I’m talking more about an “oh-no!” moment - but life changing none the less.

On March 23, I tripped over my laptop power cord and landed - on the saltillo tile floor - on my head and my hip, resulting in a fracture of the hip, a slap upside the head, and a complete and total change to every life moment since.

There was drama, there was pain, there was weirdness, and there was even magic. But, the most amazing thing to me was that such a small catalyst could produce such a monumental result.

My life as I knew it was, quite simply, removed. That fast. And every moment to come had to be replanned from a brand new perspective.

After eight weeks of thinking (and healing), I have now graduated to walking with a cane, am finally able to access my studio again, and am re-entering the spaces and activities that defined my life before. But nothing looks quite the same - because my perspective is so different.

I have learned some important things - which I will share as best I can.

But, guess what? The world doesn’t stop turning even if you get pulled out of the picture entirely. It just goes on with hardly a blip.

That is such a hard concept to grasp because we think we are so important, but it is such an affirming lesson as well. It is actually ok to slow down and take care of ourselves when we need to - and nothing will fall apart!

Try it for yourself. Just say “no” to something that is too much, and see if anything horrible happens. Once you see that nothing horrible happens, try knocking some other stuff off that overcrowded to-do list. Soon, that list may be something that a human being (who is biologically still a cave woman) can actually get done!

Speed Bumps occur in life too. We all encounter them - gentle little warnings to slow down and pay attention. When we ignore them, they can damage our chassis. And when we continue to ignore them, they get bigger - and bigger - until we actually crash into them instead of over them, and then we really have some bodywork to do!

I went to the Post Office with my orders yesterday. There were lots of them because my second PhotoShop CD has just been released (see Announcements below). It was the first time I have been able to go by myself since March 23, so I was proceeding slowly and carefully - plenty of time to observe what was going on.

There was no line and two available clerks when I got there, but people began to line up as my clerk processed my packages. She’s pretty slow and methodical. Two women at the front of the line were being particularly obnoxious - with the sighing and watch-watching, foot tapping - you know the behavior.

They really got upset and started making “remarks” when three men came in and took cuts - went right up to other clerk’s station without even a glance at them or the line. How dare they?! These women “had to BE somewhere!”

Turns out the three men were cops and they were arresting the other postal clerk - right then and there! (I have no idea why).

The ladies forgot all about the places they had to be and hung out to see the whole drama. And their worlds didn't fall apart either, I bet.

Both an Art Blog and an Artist Journal were on the list and both won’t fit, so the Blog will also serve as my Journal. It may not always be about “art” per se, but it will always be about leading an artful life.

I’m glad to be back and hope to keep to a frequent schedule here - knowing at the same time that none of you will perish if I’m late!

So, I was able to finish and publish the second in my PhotoShop series, Virtual Stamping 102. As 101 did before it, this CD takes you into the world of PhotoShop (Elements) magic in an active and painless way - teaching you to create art from scratch - right on your screen. Much more information and a Preview of Chapters can be found at this link:

http://www.dotcalmvillage.net/digitalsupplies.html