Category Archives: memoir

The Nose Knows

Posted on April 12, 2020 by jyourist

My father had an impeccable sense of direction. Though he clearly used the location of the sun or stars and the time of day in his ability to find any geographical location with apparent ease, as kids we were always … Continue reading →

Posted in breathing, health, memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Minoru hodo atama

Posted on March 28, 2020 by jyourist

A long-forgotten piece of paper grabbed me today. Above is a photo of it in situ on a wall of my studio. (It’s near the top to the left.) I don’t remember the name of the man who gave it … Continue reading →

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2:1. 4/7/8. 3–4–5.

Posted on March 26, 2020 by jyourist

The previous blog, “Breathe”, was about 2:1 breathing as a good way to deal with stress and a variety of other ramped-up symptoms like insomnia, high blood pressure, and some digestive distress. A friend emailed me that she has been … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, health, history, memoir | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Maya Angelou RIP 1928-2014

Posted on May 28, 2014 by jyourist

 

Posted in freedom, memoir, transformation, writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Self-portrait boxes

Posted on October 17, 2013 by jyourist

Each year I have my students create self-portrait boxes. The self-portrait boxes are a way for them to generate and symbolize important memories and stories in their lives. They were required to fulfill a few specific requests (for example, a symbol … Continue reading →

Posted in creativity, memoir, story, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ready. Aim. Fire.

Posted on July 2, 2013 by jyourist

In commemoration of my sister’s birthday, which is today, I am reposting a story I wrote a couple years ago of one of my favorite stories of her and her irreverent self.  When we were young, every Memorial Day our … Continue reading →

Posted in family, growing up, memoir, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Negotiating boundaries…

Posted on June 26, 2011 by jyourist

Part of JB’s art studio in the house is in half of our bedroom and has been for years. Though this is fine with me on an intellectual level, there has always been a piece of me that finds sleeping … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, family, installations, memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Ready. Aim. Fire.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by jyourist

When we were young, every Memorial Day our family would join others in my father’s VFW Post 6909 in going to the local cemetery to pay tribute to the veterans. I remember the day as somewhat solemn for my parents, … Continue reading →

Posted in family, growing up, memoir, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Expanding our front porches…

Posted on May 25, 2011 by jyourist

My father told me when I was young that his mother, born in the Ukraine, used to tell stories every day. All the women in the neighborhood would gather on her front porch in the afternoons as she wove a … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, animation, conversation, family, memoir, short films, story, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“The cap in your mouth can obstruct breathing if swallowed.”

Posted on May 19, 2011 by jyourist

Riding home last night I was listening to NPR which had a report on the 14th annual Wacky Warning Labels Contest, started by Bob Dorigo Jones in 1997. The idea behind the contest is that in our litigious society, we are being over-warned … Continue reading →

Posted in education, history, memoir, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments