“I have been quietly standing in the shade all my days.” Artwork by Shannon N.
Even though I enjoyed watching the trees through the rain yesterday, I missed spending time in their presence. The mail gods knew, so they arranged for the tree above to arrive in time for a day too rainy and gloomy for time outdoors.
Rainy days often bring the best gifts.
The apple tree art is the work of Shannon N, eleveneleven on Redbubble. It was gifted to me by Geraldine, my swap-bot friend who has been consistently sending random acts of happy mail my way. The card came with condolences and a Louise Erdrich quote befitting the image on front:
Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could. —The Painted Drum
Wow! My knowledge of Erdrich’s painful, life-shattering story makes these words counsel to heed, particularly when I’m tempted to survive by not feeling or dealing with a host of pent-up, mixed-up emotions.
Although I really enjoy Erdrich as a writer, I haven’t read any of her novels since I was working on my doctorate (gasp!). So, thanks, Geraldine, for the three gifts embedded in one 4×6 postcard–the tree, the Erdrich quote, and a book suggestion for the next rainy, stay-indoors day.
May you have a weekend filled with reading, rest, and random gifts!
Pics and Posts 
Wow! That quote is so powerful!
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Girl…it stopped me in my tracks. I wasn’t expecting it. Whew!
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Happy for you. Beautiful tree.
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Isn’t it beautiful? Did you notice the tiny owl? Have you tried this type of art?
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Thank you for reminding me of Louise Erdrich. I just ordered the Painted Drum. Trees give so much to us.
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Great! I think I’ll read it over the Thanksgiving break. I hope to have very little to do.
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That’s a beautiful piece by Erdrich! I have never read it…thanks for sharing.
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It is definitely on my reading list.
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful post Chandra 🙂 Perfect timing the reminder. You have a way of doing that. 😉
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Awww…I needed it too…that very day. Hugs!
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I needed to read that quote. Thanks Chandra for sharing that piece from your life. Hugs to you too. May things be as they should be and may they make us happy.
Loved that apple tree art.
I hope to see you around on the 11th. Take care!
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I’m here, a little late, but here!
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Intriguing quote and art. The patterns are fascinating. I like how the patterns of owl feathers resemble the patterns in the ground on the right and left.
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Great eye! I didn’t even notice that. Thanks for pointing it out!
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There’s a lot to see in this art!
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