Tosh on Oct. 13, 2012
Every now and then, I think it’s important to reintroduce myself. You know, I’m sitting behind the screen running my mouth, I can’t forget my southern hospitality by not welcoming you to my page, blog or however you reference it. The first time, I introduced myself in the way of letting you peek into my studio via a video. I couldn’t do that today. I have a small mess going on. Not big but I can’t let company in there at the moment.
Now, apparently, I think this photo was okay enough to put here. I absolutely hate taking pictures but I asked my nephew, who’s tall as all get out with his still growing self, to snap a photo of his favorite auntie. He was laughing ’cause that’s what he does, I guess. Not on account of me looking funny. Or do I?…Watcha mouth now.
I once told Little Totsy I was gonna put a video here and since she said, “Please, don’t,” I decided against it. I don’t know why she’d say sucha thing. I was gonna be good. Or maybe I wasn’t. I can’t remember anymore. Anyhow, I don’t smoke like the impression I’m giving in my avatar. I just think she’s way cooler than me and it’s not like it’s hard to be way cooler than me anyhow. Not that it matters.
But enough talk about me. I thought while having this discussion about race, now would be an appropriate time to acknowledge the true owners of this land we call ours. It’s always on my mind, especially as we engage in this discussion, which makes me sad to think how we’ve staked claim to it when millions of Native Americans were wiped out and sequestered on reservations as though they were sub-human. It was beyond criminal.
As a lover of all music…well, not opera, I tried but it didn’t work out, I hope you enjoy the video. Join me again for Race 2012 tomorrow. I look forward to hearing from you.
I'm an artist who's writing,mothering, blogging and doing a few other things under the sun. I buy toilet paper 99.9% of every trip I make to the grocery store. I'm a people watcher, so I know you're here but drop me a line anyway.
I love the way you write. I hope this isn’t rude and I don’t mean it to be but for some reason your words come into my head narrated by Whoopie Goldberge’s voice.
Thanks, Spider.
Not rude at all. I love Whoopi.
Hey now! What’s this about not liking Opera? Hmphhhh….
You really do have to wonder what those Native Americans must have thinking of the original settlers when they started building homes and forts. “Um, planning on staying a while?” Then we have our Thanksgiving meal, where we are taught in school that the settlers and Native Americans sat down around a table all friendly like after the harvest. A little hard to fathom. You think maybe they were stretching the truth a bit?
Nice picture Tots – you look great! Heck, if I wasn’t married and stuff, I’d ask you out on a date. To the Opera…
Yep, I wonder what they make of all this too. I’m not all that confortable doing Thanksgiving myself. I only participate ’cause other folk are all into it. You know, they call it doing the family thing . I’m thankful but not for the reasons we celebrate Thanksgiving.
Thanks, Phil. Heck, if you weren’t married, I’d let you take me too. Not to the opera though.
I’m glad you introduced yourself again. Love the artwork, have since I started reading your blog. Can’t argue about the Native Americans and the way they have been treated. Are you familiar with the work of John Trudell?
Thank you, Lisa.
I’m familiar with him. Yes. I had a good amount of time to stalk YouTube when it acted right over in Saudi.
Totsy, you are one gorgeous woman.
I love the video. Alex’s uncle is Tree Cody and he is also a well-known Native American flautist. I adore the music.
Thank you, Linda.
I’ll have to make myself familiar with your uncle-in-law. Or better yet, let’s trade a piece of art for a coupla CDs, if you have any.
http://www.herschelfreemanagency.com/cody/cody.html
Here’s a little bit of Tree.
Thanks, Linda. I love it.
Excellent points as usual. Love seeing your beautiful smile!
Thanks, Shary. It’s never enough to say it but it wouldn’t be right to not say anything at all.
I’m voting with Shary (comment above)…excellent points…beautiful smile!!
Thanks, Jots.
Omggg,
you are quite gorgeous, Tots. WOW. X
Totsy, you beautiful woman, you! I am looking forward to reading more posts for the Race 2012 series. I shall stay tuned, my friend!
Thank you, Ms Bella.
For the longest, I thought you were in the U.S. Do tune. Would love to hear your observations.
Is it coincidence ? The color of your top and couch and variations accented with yellows and that blue of jeans are the main colors of most all the art of yours I have seen. Plan to post your portraits this Wednesday.
I never thought about that, Carl. Nothing escapes your artistic eye.
Thanks again for featuring artists and myself on your blog.
I remember seeing a comment on the Race 2012 Facebook page. There was a concern about Native Americans not being apart of the conversation for the documentary. A conversation such as race, needs more than 60 minutes. I am sure we can all agree. The website is an excellent tool to keep the conversation going. The documentary opens up the conversation. I sincerely hope we grasp this, when viewing the exciting documentary. Thank you for honoring Native Americans.
Yes, the conversation where Native Americans are concerned is limitless. Glad to learn you enjoyed the PBS special.
Oh, you’re so pretty, Tots, and a spring chicken! How come you been hiding away? Congrats on coming out. It takes something x
Thank you but I’m hardly a spring chicken.
I hid away ’cause, well, I ran into a little trouble on these here blogs and didn’t want my picture posted. I think it’s safe to come out now. (Peeping around the corner)
Love the photo! It is so good to meet the genius behind the words and pictures. Your talent knows no bounds, you can say anything and we’ll be entertained and learn something to boot!
Thanks, Jodi. Glad you’re entertained and learning. I get a good deal outta reading your wise words too. Thank you.
As always your words bring us back to the world! Love the picture, so nice to see the person behind those real words, you have a lovely smile that lights a wonderful face. So nice to see the you behind the words.
Thank you for the music.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the music.
Nice to meet you again.
And you too, Hansi.
Nice meeting you, Totsymae!
And you too. Hope you’re enjoying Philly.
Funny thing happened…I actually am.
It’s wonderful to see you Totsy!
I agree wholeheartedly with your complaint on the absence of Native Americans from the whole discussion of race. When I was young I grew up next to the scene (in the late 1600s) of a massacre of local tribesfolk. They were called into an area for a pow-wow and murdered. We were taught about it in 3rd grade as part of our Proud Connecticut Heritage.” Ummm, PROUD? Not so much.
Tragic. No. Nothing to boast about at all with that lingering in the past.
This is a thoughtful post, Tots. But, you are a thoughtful person. I am struck by the contrast between the shy and lovely “girl” in the picture and the strong woman-of-the-bright-colors who is Totsy Fae/Beatrice. You find your voice in Totsy Fae and Beatrice. It is the universal voice of Everyman. Carry on.
Well, shy folk have a lot to say but I’m not so much shy as I used to be. I always say that Totsymae is my gutsy side. Just being me, well, that’s no fun.
Beatrice? Well, she’s along for the ride. There’s always a friend as such in the mix like that, I suppose.
Nice to see you again. You look beautiful, and younger than last time and I thought you looked young then, well younger than your voice. What, you regressing?
And yes, we are all foreigners. My African-American/Native American friend gets pissed each time she hears white people claiming to want to take back their land. She’d say if her Native American ancestors ever asked for their land back, the rest of us wouldn’t have anyplace to be!
I love the photo of you. You look spectacular in red and I’m so glad you’re showing yourself off. You go, girl!
…and beautiful, too!
Thank you.
What beautiful music! I love listening to Native American flutes. Thanks for posting.