Urban Memories: Past and Future Images

Everyday in some way I see reminders of two amazing tragedies that either destroyed or nearly destroyed major portions of the great urban areas of New York and New Orleans. Actually, it seems I am always catching glimpses of theses incredible cities on old television shows, in movies from the past, and in books printed not so long ago. I have never been to either of these historical, grand and glorious cities. Yet when I see their images, I feel connected by some sort of genetic memory of having once been there.

Then, I think, "I can't look back." "Better to look forward."
But not to look back denies the beauty and power of what once existed. Looking forward requires information about what is possible. This process can be very time consuming. It can be very time consuming especially when future urban concepts are riddled with political, governmental, and design disagreements.

Is it possible to rebuild, recapture, and redesign such a myriad of buildings, homes, cultures, and traditions which have been so devastatingly ruined? Sometimes I think "yes" in my heart, even though my mind says, "impossible."

The digital art featured here is called "Urban Images". I created this design to reflect what I felt about the beautiful cities which suffer the tragic events of terroists, natural disasters, war, neglect and devastation. "Urban Images" (copyright 2006 amber silverstar) is available on wonderful products at http://www.cafepress.com/urbanimages. "Keep your Destiny Bright, use words of beauty".

Love and Light,

Amber Silverstar

BRF: Book Review Friday

New Book - Peeking Over The Edge:views from life's middle
by Cathy Jo Marley, April, 2006
Soft Cover, perfect bound, 163 pages, printed on recycled paper
Infinity Publishing - ISBN 0-7414-3169-6 at $14.95.

Accomplished writer, yet new book author chooses POD
for essay/memoir publication.

In an interview with Cathy Jo Marley - Ms. Marley gave the following comments.

"I did a lot of research into publishing before I decided to go with a POD, meaning print on demand. As a first time book author, I wanted to use a publishing vehicle which best suited my own ideas and goals. I liked Infinity Publishing because they offered a package I thought worked well with the essay/memoir genre that I wanted published. Infinity was professional, affordable, and expedient in getting my finished book out on the market. I would use this company again. I know, POD is not the choice for everyone but I am happy going this route over the traditional publishing methods. So far I am having great fun and wonderful success in promoting and selling my first book."

If you would like to contact Ms. Marley about the book or her publishing experience just go to www.CathyMarley.com

Now for the THANK GOODNESS IT IS BOOK REVIEW FRIDAY.

Peeking Over The Edge by Cathy Jo Marley is a book that reads smoothly. Ms. Marley tackles the difficult genre of essay plus memoir with a two edge sword. She gives voice to the main stream life of the middle-age wife/mother/business woman while also traveling through her dreams and desires for her own creative, sometimes glamorous, somewhat mysterious decisions in crafting a unique identity.

Although this is not an "in your face" desperate housewife, one does get the concept from her writing that there is a quiet desperation at times hiding just below her well-ordered life. She maybe peeking over the edge but sometimes it is as though she has fallen through a large chasm and is trying to pull herself up. An experience it is easy to identify with as most of us walk our own roads of trials and tribulations.

Because this book is well written and addresses the record of a woman's endeavor to understand the feminine acceptance or non-acceptance of life's myriad challenges; including weight and appearances, getting older, births and deaths of loved ones, becoming a stepmother, making a commitment to a traditional way of life and many more - this book is strongly recommended as inspired reading.

This reader however hopes Ms. Marley has another book forth coming where we can truly see the passions of the writer. Peeking Over The Edge needs to leads us into the mountains and the canyons of the writer's psyche so that we can see what is truly buried in the sub-conscious observations of this truly talented muse. This will inspire and motivate the rest of us to "take the leap" at any age.

Some of the words and thoughts which are well crafted are, "You see, no matter how hard I tried to make it untrue, much of my self- image was irretrievably linked to my size. I suppose that's the curse of many seriously heavy people. For years, I irrationally believed if I could only lose weight, everything else would magically fall into place. " & "I know whatever life hands me today will be different tomorrow because, you see, things change."

Chapters I liked included Winged People In Feathered Coats, The White Suit and Mothers and Daughters. I am certain whatever chapters you read, you can enjoy the interesting, fun, and delightful collection of writings by Ms. Cathy Jo Marley and her book, Peeking Over The Edge.

To purchase this book go to www.buybooksontheweb.com.

I live in the Southern California, Los Angeles area. The summer is here, with all it's beautiful weather, high surf, and gorgeous beaches. I also know with the summer comes the heat, the dryness, the winds and then the fires. During the middle of the night the apartment fire alarm sounded for no apparent reason, at least none that could be found. Then when turning on the television news this morning, I saw the screen filled with pictures of smoke, flames reaching to the sky, and horses in panic; the desert area a blazing storm of red.

I know the Santa Anna winds and the summer fires are part of the California scene where paradise always seems to come with a price. I pray this morning that the price will not be the lives of those who live where the fires burn and those who fight the "desert storms". There is no rain in sight and more hot winds forcasted for many more days - this is only the beginning of July, another four months of fiery possibility.

The Native Americans believe we can call to the frogs to come out of their mud houses and they in turn call to the Thunder Beings to "Bring the rain." I sure hope the frogs know their destiny purpose and make their pleas for the rains to come in a measured force to balance the needs of nature and those of us who live among nature's awesome beauty and power.

( ** Destiny Bright Design collection called Bright Dog is a copyright 2006 by Amber Silverstar.
Bright Dog can be seen on various gifts and wearable products at www.cafepress.com/brightdogshop.)

How brave the human spirit can be. I saw a young man on one of the morning shows. He had been injured in the war with Iraq; both his legs were amputated. In his eyes I could see the sorrow but I could also see a soul filled with courage and light. How amazing to have so much taken away and yet still focus on making the most of what surrounds him in his quest to survive. He walks, he drives, he dates, he creates a world of opportunities. There is no bitterness in his words, no resentment in his smile, no revenge in his attitude. Instead, he inspires, he jokes about how his "private parts still work" and how he sees marriage and children in his future. He puts on his leather gloves, he manipulates the hardware that replaces the flesh he once could be so sure of. He talks about "walking on stilts." I do not believe in war but I do believe in the honesty and honor of the warrior spirit and this young man's pure heart who went to carry out his destiny to do what he believed would defend and protect others so they too could follow their own pathways of truth. Here indeed is the angel messenger, a living portrait of the dichotomy of battle, in seeking to free and protect others, he looses his own life as he once knew it. I ask with all my heart that he will continue to find the wings of support, love and respect for his courage to set the example of what it must mean to live in the moment, trust in spirit and continue going forward one day and then another and then another.