Evening with Liz — Saturday, May 14, 2005
The activist artifact that is Liz Carpenter began by relating that she grew up in a large noisy family in Texas and said "My mother always told us, 'Try to see the humor in the situation.' So I learned early in life that humor diverts, energizes, and heals."
This wasn't "just another day in my life" as Liz Carpenter described in one of her inimitable remarks this evening, referring to the day she faced breast surgery several years ago. The evening was engaging and filled with moments lit with the originality of this American, Texas and Austin idol.
Paraphrased, her solid advice is to accept change, be interested in big things, learn new stuff, and never miss the chance to laugh at the little things. Liz leaves no doubt that she belongs to the "getting better all the time" singers of the universe and allows that she gives her friends three gripes and they're out!
Humor always makes things fit into the ears better. Liz has firmly charted her course through both politics and life with a home-grown eye for fun and it has taken her through the storms of both. Her curious journalist's mind is filled with first-hand tales from the stuff of history, lived with an optimist's heart.
Regarding the current state of affairs, Liz shared her fervant hope that in this world of some 200 nations, we "keep the conversation going."
A few years ago, Liz wrote in my copy of her book, Start with a Laugh:
"To Carol, who scored in the debate over P.S. (Phyllis Schlafly)
Cheers! Liz Carpenter"
... of which I am so proud and happy!
Sacred Clowns: especially the kind of humor that carries Truth and assists Soul Growth.
Bring on Abe, Will, Liz and Garrison.
And from the Peace movement - a clown, please!
And from the Womens' movement - a clown, please!
And from the Civil Rights movement - a clown, please!
And from the Environmental Movement - a clown, please!
Clowns of lovingkindness/spiritual growth - come on, come on, come on.
Laugh it all up and out!!!!!!!!!
For many, a single moment occurs in life when history shapes you for a destiny, when you realize your obligations to mankind. — Liz Carpenter
The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered, and so establish the right of others long hence and far distant in geography to sit in the high seats. — Frances Perkins
The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered, and so establish the right of others long hence and far distant in geography to sit in the high seats. — Frances Perkins
"Without my walkin' stick,
I'd go insane,
I'd feel undressed
I can't look my best,
Without my cane!"
Bay at the Moon
The moon was full and so were we!
Like Van Gogh,
I believe we were not put here simply to "be happy" or to be "merely honest."
I believe we were put here to realize great things for humanity.
— Liz Carpenter
Archives
