The Price of Tomatoes

When I was a child my mother, sisters and I would take a weekly trip to our grandparents' house for Sunday dinner and invariably at some point the adults would begin a discussion on the affairs of the country. Presidents, inflation, foreign affairs, Elvis, race relations and among every possible scenario the most telling to my grandmother was food prices. She was always concerned about groceries and the one item she mentioned most was the price of tomatoes. To her their cost was an indication as to the state of the world. If tomatoes were high then the country was in trouble. The more affordable they were then she was more optimistic and this theory governed her overall outlook.

This lends the possibility that we all hold something we deem important enough that gauges how we view our world. Isn't there something we look to that determines our opinions, optimism or pessimism about the world around us; something equally telling to us as the price of tomatoes was to my grandmother? This begs the question, "what's your tomato?"

 

Consider the Following...

This is Bill Nye the Science Guy, one of the subjects of Tom Richmond's Coronacature for the week.

 

Prince Valiant Rides Again

 Can a 58 year old man find his stride in life and after all his years finally reach the promised land? Can a 58 year old baby boomer who has lived a life of mediocrity, at best, finally excel at the things others have urged him since his youth to do? Can a 58 year old senior find success and fulfillment in what he was meant to do?

The 58 year old I write about is myself and many others have gone before me at the same stage in life, and many even later, to have done it. I'm entering what could be called a "second career", for lack of a better term especially since I've never really had a firm first career, and standing on the shoulders of giants I will try to put forth a valiant effort. 

Let the Insanity Begin

In America today there is an obsession with youth perpetuated by the media that emphasizes the successful young. News stories highlight young people’s early accomplishments, youthful talent, (real or fabricated) and the impression is being conveyed that if someone is to succeed then it should be done before the age of thirty. The message is that once a people have reached their forties then the opportunity for success has passed them by.

However in his book Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard underlines the fact that the majority people who have made the greatest contributions to business, science, art, history, politics and to the world in general did so later in life and many well past the traditional age of retirement. Countless numbers of late bloomers tempered by the ordeals of living, don’t find their stride until after years of invaluable experience when they find their life’s purpose.

This is refreshing information to those of us who have wandered through the dessert of our lives in search of a promised land we’ve believed to have missed. We baby boomers who live in a world that worships youth and high scores on standardized testing have much, much more invaluable contributions to make in our own right which can only be realized through well-earned insights.

I now in my fifties, have set out to pursue my life’s work in cartooning. The art world in general is considered a realm for the young; creative minds who have a firm understanding on the latest technology that is in high demand. Many hold a forgone conclusion that the artist’s persona is one of flighty interpretations of life, holds a specific political and social view and most of all are young. This in an incorrect presumption. I personally know many artists who in no way fit this mold and I am one of them. 

Let the insanity begin.

 

 

 

Problem Solved

 

The purpose of goal setting isn't to reach the goal as much as it is to become the person who can actually set goals, solve problems and hit the target.

Back in the Saddle

 My first gig since the covid-19 shutdown last February was this week in mid-town put on by the Westchase District farmer's market. Although It wasn't a very busy event it was good to be back at work. Since I've spent the last six months doing nothing but practicing I was pretty much pleased with the quality of my drawings, I had many compliments and even a homeless man, complete with his cardboard sign wandered over and liked what I was doing.  It was hot as is typical for August in Houston and the only real challenge I had was drawing while dripping with sweat, particularly off the end of my nose. The only other stressful moment was when a patron wanted her Pomeranian to be included and I'm not adept at drawing dog caricatures but she was happy with it. It prompts me to practice drawing pets because there is quite a market for them,  Here's to this event being a catalyst for the next six months to be busier than the previous.

I'm So Great

Someone once said "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".  Many people expect talent alone to carry the day when in reality success is never given; it must be earned. In the Bible God gives his followers "if, then" propositions. If Moses faced Ramses, then he would free the Hebrews. David had to fight Goliath. Daniel had to refuse to kneel. Peter had to step out of the boat. Action precedes results.

 Reward comes from effort. Champion body builders pump iron for hours in the gym everyday for their physique. The winner of a marathon runs hundreds of miles prior to a race. A Super Bowl MVP has been playing football since he was a child attending every practice. 

Talent alone is insufficient and the world is full of lazy geniuses. Many are called but few get up.

Nothing Out of the Ordinary

Great men aren't always great; they're only great when they have to be. For even the giants of history, everyday was pretty mundane which is true for most of us as 99% of the time; we have normal days when we do normal tasks. Sometimes we have things to do that are out of the ordinary and on rare occasions we go above and beyond. Great things are accomplished by ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Carpe the hell out of this diem!