mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

You can scroll the shelf using and keys

The Gilded Age, by Mark Twain

September 22, 2025

First edition cover

The phrase gilded age came from the title of a humorous novel written by America’s undisputed king of wit. It was written with fellow author Charles Dudley Warner to satirize the state of affairs after the Civil War.

We are listening to the audio book, produced as a radio play, using different voices for the characters. The book comes alive as the actors portray well defined parts in a well told tale of high comedy in a historic setting. The descriptions of daily lives are vivid enough to make the listener part of the action. The dialog defines each player to the T.

I’m writing this before finishing the book (Twain and Warner wrote in the forward that they expected to have the book reviewed without being read). It is a perfect book for our times. The writing reminds us that history repeats itself with regularly. I highly recommend reading it now, for insight and lots of laughs.

Chalk Art and Community

September 21, 2025

The sidewalk chalk art festivals that take place across the country are an example of inclusion and community engagement that appeals to all ages. Kids love to express themselves in public leaving their own statements for everyone to enjoy. Some people have developed their talents in this genre to epic proportions. The art we took in at the Forrest Grove, Oregon chalk art festival reflected the creativity of this small town. Live music completed the scene. This is the kind of cultural expression we enjoy and seek out. You can see all the creative offerings for a few more days as they fade into history. These artists understand the temporal nature of art.

Tibetan monks