My personal motto for 2009 was “Active and involved not hectic or stressed”~ I have to admit that at times I was stressed and often hectic. I was active, for sure and very involved.
It is always back to the blank canvas. All the years of experience, failures and successes lead to the confidence one has when looking at a new blank canvas. How can we enter into this creative process? Will it be dark or light? The New Year always starts with a blank canvas. May you paint your canvas the way you like it in 2010.
The art league continues to be a strong pull for both Bill and moi. We have been on the Board of Directors since May 2008, Bill since Jan 2008. He remains Chair of the Building Committee steering the design of a retrofit and expansion to hasten earthquake safety. I became part of the executive team as Secretary in Jan 2009. In December this year, I was voted President for 2010. I’ve sorted the seeds, searched for the Golden Fleece, filled the flask with water from the River Styx and returned from Hades unscathed, “friended”, and supported. It’s time to stand back and look at the canvas.
A retirement offer at Evergreen College in San Jose made me reevaluate and recommit to a reduced load continuing at 3 days a week. The State of California has serious budget issues that continue. Last fall, three of us librarians picked up the assignments of five. We started an Indo-American Association of the SJECCD, district-wide .
I had a dream team to work with for the West Coast Anglo Indian Association dinner dance in Santa Clara par excellence!John (and Glenna)Walke, Verna and Jeff Rego, Joy, Kevin and Christine Ward, Alison and Roger Ward, Bill. (Click the link and mouse over for photo.)We raised money for CTR (Calcutta Tiljallah Relief) all-India run by Blair Williams. The next dinner/ dance is set for April 24, 2010. I hope you will join us! ACAIA had a picnic in Oct. at our beautiful Cuesta Park in Mountain View. Joy and Bill --
May-June, I visited Mum and Margo in Brisbane.Eric was there. My trip was almost ritualistic after so many years but it is a ritual I love. Dosai get-togethers. Indooroopilly Shopping Town, Gold Class movie theatre... My Scrabble-addicted Mum, Isabel, plays 9 people online and Maven on her computer, walks around the park and watches FoxTV —such a life at 88. She is already planning her 90th birthday party for 2011.
I took a painting workshop at the Queensland Watercolour Society and started four paintings while there. I wrote an essay, Femme Feng Shui, which has been accepted for publication in Anglo Indian Women to come out in October 2010.
We look out on to our backyard sans our tall Stone Pine tree and try to create a garden. I look at the piles of paper on my desks and try to get organized. How did that proverbial elephant get eaten? One bite at a time. We work and volunteer and that is work, too. We try to remember that:
“Sometimes when we say ‘no’ in response to a request, we may be casting a vote of ‘yes’ on behalf of our own well-being.” ~ Michael Beckwith
Family news: 
Sheila is an independent photographer in San Francisco now. Natala is a geek in Seattle
(see story) and has new doggie, Abbey Road. Margo gave a dinner for Sammy who got married and has a ready-made family with Bia, her son Pedro and daughter, Rafa, from Brazil. Pedro is already wowing the Aussies with his soccer skills. Jenny and Agustin with Joslyn and Jasmine come up and join us for parties. Eric is working in Wellington and Auckland, NZ. Brizzy and Tuvi are living in the now.
Bill has enjoyed several trips to see his kids and 12 grandkids—Portland (Amy and Jeff and their families)in June and December (Meta and family came up), Walla Walla (Dan and family) for a big campout in July. Jessica (and family) in Seattle and here, there and everywhere—Berlin, France, Qatar, Hawaii. Bill makes many trips to Los Osos to check on Polly and Bill (93 and 96). Betsey came down from Flagstaff with girlfriend Trilby, her dog Chloe and two cats. Bill’s Aunt Martha turned 100 this year!
What will next year bring? What will we make of it? I wish you a way.
“You can start with nothing. And out of nothing and out of no way, a way will be made.”—M. B.
I hope that I can allow art to bring balance into my life. You, too.
Keep in touch: Twitter joyjoy1 Facebook LinkedIn Flickr and Moi and Mine Skype Zonya1 GoogleTalk PAL’s Fan page. Or, send me an email. Call.
Love you all!
How did we get here? 
Sheila is an independent photographer in 
