Clipart.com Blog

In an office space inhabited by five women, not separated by cubicles, there's bound to be a little bit of conversation.  A chat between two often leads to a group discussion that ultimately veers from the original topic until we settle back down, thoughts now miles away from where they started. The kick-off point for one of these meandering dialogues recently was regarding an uncooperative photo subject.  With our close proximity making it difficult to not eavesdrop, I overheard a colleague, who is also a talented  photographer,  expressing a level of disgruntlement to a co-worker, over a child involved in a family portrait shoot.  It seems the tiny tween felt ruining the results was far more fun than behaving, thus posed with grimace or stuck-out tongue throughout. There were, the photographer added, a few pictures without this youngster's attitude. However, as life has it, they inevitably weren't  the best pictures of everyone else. Soon colleagues were chiming i

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." — Mark Twain. There's adventure to be found in this big, wide, wonderful, albeit occasionally scary,  world. Every part has its own uniqueness, its own story.  Where once upon a time the risks of visiting some of these places were understood, today such certainty doesn't exist. There are those who have taken the commonplace, the routine pleasures in life and instilled apprehension in us about them.  We can't any longer accept that darkness won't be waiting around every next corner. It heartens me, though, to know that we refuse to let terror win. People still pile into places once taken for granted to be safe, now often targeted by those whose hearts are tainted by malicious intent. Millions, a

Today our friends south of the border are celebrating their most significant holiday. Each year on July 4, citizens of the United States observe Independence Day. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on that day in 1776, making a nation of 13 American colonies on the eastern side of the country,  separate from the British Empire. Having added 37 other states in the years since,  America is an expansive country that is geographically diverse, from deserts and plains to rocky mountains and rolling blue grasses, from theme parks and tropical destinations to sprawling urban landscapes and historic monuments. I have visited a few of these locations over the years, in passing or for extended stays. There are, however, many to go. The plan is that some day it will happen. My husband and I have begun talking about various trips we look forward to in retirement. We will fulfil our love of music in the dark intimate blues clubs of Chicago and the deep south. We