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Serenity Now!
I was scrolling through social media and caught a glimpse of something that resonated with me and apparently with millions of other people too. A tweet by one @ivancoyote had gone viral and was now being shared on Instagram and Facebook too. He tweeted, “I have officially run out of enough serenity to accept the things I cannot change. There’s simply just not enough f******g serenity to be had at this point. Maybe this is a supply chain thing too, I don’t know.” Even if you have never been in a 12-step program, you are likely familiar with the Serenity Prayer that this tweet is paraphrasing. It’s pervasive in our self-help world and it’s good advice to boot. The summer of 2020 not only stands out as the first of this pandemic, but it was also the one where I invested heavily in message t-shirts including the one that reads “Hold On. Let Me Overthink This.” Not only does the t-shirt fit me perfectly, but it fits me perfectly. In other words, I’m an overthinker. I come from a long line of worriers. Oh, sure, I play it cool. But I’m always thinking, “what if..?” The good news is that I don’t just do this during my waking hours. My subconscious is there to caution me that things can be stressful. Who knows how many more times I will be unable to find my parked car, or have to give an important presentation only to find that I’ve forgotten to wear pants? Only time will tell. In the waking world, I remind myself to do my best to only worry about the things that I can control. There is so much that is out of our hands, but I try to prepare for those things too. Nonetheless, sometimes it’s essential to do as George Costanza’s father, Frank, did on “Seinfeld”. Played by Jerry Stiller, Frank, explains that the “doctor game me a relaxation cassette. When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say, ‘Serenity now!’” George asks, “Are you supposed to yell it?” and Frank responds, “The man on the tape wasn’t specific.” So, whether it’s a whisper or a scream, or something in-between, I too, will be saying “Serenity now!”
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
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At-A-Glance Schedule with Brief Course Descriptions
As we have for the last two years, we will be ready to adjust how we deliver our courses as COVID-19 requires and in accordance with TU policy. We are committed to delivering excellent academic programming to our members and we are so excited about what we have in store for this year.
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Save the Date
OSHER PREVIEW TO BE STREAMED
Monday, February 14 at 2 p.m.
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Historical Fiction: Humanizing History with Keely Hutton
Wednesday, February 9 at 10 a.m. via Zoom; Free
Explore historical fiction’s role in unearthing untold stories from our distant and not-so-distant past while putting a human face on the events that have shaped our world. Author Keely Hutton takes her audience on a journey through her creative process, from the first spark of an idea to publication and beyond. She speaks about the challenges and triumphs she experienced in bringing history alive for her readers while writing her acclaimed historical fiction novels, “Soldier Boy” and “Secret Soldiers”, as well as her work collaborating with Second Sudanese Civil War survivor, Achut Deng, on her upcoming memoir, “Don’t Look Back”.
Keely Hutton, a former English teacher, is an author of books for young adults. She worked closely with Ricky Richard Anywar to tell his story in her debut novel, “Soldier Boy”. “Booklist” named “Soldier Boy” one of the top ten first novels in 2017 and one of the top ten historical novels for youth in 2018. Her second novel, “Secret Soldiers”, was a 2020 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year and 2020 Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Book for Young People. Her third novel, Don’t Look Back, a YA memoir she co-authored with Achut Deng, will be available in Fall 2022. Keely lives in Rochester, NY with her husband, two sons, and adorable dog, Maximus.
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3D Photography: Images in Depth with Ted Papoulas
Wednesday, February 16 at 10 a.m. via Zoom; Free
Learn the story of the birth of “stereoscopy”, the phenomenon we now call 3D imagery, which entranced Victorian society and is the great-grandparent of today’s virtual reality. Sir Charles Wheatson invented the first stereoscope in the 1830s and the immersive realism of 3D has captivated viewers ever since in a variety of forms, from vintage stereocards, to the 3D photograph and movie craze of the 1950s, to 3D comics, view-master reels, virtual reality headsets and more. A pair of red/blue 3D glasses will be mailed to you so you can view this session IN DEPTH on your screen at home.
Ted Papoulas is a fine artist, illustrator, former co-owner of digital media agencies, and an avid stereoscopic photographer. He became fascinated with 3D images in 1991 after purchasing his first Stereo Realist camera in NYC. Along with taking 3D photographs, Ted enjoys the challenge of converting both 2D photos and artwork into 3D stereo pairs. In the 1990s, he briefly ran the Stereo Stamp Company, selling stereoscopic rubber stamps. Since becoming a certified diver in 2004, he has enjoyed sharing the world below the waves with those on land via his stereoscopic underwater photography. After spending a few decades in Brooklyn, Ted now resides in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
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Nanette Carter/Robert Straight: Fragments, Layers, Combinations
On View January 28 – April 23
Towson University, Center for the Arts Gallery, CA 3040
Gallery Hours: Tues/Wed/Fri/Sat 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Thurs 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed March 21-27)
In this exhibition, two master artists create abstract images by building up layers and combining parts, utilizing paint and other materials. These merged fragments refer, in very different ways, to the world outside of the object, while maintaining their interiority. Nanette Carter addresses contemporary events and issues with an abstract vocabulary of form, line, color, and texture, while Robert Straight employs scientific and mathematical concepts to visualize macro and micro relationships.
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Presented by Towson University Department of Electronic Media and Film
Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Virtual Screenings
The Bridges to the World International Film Festival is a celebration of Maryland’s global reach and a reflection of those connections in the state. It is coordinated by World Artists Experiences and Maryland’s Office of the Secretary of State International Division. 2022 is our 14th Season and highlights films from: France, Cambodia, Morocco, Guatemala, and Bangladesh. The films are selected and sponsored by the embassy of each country and are screened in five distinct regions of Maryland.
May contain material recommended for mature audiences.
- 2/1/2022: Bloody Milk (2017), France
- 2/8/2022: Khmer Rice Noodles (2007), Cambodia
- 2/15/2022: The Blind Orchestra (2014), Morocco
- 2/22/2022: On the Edge of Discovery (2018), Guatemala
- 3/1/2022: Guerilla (2011), Bangladesh
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