Destiny-October 2014 BJP

"Destiny"

 October 2014 BJP

     This months bead journal project has been a ton of fun to do. Ten months into this years BJP challenge and I'm excited to share my project once again.  I blindly picked "destiny" from my stash of 12 discs I'd chosen to use as part of my years theme-"chasing time." The  time piece is included and once again is a movable component and has been part of the entire years pieces. 

 

                            Destiny is my Retirement!  

      I had planned to work 3 more years before retiring however challenges at work and home changed our plan leading to an early retirement. 

 

 

     The spiral path leads to the pearl in the middle.  To me the pearl is me who grew and developed and is now reaping the rewards of retirement which I look forward too.  My rewards include being able to assist with family needs specifically helping out with my in-laws as they need more assistance; taking care of my health, being able to work on my hobbies which include beading, quilting, writing, reading, family and friends.  

 

     The turning time piece moves and catches the rewards and blessings of my retirement represented as me:

                                             The Pearl

      I could not have summed up my road to retirement any better then how a pearl is developed.   An article written  at  How Stuff Works (http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/question630.htm) sums up the life cycle of the beautiful pearl which for me ultimately relates to my past year prior to retirement starting with traveling a lot, being bullied, severe pain with arthritis, plantar faciitis, and finally not being available to assist when my husband  had to take days off of work in a short period of time to take his parents to numerous  appointments while his work was extremely busy.  

     The article states, "Pearls are found inside a living creature, an oyster. Pearls are the result of a biological process -- the oyster's way of protecting itself from foreign substances. The formation of a natural pearl begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell, which irritate­s the mantle. It's kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl. So a pearl is a foreign substance covered with layers of nacre." It is truly amazing how something that starts out as an irritant develops into something so beautiful.

 

     The two hearts in the left corner represent the love and respect I have every single moment of every single day for my husband who is my best friend. He has been a partner in my life for 34 years.  

     The intentional asymmetry of the piece is a personal reminder for me things don't  always need to be black and white and to accept all that is good and reject the rest. 

        I've completed my 2nd week of retirement as of today!  I've already begun to improved my eating habits, gotten back to the gym, reconnected with some dear friends and family; spent time beading, quilting, and reading all while my husband says I simply glow.  

 

"Destiny is my Retirement"

September-Wander

Wander

BJP- 2014

BJP 2014

It wasn't clear what my September project would reveal to me until starting it.  Wander was the tag pulled out for this month. As I began to embellish the felted piece it became clear the piece would tell the tale of how Alzheimer's disease has attached itself to my family.  

My introduction to the debilitating disease was more than 30 years ago when being introduced to my future grandfather in-law.  He was severely affected. He didn't speak, his eyes were not engaged.  He looked at the ground and his feet wanted to move. It was frightening to wonder how someone could live in a world absent of connection.  Lo and behold did I know I'd be surrounded by the dreadful disease in the near future.

Family members who have lost their lives who've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's include:

Grandpa Grandon

Grandma Banta

 Uncle Jim Banta

 

Those that are touching our lives everyday, again all in laws:

My Mother-in-law Pat Grandon

Cousin Jim Banta Jr.

 

To each of them I dedicate my September BJP piece: Wander 

 

This piece is felted, embroidery is applied as are beads.The couching train is the wandering train of the mind of Alzheimer's, the changes that take place and the chaos of it all. 

 

The time piece is movable and shown as a piece representing how slowly time ticks away once changes from the disease start.  For some it is slower than others. 

A current study of 10 Alzheimer's affected patients has promise.  I've encouraged my husband to take a look at it and perhaps challenge himself to follow the program to offset any potential affliction himself.  I will walk with him side by side to roadblock any chance he'd become a victim to this dreadful disease; even if it means some day he will do yoga or meditation.

UCLA study: Non-drug treatment may reverse memory loss in Alzheimer's patients

http://6abc.com/337057/