When I first thought of answering this call, I had some others things I was writing and organizing for OS so I did not think I would participate. Then I started thinking about it after reading Vanessa Seijo. She is one of my favorites on OS, her work always makes me glad I took the time to read it. My comment on her piece was:
" This was beautiful. In a castle in Germany, Martin Luther wrote on a very tiny wooden desk in a drafty hall way, and his work, well, it changed the world for some. It is all inside our heads and when we write it out, it becomes real, paper, pencil, pen, buttons we push, screens we see, out of our heads it must come. People have given birth all over this planet and it is a process and the result is unique, like a child."
I was thinking of my paintings, how whenever I would create one, I would think of it as a child, having given birth to something I thought was beautiful. I am speaking of the Sheila from long ago, probably 40 or more years ago. Writing is the same. I love what I do in a way, it all a part of my imagination and it wants to come out and be seen. Vanessa writes from different places and so do I. I write from my laptop and move around all over with that. Lately, I have written from my son's room since he is away in Germany. I write here, talk to him here and miss him here too.
There was an old saying, there are only two kinds of people in the world. (This was written by Edna Ferber, in her novel "So Big", about my home town.) They are the wheat and the emeralds. An industrious woman (modeled after real life Antje Paarlberg) Selina De Jong used to say that in South Holland, years ago at the turn of the century. Her father had taught her that expression.
The world needs the creative people, they are the emeralds, and the world needs the workers, the business owners, the industrial, they are the wheat. We are a combination here, a hybrid, so to speak. There are some who more emerald than wheat, but some who are more wheat than emerald, some pure emerald, some pure wheat, but we all have something to say. This does account for our diversity of ideas, art and attitudes. I believe this is a great creative melting pot, and we all find different places to write and different motivation to do so.
This son is most interested in things which have a history. He is enjoying his schooling in Germany and all the old things he gets to see.
My son, whose room this is, likes black and white photography too. He has his grandfather's work hanging in his room. His twin who is named for this grandfather is the most passionate about photography. He also is an articulate writer.
Pictures from South America during WWII. My father did aerial reconnaissance for the air corps. This is a glacier in the Andes.
Planes flying over the Andes.
In June 2010 all three of our children were in Germany on a tour with their former German teacher. This is in Wartburg Castle. This castle has a historical background associated with Martin Luther. This is passage way to Luther's desk.
The Desk of Martin Luther.
Luther in Exile at the Wartburg Castle
Luther had powerful friends among the princes of Germany, one of whom was his own prince, Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony. The prince arranged for Luther to be seized on his way from the Diet by a company of masked horsemen, who carried him to the castle of the Wartburg, where he was kept about a year. He grew a wide flaring beard; took on the garb of a knight and assumed the pseudonym Jörg. During this period of forced sojourn in the world, Luther was still hard at work upon his celebrated translation of the Bible, though he couldn't rely on the isolation of a monastery. During his translation, Luther would make forays into the nearby towns and markets to listen to people speak, so that he could put his translation of the Bible into the language of the people.
Although his stay at the Wartburg kept Luther hidden from public view, Luther often received letters from his friends and allies, asking for his views and advice. For example, Luther’s closest friend, Philipp Melanchthon, wrote to him and asked how to answer the charge that the reformers neglected pilgrimages, fasts and other traditional forms of piety. Luther's replied: "If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign." [Letter 99.13, To Philipp Melanchthon, 1 August 1521.]
From:
Enjoy your writing, whether you are wheat or emerald. Do it where ever you can, whenever you can. You will always be happy I think, if you can express yourself.
Copyright 2011 by SheilaTGTG55
Photos by Sheila and KM (Luther Desk & Hall)
WWII Photos by my dad
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Comments
la creme de la creme in this. History, feelings, art, and love.
Like Vanessa..
It was the sky, the earth and the soul.
You are your father's daughter.
rated with hugs..
Okay I do have to say something.
God and Caddyshack on the same wall. Priceless..:)
You just saved me a lot of time and a post, and there is no way I could, or would, have said it so well. (and so nicely, Ms. Emerald)
Wonderful post.
I'm sure both the Emeralds and the Wheats would agree.
R
There's a lot to consider here.
The first thing I did was to imagine Luther's desk without the portrait on the boards above. Some curators have no idea.
Love the B&W photos. You write from an important place.
rated
Steve: Yes, if I get thinking on something, you just never know what you are going to find here!
Kate: Thank you for stopping by.
LC: Yes, it is amazing, when this picture came to mind, my daughter had shown it to me in about August and it struck me then how austere it was. What a bleak place to write. So I thought of it when I commented on Vanessa's post.
Kim: Thank you, yes, painting in the wrong place! I get my inspiration from so many things, but I think I would like a warmer setting! It is freezing here, and poor Luther was probably freezing there....winter in the northern hemisphere is tough.
Rita: Thank you Rita, I am sure it has melted considerably in the last 68 or so years since this photograph was taken. That being said, the idea of it reflecting here in such a way and my father capturing it, proves to me his creative eye.
Cyril: Thanks!
Jon: Yes, a window into the little worlds that are spinning over here!!
thank you, thank you, thank you
i loved your comment on my post, i haven't even been able to answer all comments
now, gosh, from your writing room/son's room to that castle picture, i swear for a moment i almost swooned and wondered if i had found a wormhole for i felt sucked into that hallway and my mind itched to walk forward
i mean, it feels like i know this place
the chair, yes uncomfortable by all means, but it would have kept one awake and working
there is wheat and there are emeralds, yes, i have always felt a labourer, and that is quite fine
but you my dear, Gaby Abby is right, you are emerald, you shine!
Vanessa: Thank you so much for your post, it was inspiring to me. I had read some others, but yours spoke to me, because I could identify with not staying in one place, I even use different computers sometimes. I am glad you could stop by today, have a great day tomorrow. Emerald was always a good color on me when I was younger....hahahaha.
Beautiful art. You look very organized in your writing space. Come on, fess up. Did you straighten up before taking these photos. Me thinks you did. Oh, don't pay me no mind. I'm the punchy one. Need sleep.
Great job with the OC, She she!
PS - My baby sister's name is Sheila and I affectionately call her She she! That's big sister love, so hope you don't mind I called you that.
Gardenia: Thanks for stopping by. The idea of emeralds and wheat came from the pulitzer prize winning author Edna Feber in her book "So Big". Her character is in reduced circumstances due to stock market failure. Her father, however had taught her that life was about the journey, what there was to learn and accomplish. She used his philosophy and idea of emerald and wheat to appreciate her new circumstances and build a life. She is modeled loosely after a real person in a real place, from my own home town.
I think I would like to walk the corridor to where Luther wrote his 95 Theses that he nailed to the door. And yes, we need all kinds. Had never heard that one about emeralds or wheat before.
I love the glacier photos taken by your Dad.
maryway: You are welcome. I love history and like to write about things I have visited or would like to. Come over any time.
Caroline: This was a great open call I think.
Helen: Thanks Helen, and a very big welcome to you!
And for the photo of the glacier. I'm overwhelmed.
Rita: Edna Ferber's book won a Pulitzer prize in 1925, she was quite the writer. I don't know if she made this up, or Antje Paarlberg's father actually taught her that as is suggested.