Failing Up

The Life of ART

Art began as an accidental theme in my life back in high school when chose it as a major.  Little did I know the important role it would play in my life, through college and into my professional career. I was fortunate to have leadership roles at Syracuse University at the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Alumni Office that involved the arts.  I was in a similar role at Cornell University at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and have spent over 30 years performing and teaching improv.  We need art in all it's forms, especially now to live.  It is like breathing, you don't think about it until you need to.  With constant restraints and restrictions trying to be force on us.  Art is our true freedom in all its forms.  You cannot restrict imagination and creativity.  "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important then knowledge.  Knowledge is limited imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein. 1929 Saturday Evening Post interview.  timothymahar.org

The Farmers Market

Almost every city or town, urban or rural has a Farmers Market.  I have been to them from New York, all the way to Santa Monica California. I will include its cousin the Flea Market as well, which I have been to from the Big Apple to Santa Fe New Mexico.  These are places where people go to without an agenda, no rush and interact.  There is no AI at the farmers market, no push button service, you interact with those selling their produce and items.  People interact with each other. No labels no screaming, just flowers, fruit cool stuff and fresh honey.  Maybe this model is something to look at on a larger scale.  timothymahar.org

Anybody Here Seen My Old Friend Bobby?

In June 5th 1968 Robert Francis Kennedy was shot in the kitchen at the Ambassadors Hotel in Los Angles after winning the California primary.  He was my first hero who was not a relative, he was the torch JFK mentioned in his inauguration. He was the new generation, and in a year of turmoil, violence, division and extreme change, he was also the change agent steering into a horizon of hope.  That all ended 25 hours later at 1:44am on June 6th, 1968, he died.  A simple grave in Arlington Cemetery next to his brothers and at the foot of the hill of Robert Lee's mansion.  The world did change after his death, I would argue not for the better.  timothymahar.org

My Day At The Dump

I took a vacation recently to relax and regroup.  My attempt to escape from the chaotic events of the world.  What a great unexpected day!  First I took bottles and cans to the recycle place and made some new friends as they sorted through my $34.00 of returns.  I got a hug and bottle of water before I left.  Then, I loaded up my vehicle and was off to the dump.  I have not been to a dump in over 30 years.  The size, the purging, the people I met, the satisfaction of just tossing stuff into a large pile in very large open building exceeded my expectations.  Again, I made some new friends!  It was just a perfect day!  It's so true you do not have to look far to find happiness!  timothymahar.org

I EAT HOTDOGS DAMMIT!

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer. That means hotdogs!  I was recently a the cardiologist for testing, because that is what you do at this age.  I told him that from Memorial Day until Labor Day I eat hotdogs! My test results were perfect and he almost seemed disgusted with me.  The Hotdog is summer!  It is America, whether at the hotdog stand in the city, the ballpark, Fair, or on the grill in the backyard it is our common ground.  I am a hotdog snob, I only eat a certain brand, Hoffman's not Nathan's, and New York dogs blow Chicago's out of the water.  I will not touch a convenient store hotdog.  After Labor Day I'm done. I can't imagine hotdogs at Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah  Saint Patrick's Day,  or Easter.  Between Memorial Day to Labor Day,  It's game on!! timothymahar.org