[Dialogue] Happy New Year from Cynthia Vance

[Sarah H. Buss]

Inspirational! Thanks. Sarah 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 29, 2023, at 1:45 PM, Cynthia Vance via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
> Happy New Year to all my family, friends and colleagues.
> Jan 1, 2023
> 
> May you continue to be curious, to learn and to respond with clarity to the pressing challenges of our time.
> My Holiday Gift to you is a quote from Kurt Vonnegut which was given to me and one that I’ve embraced for myself:
> 
> “Go into the arts. I'm not kidding...They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art,
> no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the
> radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will
> receive an enormous reward. You will have created something.”
> 
> Now, here's my annual report.
> 
> CONTINUING ACTIVITIES:  I still perform with Sarasota Earlye Musicke Consort on various recorders, performing
> courtly, baroque & jazz music.  It's all so much fun!  I also perform with The Venice Chorale, singing classical and
> pop music as a tenor.  Our new Artistic Director is awesome; he makes us love music so much, encourages us to
> study it in depth, and creates delightful surprises for our audience. I'm still growing orchids and enjoy taking
> photos at our Venice Area Orchid Society -- plants which are awarded monthly by our membership.
> 
> Of course, I must play with my Star and when she barks, we start fetch and catch.  However, she won't return
> the rubber bone to me -- so onto the next one in my pocket. I hike with dear friends in Pineland Park several times
> a week and continue to kayak with my kayak girl friends -- around the mangrove isles in the Intercoastal Waterway.
> We take hundreds of photos of nesting birds -- Roseate Spoonbills, Pelicans, etc.  When their juveniles exercise their
> wings I can make some delightful shots. My SonyRX10m4 camera with the 600 mm lens inside continues to delight,
> taking 24 shots per second. I can take surprising photos that the eye misses!  Some are even artful and I post many
> on Facebook.
> 
> NEW ACTIVITIES:
> I've been watching 2 brilliant directors at our Venice Theatre direct rehearsals of 3 plays including Jeff Daniels’ new
> play, ‘Pickleball’ which was a hoot.  I'm also taking acting lessons (learning play analysis & character focus) and
> receiving positive encouragement (stay tuned for when I put what I've learned into practice). I did write an essay
> after viewing the profound drama, Black Pearl Sings, and my acting teacher said it was of such excellence that he
> sent it to the playwright!  Sometimes, one's being is touched so much, it compells one to write.  I plan to do this
> more often as I study this engaging artform.
> 
> I'm now using my new (3rd) IPad 12.9 and ForScore software to download music and use PageFlip Firefly Bluetooth
> Pedal to turn pages with my foot during recorder performances. Do I tap on the beat - or in between- this does take
> some coordination!  I've also been helping 2 friends with medical research and taking them to appointments and
> surgeries.  Though I've been avoiding politics, I did ask people to sign petitions for the Florida Clean Water and the
> Women’s Healthcare Rights both which will be now on the ballot next November.  They MUST Pass.
> 
> For more exercise I now attend 2 cardiac classes per week on Zoom, led by a friend I admire who lives in NYC.
> I've also joined the Venice Isle Book Club and am reading the amazing novel, ‘A Land Remembered’ by
> Patrick Smith about the struggles and bravery of Florida’s early settlers.  I'm sure glad I've always had
> air conditioning while living in Florida!
> 
> So, there we are.
> I'm thankful that my health is good and that I have housing and food unlike so many in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza,
> and other places. I naively thought there would not be any more wars, and now we face the horror daily.
> Let's hope that peace will be restored soon and that the rebuilding will begin.  In the meantime, we can support
> organizations which are helping such as World Central Kitchen (https://worldcentralkitchen.org).
> 
> I hope you all have an interesting, challenging and delightful New Year.  There's so much to learn and enjoy,
> so many ways to help others, and new thrills around the corner.
> 
> My best,
> Cynthia Vance and Star (Check out some photos above)
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