Artha Jackson

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2011-11-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a whirlwind sort of season with Thanksgiving creeping up quickly....now over....stomach filled with all the yummy comfort food shared by my loving family! Now, last-minute preparations for my piano recital and more holiday parties/events lining up and somehow are scheduled close together.

I did not participate in Black Friday....except for a quick jaunt to the GAW (Gilbert Art Walk) to support my friend who is one of the vendors. And I bought a lovely piece of jewelry from another creative artist......I just love and appreciate artists.....because I am a kindred spirit, of course!

I have many blessings....good health, a big loving family, and my art/music talents that I share and teach to others! My holiday cards are all ready to be sent off and my shopping is almost done! I am appreciating the beautiful sunny days here in Arizona, especially when I know it's all icy cold and snowy in other places! Brrrr, no thanks!

Have a very wonderful holiday and may you be blessed with joy this season....and remember the reason for the season! God bless!

Dorinda

2011-09-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

Dorinda Nyland was my piano teacher for 10 years in Alameda, California where I grew up. She was well-known in the community, having taught hundreds and hundreds of students. She passed away at age 89 on July 3 this summer and her memorial service is at her First Congregational Church in Alameda on September 24th.

I have taught piano full-time now since 2005 at a music store in Chandler. I've been very blessed to have had such a wonderful example of a piano teacher such as Dorinda. Several years ago, I honored Dorinda by framing my first recital sheet music called 'The Gumdrop Tree.' I was just 8 years old. My sister Lisa and I visited her after she retired and her dementia was kicking in. Lisa took a picture of me sitting with Dorinda at one of her two grand pianos she had in her living room. That picture is next to the framed recital music.

Soon after this visit with Dorinda, she moved to an assisted living home until her husband passed away then moved in with her daughter, Celeste, her only child. Dorinda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the end, but her life was one that was filled with the love of teaching and I am honored that I was her student for all those years. I will always hold her dear in my heart.

Glad to be busy!

2011-07-14T22:46:00.000-07:00

I thought I would be must less busy at this stage in life, but no......not the case at all! With teaching piano, teaching mosaics and getting my mosaic inventory built up for participation at the upcoming GAW (Gilbert Art Walk) in September, really keeps me hopping for which I'm grateful. Have to count my blessings that I'm not just sitting around eating bon bons.

My new favorite color is Orange!

2011-06-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

I just bought a new little purse… all leather, and it’s a popsicle orange color.

I have in mind to use this purse in my Vemma side business! You can check it out at arthajackson.vemma.com

Sunny Attitudes

2011-06-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

I am always drawn to people who have sunny dispositions (or attitudes) and withdraw myself from those who are always negative. The funny thing, years ago when my little family was going through difficulties, I didn’t realize I was draining others by my own negativity until my sister took me aside and said that the negative vibes she was getting from me didn’t make her feel good. That was the best thing anyone could have ever said to me, so from that point forward, no matter what was going on in my life to dampen my spirits, I put the negativity aside and replaced it with cheerfulness instead. What a wonderful difference that made and an amazing lesson for me.

Thinking positive thoughts during the day helps me get through difficulties head on and makes me feel that I have someone on my side, supporting me in my efforts, no matter what I am involved in at those particular moments, especially when I’m out of my comfort zone. I know that difficult things are just part of life in order to make us strong…..I guess we all feel that way, right?

Friendship

2011-05-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today I called a dear friend. I think of her often, but she moves around a lot and I didn’t have her new number. I had to track her down by calling her son, whom my husband happens to call once in awhile. My friend and I caught up on the happenings in each others’ lives, and it was good to hear her cheerfulness and to know all is well.

I couldn’t stop there, nor had the time to call ALL my dear friends……my old high school friends who I keep in touch with and see from time to time. So I sat down today and sent an email to them all and when I checked my email tonight, I noticed that two have already replied back to me. You see, out of us twelve girls, three of us live out of state, but all of us make a strong effort to meet for lunch once a year. When we DO get together, it’s as if we just had a little break and we just continue on with our conversations as if we just saw each other yesterday.

We will celebrate our BIG birthday next year together…..in Hollywood! No, that isn’t our hometown, but one of the girls gave us three choices to meet this time, and the majority wanted to meet in Hollywood. I am sooooo looking forward to that.

My friends from high school are and always will be special to me. I am also lucky to have five sisters who are my dear friends as well. We (my sisters and I) all live in different states, but recently met at my home to celebrate our dear mother’s 92^nd birthday. Everything was perfect in every way, except when I couldn’t find those darn purple plates I bought for the birthday dinner. Oh well, it wasn’t the end of the world. And although my mother suffers from Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know who we are anymore, we decided together that she is a good faker, because she was so gracious, and acted as if she knew who each of us were.

I love my friends and I love my sisters who are my friends and ALL of them are special because of memories shared over the years.

The Tonsil Story

2011-05-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

This morning two of my grandchildren (Logan, age 5 and Genevieve, age 3) had their tonsils and adenoids taken out, by the same doctor, one right after the other! I was a bit emotional just waiting to hear how these little tykes were doing. Logan's mommy (Sydney) said that he "was pissed" and resting on the sofa and Genevieve's mommy (Stacy) said that Genevieve finally accepted a popsicle but was being very sweet. Both of my daughters said that they prepared the kids for what to expect, so there were no surprises, but it was such a different experience for me when I was 5 and had my tonsils out. Briefly, my mother just one day took me to the hospital and a funny lady with a big white hat (a nurse) made me put on this funny underwear and had me climb into a wheelchair. I thought it was a game until the next thing I knew, I was laying on a table (operating table) and was told to count backwards by these adults standing around me. When I woke up (waked) my mother was beside me and said I had my tonsils out. I didn't know what that meant, but my throat was sore. I think that was stinky of my mother to not prepare me, but I realize things were different in those days! This "tonsil story" is actually written up in my personal family history......have you written yours' yet?