THE FOOTNOTES

FOLLOWING MY BLISS

Joseph Campbell advised his students to “follow your bliss.”

Although I never thought that advice would apply me, when I think about it, I guess that’s pretty much what I have been doing all along.  I do what I want to do without the necessity to get approval,  given it is not illegal, immoral or demeaning to another person. There have been instances where what appeals to me does not get popular public endorsement.

   

Take my bottle fence for example.  The fence is constructed of plastic bottles of varying configuration, suspended  from rods stretching between wooden posts roughly three feet apart which I have driven into the ground.  Each bottle hangs up side down. The bottom of each bottle has been removed thereby allowing access to the interior where a shiny reflective object has been hung. Many minor engineering problems had to be solved in order to allow the shiny objects  within to  display their reflective qualities to best advantage.   

  On sunshiny days the effect of spinning and reflecting colors is spectacular in my view.

While I don’t make an effort to poll neighborhood opinion, I have had some feedback and  have determined there is not universal approval.

  I comfort myself by agreeing with myself that the only one I have to please is myself.

 

In another instance of following my bliss, I have converted a portion of what had been a relatively grassy area near our back door into a used golf  ball garden. I am covering the patch with old golf balls I acquire from various sources including in neighbors a golf driving ranges and thrift stores.  There are hundreds of balls already in place and I seek more. Once again, when the light is right, I am very pleased with the visual effect.

    I could defend this project by claiming  to be recycling golf balls, but I don’t believe that myself.  The truth is, I like it,and am simply following Campbell’s advice to: Follow my bliss.