has gone by. The world is a much different place than on that day, all those years ago. This year, more than any other since then, I have an overwhelming desire to make a political statement, but I won't. I can't. I have too much emotion right now to make any real sense. There will be time in the coming weeks to say all the political stuff I need to say. Today is about remembering those souls lost to families, friends, fans, children, grandchildren and friends that never got to be made. So, for today, I will be silent, for them. For all of them. But as I said, in the coming weeks, my words will also be about them and who we were that day, who we are now, and who we have the potential, and perhaps the danger, of becoming.

 Today, as on every anniversary of 9/11,

I remember the lives of 

David & Lynn Angell

Murdered

September 11th, 2001

American Airlines Flight 11

I will never forget your generous and loving spirits!

 

 

~Carly

 

Send Me No Flowers...

"The bad news is, the butcher is dead. 

The good news is, there will be no need for a funeral, 

and there will be meat for weeks."

~Jerod Kintz

Send Me No Flowers

Okay, my morbid sense of humor has kicked in big time. It all started with the ever changing tragic story of Tammy Meyers, the mother of 4 from Las Vegas, who was gunned down last week, after what was originally called an act of road-rage. Here is the thing, since last week, the story of what actually happened has changed, and even now, with at least one suspect in custody, things seemed muddled. Was she protecting her kids that night, by going home, and summoning her son who owned a gun legally, and then going back out? No, no matter which version I have heard up to this point, there is nothing in that situation that common sense would dictate going back out for, once she arrived home safely. So, was she trying to do a good deed by chasing down the suspect, who as it comes to light, she knew... very well? Again... nope... the police could have should still have been called, if she felt she was in danger or he was in high risk company. But I am sure there will be more twists and turns in this story, perhaps before the end of this coming weekend. In the end, it's not the point of this post. The situation is merely the catalyst for explaining what I would like my life to look like, postmortem. You know, how I would like my friends and Alan to remember me to the press, interested onlookers and concerned parties.

1. Do NOT hold a press conference detailing my qualifications for sainthood. 

(I am a human, who had made many human mistakes)

2. Do NOT hold a vigil, should I go missing!

(Have you ever noticed that when folks hold vigils for missing people, they never come back?)

3. If I am found dead, please DON'T drop off flowers, stuffed animals, balloons, candles or any other such nonsense. It makes a mess. Send it to me now, while I am alive, so I can enjoy it!

4. Assuming I am killed while out with my camera taking pictures, please don't use the phrase... 

"She died doing what she loved to do." That makes me sound like a moron.

5. If I am murdered, no matter how, please remember me 

by asking the District Attorney to NOT ask for the death penalty.

 I am vehemently against it. It wouldn't honor me if someone were executed for my murder.

6. NO LIFETIME MOVIES

7. NO SPECIAL MUSICAL TRIBUTES

8. NO enlarged DMV photos issued to the press. Just use the one on my blog and Twitter.

9. I would like to be cremated, rather than buried. 

But please wait a week or so, I sleep deeply sometimes.

10. NO, I REPEAT, NO "GO FUND ME" ACCOUNTS. Unless you just happen to want to buy Alan a cup of Starbuck's coffee or a Subway sandwich so he doesn't have to cook while he is busy making arrangements.

 11. No need for tears, not if you really love me.

 Laugh and know it was my time.

SHIT HAPPENS

I would like to think my death will come as the result of old age, but sometimes one is just at the wrong place at the wrong time. You know? In 2012, in October, Alan and I went and did all kinds of amazing things for our anniversary month, but the biggest of those activities was a flight over San Francisco Bay in a single engine Cessna. It was the experience of a lifetime. I got to take pictures that I would have never gotten to take otherwise, and the whole reason I said YES to that outing was because I kinda thought that the world might just end on December 21st of that year, and I figured... WHY NOT LIVE TILL I DIE?

LOL. 

The world didn't end, and I conquered a lifelong fear of small planes. Now, not only am I NOT afraid of them, it is my belief that twin engine planes are for pussys. LOL. I loved it up in the sky, flying around the bay like a Snowy Egret. Up above the clouds, and all the pain on earth. I wouldn't trade that day, or the fun we had, for anything. It was... life affirming! And isn't that everything? Life is meant to be lived, but sometimes your life continues after your death through other people and their good intentions.

 I just want to be remembered accurately, while I am being,

 you know, remembered. Make sense?

One last thing, if you just have to do something to honor me, visit New York City for me. Especially in Autumn. That's where my spirit longs to go one day, hopefully a little of me will be there.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

In Remembrance Of David And Lynn Angell

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

~Kahlil Gibran



On the morning of September 11th, 2001, David Angell and his wife Lynn, were killed when their flight, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. I have written about the Angells, on the anniversary of 9/11, since 2004, and was honored to be a part of the 2996 Project, which honored those who were lost in the terrorist attacks of that day. I never knew the Angells, but they still managed to touch my life as I learned about them as people, and realized the many laughs I had found through the brilliance of David Angell's talent. My life is better because of the talent and joy David Angell shared with the world. Lynn Angell touched the lives of many through her charity Hillsides Home For Children. They were extraordinary people.

Thank you so much David & Lynn Angell.

-Carly

David Angell (Wikipedia)

David Angell (IMDB)

9/11: Remembering David Angell (Huffington Post)
By Ken Levine

Hillsides Home for Children

Remembering David And Lynn Angell

David Angell was unique among the comedy writers I've met. Like David himself, his humor was gentle and kind, yet deeply funny. He had a brilliant comedy mind, but more importantly he was a good man, and a nice person."

-Bruce Rasmussen, Executive Producer, The Drew Carey Show

From For Ellipsis

Three years ago, I participated in the 2,996 Project which paid tributes to the heroes and victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. I requested to honor David Angell & his wife Lynn, both of whom were killed when their plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the World Trade Center.

David and Lynn Angell brought light and laughter to the world. I requested to honor the Angells, because I was familiar with his work as a comedy writer, producer and eventually co-creator of the sitcom Wings. I don't know how many smiles he may have brought me over the years... maybe a 1,ooo or so, and I will never get to thank him properly, but I can continue to send a BIG THANK YOU to the heavens, especially on this day, and share how much he meant to me, even though we had never met. A world with a little less humor in it is a sad place indeed.

Please take a moment and visit my original post from September 11th, 2006. These two people were just exceptional individuals and deserve to be remembered for their kindness and humanity.

Thank you David and Lynn for making the world a much happier place in the time your were with us.

-Carly

Hillsides Home For Children
940 Avenue 64, Pasadena, Ca 91105
(323)255-9005