1. The Artist Nobody
Remembers
While reading a
Substack article, I came across an illustration of George Washington speaking
at the Constitutional Convention. The image was later reproduced by Currier
& Ives, but the original artist is unknown. That fact fascinated me more
than the historical scene itself. Someone created a picture that has survived
for generations, yet their name disappeared.
As I studied the
image, something else struck me. Nobody is shouting. Nobody is pointing
dramatically. Nobody appears to be performing for an audience. The men are
discussing, listening, and debating, but doing so calmly. It feels very
different from modern politics, where every disagreement seems amplified, and
every discussion becomes a battle. The picture suggests that important
decisions can be made by people sitting in a room and talking to one another.
The artist may be
forgotten, but the feeling they captured remains. I sure wish our Congress looked like this.
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2. A Drawing Shows the Feeling
I realized this week
why I enjoy the drawings in Alexander Verbeek's Substack so much. His
illustrations of himself and his cat feel warmer than photographs. The drawing
is recognizable, but softer somehow. I finally put my finger on it: a
photograph shows what a moment looked like, while a drawing often shows what it
felt like. That may explain why I've become increasingly drawn to
illustrations, paintings, and even hand-drawn maps. Which do you prefer? My
photos or drawings?
3. What Would I Study If Nobody Was Grading Me?
A Substack writer suggested
choosing a "yearly topic" and spending a year learning about it. The
idea filled me with a ridiculous amount of excitement. Nobody has assigned me
homework in more than fifty years, yet apparently I still enjoy the idea of research
and learning—as long as there are no grades. I'm seriously considering spending
the next year exploring a subject or thing that will absolutely NOT contribute to my health, wealth
or welfare. Something far out like the Dutch Golden Age of Art. Art History
might not be your thing, but what totally surprising subject would you choose
to research and learn about?
4. The National
Council on Aging
I recently
discovered the National Council on Aging (NCOA), an organization that has been
helping older Americans since 1950. Somehow, I reached age 76 without ever
paying attention to it or knowing why it existed. It works on issues such as
aging in place, financial security, technology, caregiving, and healthy aging.
One area that
particularly caught my attention was their interest in artificial intelligence.
Rather than replacing human decision-making, some aging advocates are exploring
how AI might help older adults understand and compare complicated options.
Think Medicare plans, benefits programs, caregiving resources, housing choices,
or community services. AI could potentially act as a guide, helping seniors
find information, understand trade-offs, and connect with resources they might
not otherwise discover.
Many of us are a
little wary of AI, but helping people understand complicated choices seems
like exactly the sort of task AI should be good at. Can you see a future where you would use it?
5. The Bandana in
the Sock Drawer
After seeing a
colorful embroidered bandana online, I suddenly remembered that I owned a
tie-dye bandana. After a brief search, I found it tucked away in my sock
drawer, a place I look almost every day, but never noticed it. I don't remember ever wearing it, but
I remember exactly why I bought it. It felt like me.
That discovery led to an interesting question: how can something represent a part of yourself so perfectly when you've never actually used it? (Think of the breadmaker in the upper cabinet. You always intended to make homemade bread but never used it.) Perhaps the reason I bought it, even if I never wore it, was simple: it was a reminder not to forget that part of myself. The Girl who loved tie-dye or the Baker who never baked.
