Everything Old is New Again
And don't throw the past away
You might need it some other rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again
Ann Reinking & Erzsebet Foldi from “All That Jazz”
Song by Peter Allen/Carol Bayer Sager
Strolling the path of an outdoor art installation in the Wisconsin woods this summer, I came upon an opening in the trees leading to a pasture where this old Chevy was parked.
Was it part of the gallery? An artist’s work in progress? Just a rusty old car?
I don’t know any of the answers to these questions but as I moved closer, the most amazing colors, shapes and textures came into focus. It may not have been part of the installation - person-made or nature-made - but it was art to me. I saw that old car with a new lens and felt moved to pull out my camera. Close up, the surface of the car appeared as if it were an abstract painting. (You can check out what that looked like on my Instagram account.)
Seeing things with fresh eyes is something I’ve been cultivating for many years alongside of writing personal narrative. It’s what writing stories from our lives is all about, really. We look back with the comfort - and often the safety - of the long arm of time. Giving ourselves a chance to view it just a bit differently. From a distance. To turn it into art and reframe it.
The Jewish New Year arrives at the end of this month. It’s a day honoring the creation of the world. Like the secular the new year, it’s a day to rejoice and take stock. Holidays urge us to lean heavily on memory and returning. We think back to the ones that came before and reflect on where we are now. To look at the past from a different stance with a smidge more wisdom and experience.
To make what’s old new again.
To find the beauty in the rust.
Photo by Ellen Blum Barish
(To make this point even more poignant, click on the link above to see Ann Reinking and Erzebet Foldi singing and dancing to the tune “Everything Old is New Again” in that great classic, All that Jazz.)
Upcoming Events
Printer’s Row Lit Fest. I’ll be at the Chicago Writer’s Association booth from 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday, September 11. Come say hi!
“Leaving a Legacy by Letter.” Ritualwell (online). Single session workshop. Wednesday, September 21. 11 am (CT).
“That Which We Call a Rose.” StoryStudio Chicago Writers Festival. Sunday, October 2, 11:30 am.
“The Art of Memoir” Daylong workshop on the Ragdale campus sponsored by Story Jam. In Person. Tuesday, October 18. 10 am - 4 pm.
“Writing the Spiritual Essay.” Ritualwell (online). Six-week workshop on writing personal narrative with spiritual themes. Thursdays, November 3 - December 15. 11-12:30 pm (CT.)