TRAVELLING TO THE USA IN 1966

TRAVELLING TO THE USA IN 1966.

When I set sail on the SS United States ocean liner from Southampton on January 28th 1966 heading for New York, then Miami Florida by Greyhound bus.. then onto Key West, Florida……. It all seemed like a bit of a lark

Against my families wishes I had married an Englishman in July of 1965 – he had family in the States and wanted to spend two years there….something I agreed to.

As a foot loose and Fancy free, just out of art school, not quite 20 year old….why not?

Having travelled extensively around Europe I felt like a seasoned traveller. I was to live and learn.

To say that it was life changing is an understatement..

Hummingbirds, which I had yet to encounter in the States, will come with me on this part of the trip as I can’t find photographs taken during that period.

I didn’t feel as if I was saying goodbye to friends, family and all I knew because I would be returning no later than two years hence.

It happened to be one of the roughest North Atlantic crossings on record – and consequently, I and most of the rest of the passengers were very sick…..

I have never wanted to go on a cruise of any type since. I love boats, but need to be able to see the shore…:)

Having arrived in New York, and found our way to the Greyhound Bus Terminal…..on what was a very cold, snowy early February day….We began the next part of the journey. I continued to feel very sick….

Everything was so alien to me……and of course the vastness of it all. No little pubs and parks to pull into…it was all so big.

It was my first experience of racial disparity – something I found very difficult to deal with….and still do. As we drove through the Deep South….the Carolinas into Georgia the poverty and hardship was evident.

Upon arrival at Miami Greyhound Bus Station a very friendly Florida State Cop saw that we were out of our depth and asked if he could help. He then kept an eye on us until my husband’s Uncle arrived from Key West. It was a real act of kindness.

Then the drive from Miami to Key West.…what an eye opener that was. I loved the sub tropical colours that we were now seeing….and the balmy soft air.

It was my first experience of huge American cars, and Howard Johnson’s ice cream…..which came in a zillion different flavours. In post war England we were still only enjoying chocolate, vanilla and strawberry….

Then our arrival at my husband’s relatives home on the Key West Naval Base.…My first experience of pizza outside of Italy….and blessed sleep in a real bed………still feeling sick!

To be continued……

For those wishing to see more of my images I post on Facebook most days…Janet Weight Reed.

How a simple daily plan contributes to my sense of wellbeing.

We are rewarded with a sense of wellbeing when we nourish our body and mind. 

It occurred to me during this past week that when I am thrown off balance, when my natural rhythms are off kilter….my whole body and mind is affected.          

This happens to me during holiday periods such as the one we have all just experienced. 

For about two days it’s novel and even fun….but after that, (and I speak for myself here) I feel fragmented…and out of sorts…..

Watercolour –  a wonderful medium to calm the mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

15 minutes of creative playfulness can change everything.

How Creativity and a simple daily plan contribute to holistic wellbeing. Tutorial

Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind and spirit – the recognition that everything we do effects our state of well-being’.   

Through Mother Nature we see how all of life is interconnected. – watercolour

To change one fraction of a painting, – changes the whole painting.     This is true for life….to change one small part of ourselves, (positively or negatively), changes the whole. 

Adding 15 minutes of movement can change our whole day.  (running a marathon is not necessary)

Clearing the space in which we live, can clear our minds…

Without establishing simple routines, our need to be creative can be neglected. 

When we begin to address these simple needs we experience a sense of wellbeing. 

This watercolour exercise demonstrates that as we change one small portion of a painting, or ourselves, everything changes. 

  All the pure whites you see here are ‘dry white paper’.   I am sketching with brush and watercolour allowing some areas to bleed.    This is very quick…don’t overthink things – simply allow the paint to flow.    There is no right or wrong way to do this. 

In this frame I have added a mix of burnt Sienna and prussian blue for the dark area at the bottom of the painting.         Using a knife I have scraped out some of the paint while it is still wet.    All the remaining white areas are ‘Dry White Paper’As we make positive simple changes, stress is replaced with a calmness which supports the whole.     This is holistic well-being.    

Note I have moved the light and darker purples around the painting…in order to achieve a sense of rhythm and balance. 

Make sure to begin with a simple daily plan.    

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15 minutes of creative playfulness can change everything.

Enjoy the weekend. Janet 🙂