interesting people

my favorite things in life are language and those that produce it. art and music and nature are also good. but i find such treasures of people. there are just people out there who are models of living as blissfully as possible: my friend barb, whose 97-year-old mother lives a block away, whose daughter with her two sons live on a farm where they make their own cheese, and barb who, as a counselor, helps people learn how to live healthy lives, and who herself keeps growing, buying local produce, and is such a supportive and endearing friend. then there's robert hillestad, a retired textiles professor who i just met in a writer's workshop. i can't begin to express the exquisite beauty of his art. he is my friend now. if any of you out there are reading this, i just have to say don't make friends with people just based on age and common interests, like what kind of music they listen to. if you really get to know people and appreciate them, and especially appreciate their willingness to share, there are endless sources of inspiration out there. i find it really fun to talk to older people and see what kind of lives they've spun for themselves based on the same raw materials that are available to all of us in life. if we follow our bliss with some discipline and practicality, we can create such rich, stable lives.