what's good : support systems

And also Tetris, but with intrigue.

In poetry (and bonus art): Another friend-person-in-real life recommendation, this one whose kids I didn’t teach but they are both friends/Scout troop members/roommates/groomsman of mine, and he & his wife are also fellow WSU alumni [#GoCougs¹]. So clearly he is a great parent with excellent judgement & talent as well.

This poem is from Scott Poole’s collection called The Clouds Will Save You Now that, like most of his other books, includes prints of his corresponding artwork. I liked the tender discussion in the poem first, sweetly pointing out the positive properties of stick figures and ultimately reminding us that we all can create something lovely. And though they might not be classically so, we have a responsibility to find ways of supporting them. Like better, kinder Dr. Frankensteins taking care of our creations.

Stick People by Scott Poole

People frequently say to me
"All I can draw is stick people."
I want to know what's wrong
with drawing stick people?

You ever seen them in the spring
with pink flowers in their hair?
They sway in the breeze
with that round branch circle head,
pollen passing for eyes and mouth.
What's wrong? We try the Earth out
and the Earth tries us out.

Although the stick people
never quite make it
in their triangle dresses
and square shirt, do they?
It's that third dimension,
that defeats them.
They tend to crumble
to kindling in the wind.

Give the stick people,
not a break, but ... a hug.
Who among us hasn't had trouble
keeping it together
in three dimensions?

The image he painted to accompany this poem brings out the joy of our simple stick person released to “try the Earth/out…”. It reminds me of my favorite Van Gogh, Almond Blossom, which was a gift to his newborn nephew [Vincent’s namesake who later founded the museum dedicated to his uncle] because it was one of his favorite things to paint. There is so much love of life in both works. Yet there is also the underlying understanding of what comes after the blossoming - for Van Gogh, he entered another period of despair; for the stick person, the threat they will “crumble/to kindling in the wind.”

I am not a natural hugger of anyone I’m not related to, but I know when someone really needs an embrace and am willing to bring the support. I think we can all manage that if we pay attention, and stay ready to help each other keep it together.

The Time In Spring When the Trees Release Their Stick People by Scott Poole Original acrylic & oil on canvas

In movies: A couple of weeks ago my husband & I were searching for something to watch together after dinner and fell into one of those back & forth exchanges that make people wonder how they ever felt compatible enough to marry. Ugh, please not a musical. I’m begging, no more war/cars/Adam Sandler. It’s HOW LONG?² Finally, a teaser for Tetris popped up and I remembered reading about it awhile ago. I loved playing Tetris when we were first married, during our summer in Tri-Cities where I occasionally worked as a nanny or camp counselor but mostly had many hours to sit at our computer before the Internet was actually useful. I loved the game for exactly the reasons [Taron Egerton as] Henk Rogers promoted it - “poetry, art, and math all working in magical synchronicity;” I too saw the falling blocks in my dreams. But I also remembered that when I was reading about the movie, I wondered how interesting it could possibly be. Well. There is Cold War history + intrigue. There is early video game development + intrigue. There is economic study, relationship analysis, marketing drama + intrigue. AND a car chase. Essentially, a little something for both of us.

Even if you aren’t a super fan of the game, or any game, this movie is marvelously done. The acting is superb, historical bits pretty accurate [if a bit overwrought at times],³ and the sweet pixelated touches now & then are fun. I especially loved knowing that Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and Henk have remained close friends as well as business partners throughout the years.

It all made me want to start stretching my fingers and get back into Tetris champion shape…

1. It is contractually required of all Washington State University graduates to say this to anyone sporting evidence of Cougar allegiance. We do not, however, have to sing the fight song.

2. Incidentally not about Saltburn…heh.

3. Surprisingly, the main players were involved in the scriptwriting and only overruled a few times in favor of Hollywood flair.