eileenslifer's

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Name-Calling, and Naming Names

Moms tend to keep lists, of many things. I’ve had a long list of names–112 to be precise–printed out and moved from surface to surface in my office for a couple months now. This list was compiled by a mother, who asked for other moms in our group to add names and a few details to go along with the name, for the purpose of prayer. I suppose many would dis, dismiss and name-call such women as Karens. Whatever that...

Standing Up For KAREN

I was in 7th grade, and a mousy white girl. I was in some type of elective where me and six other girls, seven in total, were sent out of a classroom into a communal area to work on/practice some type of play we were to create. Our group consisted of two black girls and five white girls. Our names/demographics in alphabetical order were: Ann (white)Bonita (black)Eileen (white)Jenny (white)Rosie (white)Sandy (black)Valerie (white) Not that this matters, per se. But these...

Becoming Karen

I’ve known a lot of Karens in my lifetime. Karens come in all different sizes, shapes and personas. Most, if not all, of the Karens I have known are generally good, decent, caring people. I always think that the meaning and origin of a name is interesting and important. While these days internet searches sometimes bring up conflicting information about a name’s meaning/origin, the three sources below are fairly consistent that the name Karen is Danish/Greek, meaning “pure, clear, child...

Tree of Trilling Sparrows

(Above)Tree of Trilling Sparrows Original Acrylic/Artwork/Collage for SaleSize: 36 x 46 inchesPrice: $600 (plus shipping) The short video below gives a glimpse into the creative process and completion of a recent original art work for sale, and includes images from a “sparrow making party” with my son and two friends! “Spiro the Sparrow” is a little bird character that I intend to use in my next children’s book and am gradually working on the accompanying artwork. In the story, Spiro needs to be...

Exhausting, But Seemingly Necessary

How long would you–or could you–keep working diligently day by day without a clear indication of benefit and outcome? On Friday I delved into the process of retroactively creating YouTube videos of various gigs from the recent past, and have come to a pausing point today, Sunday, having put enough on yet another new business website I recently created called Creative Party Entertainment–Central PA. As part of this endeavor and wanting to scour, purge and otherwise continue organizing the plethora...