A beautiful storm cut off our power for two days. I really needed the vacation from the internet.
In the past month I've been feeling that feeling a lot of people get when they get back to the States - what am I supposed to do in/for America? I have maybe three more illustrations half finished from over there, but that's it, I'm not making any new memories from my trip. There's something so uncomplicated about Palestine - if you want to help, meet amazing people, and see the land, it's a no brainier.
The week I got home, I got my energy back, and I was giddy with the joy of being alive. I walked my dog and bellowed out this song in the woods. I'm no musician, but the soul of the moment carried my voice. When I came home I got out my computer and recorded this in a message for my good friend Nick… but what the heck, I want to give it to the world!
Also, if someone could remix this or re-sing this with piano, that would be brilliant.
Here is my "Of Gold," playlist because Yerushalaim Shel Zahav kept popping up in my head.
1) You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Flatt & Scruggs 2) Spain - The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group 3) Seeing Other People - Belle & Sebastian 4) The Rollercoaster Ride - Belle & Sebastian 5) Hearts and Bones - Paul Simon 6) Police and Thieves - The Clash 7) Box of Rain - The Grateful Dead 8) Fish to Fry - The Ditty Bops 9) Georgia on my Mind - Ray Charles 10) Born at the Right Time- Paul Simon* 11) Back on my Feet Again - Randy Newman 12) Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Bob Dylan *My magical hospital song.
P.S. This is (a shitty photograph of) my current pair of glasses; designed by me this winter, doodled by me this month, and carved out of wood by the incredible Scott Urban.
Finding a job is hard, so I decided in the meantime to try to get this little diddle on a Threadless tee. Check it out, and if you like it, why not give it a nice score. It's a photoshopped-up version of a drawing I did during a community meeting at the Jiftlik where I felt kinda like these fellows; wishing to listen in, but sadly not able to understand Arabic (but I'm learning!).
My old plane ticket was set to bring me home today. I've spent so much of my life in this house, sometimes I forget it's only been a month since I arrived. Palestine can feel like a distant concept from my past, but this remains familiar:
And for the Sheikh Jarrah-ians, I miss you, and I'm sending you my love.
I was too distracted by the smell of tear gas to see this:
P.S. I just got all my drawings back from my travels and I am busy scanning... P.P.S. I was away for the good part of last week... P.P.P.S. Nothing like a whole lot of free time in the quiet suburbs to get the animation juices flowing! I have some finished work, but it needs sound and what not...
