In her book, Women Holding Things, author and artist Maira Kalman paints colorful images of the women in her life. In it, she points out perceived exhaustion, anger, fortitude, guts and patience – her philosophy in poetry and prose. She brings memories and photos to life in her paintings and inspires with her words. I am particularly inspired by her remembrances of her parents. Descriptions of failed relationships, love, and the human condition. Family members lost in the holocaust. Memories of what was and what could have been.
Kalman inspires me to reflect on our lives, our families and our work. Each of our residents at Jewish Senior Life holds the gift of time.
