Vision Creator

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice." Ole Family Saying

History

Idealistic achievements are family traditions on both sides of Parkinson Charles Pino's ancestry:

On his maternal (English) side was Great Uncle Woody who often said, "I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow." As the 28th President of the United States, he (Woodrow Wilson) envisioned the League of Nations that led to the eventual vision of the United Nations. Then there was his Great . . . Great Grandfather Richard Kimball who boldly ventured to The New World on The Elizabeth in 1634 to participate in a utopian adventure, a "frontier" called Massachusetts.

On Park's paternal (Sicilian) side was his Great Uncle Tony. As the mastermind behind what has become known as The Brink's Job, he (Antonio Pino) succeeded in "pulling off the greatest American heist of its time without harming a soul." (Incidentally, his character was portrayed by actor Peter Falk in The Brink's Job movie.) Then there was his mysterious Great . . . Great Uncle Paulo Pino whose accomplishments were worthy enough to merit his burial in The Pantheon in Rome during the Italian Renaissance.

Knowing that good men are often supported by great women, one can acknowledge the dynamic feminine force responsible for creating Park's lineage. Among these countless contributors was his Great . . . Great Grandmother Sarah Hawkins, a squaw maiden who daringly chose to trust "the white man."

"If passion drives, let reason hold the reins." Benjamin Franklin

College senior yearbook photo (1983)

His Story

Park was born and lived in Massachusetts, attended school in Rhode Island, and summered with relatives in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. His active imagination and creative talents were recognized at an early age and channeled into music and art. After attending a Quaker school, Moses Brown, he completed secondary education at The Wheeler School with an Independent Study in Art & Architecture in Italy.

This experience broadened Park's appreciation of art, highlighted its significance to culture, and influenced his decision to enter the Fine Arts program at Skidmore College. There he continued to develop his Studio Art while concentrating on Art History and Classical Studies. He spent his junior year abroad at Temple University/Tyler School of Art in Rome, pursuing Independent Studies in all three disciplines, including research at the Vatican Library Archives. He graduated from Skidmore to graduate studies in Art History and Art Theory at Harvard University's Extension Program.

Park supported his education, travel, and life as an independent artist in Newport, Boston, Alaska, and Manhattan through work in various occupations including substitute teacher, longshoreman, museum attendant, artisan, and waiter. He balanced his life with volunteerism, supporting a number of worthy causes. His cultural studies, work experiences, volunteer positions, and spiritual development stimulated the sense of social responsibility he expressed in his creative work, traditional in its communication of meaning. Moved to contribute his creativity to renew culture, he established Creativity within Reason to support humanitarian causes through his personal creative efforts.

Before the age of the Internet, Park founded a nonprofit Arts organization, dedicated to public enlightenment through interdisciplinary collaborations featuring artistic expression as communication. It sought to develop and support creative endeavors that promoted awareness, understanding, and knowledge within and across cultures. It also sought to promote the concept of simultaneous reciprocity to advance society by establishing networks among students, educators, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses, thus generating mutual benefits through shared social responsibility. He also produced a cause-related multidisciplinary one-man show in SoHo, benefiting two educational institutions and an AIDS foundation. His creative approach to social responsibility was recognized as a 'mission with a message.' Consequently, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree for his spirited efforts.

Park came to Central New York to work on a commission resulting from his last one-man show in Manhattan. There, he met Rose Russo, and her music so inspired him that he created the engaging image for the cover of her album and asked for her hand in marriage. Rose recalled, "His art brought him here, and my art made him stay." Their home was on Italy Hill nearby Keuka Lake in the legendary Finger Lake Region of Central New York. Y-shaped Keuka Lake features the ancient confluence of two forceful watercourses. The courses of their lives merged there in 1993, uniting their contributions in the Arts and Education to the flow of culture. Pondering the question of cultural renewal while washing dishes on their first Christmas, Park conceived of The Cause Collection. The rest is now history . . . (see the Introduction of The Art of Cultural Renewal).

During the following months Park & Rose developed the multidimensional matrix of The Cause Collection and began sharing their vision. A highlight of Cause Collection exhibits was the Be-In, Park's informative presentation of the art and Rose's solo performance of the accompanying Bein' Spiritual songs. An amputee since infancy, she was able to play the dobro and autoharp with the help of her custom-made prosthesis. Sharing the example of their personal experiences, Rose & Park (who has a 'reading disability') demonstrated the necessity of being both patient and persistent in achieving personal goals as well as social change. Concluding the Be-In was an open forum providing participants an opportunity to interact with both artists and express their own perspectives on renewing culture.

Making a statement to make a difference, Park & Rose began their Cause Collection tour in the fall of 1996. Their program gathered momentum on the campuses of Skidmore College and Finger Lakes Community College. What followed can be best understood from the telling words of their Holiday letters:

Message of Hope, 1997

Once again it's time to get our Christmas cards out by Martin Luther King Day, a tradition that has many benefits, as you can imagine, and special meaning for us as we live our dream. We never dreamed that in '97 we would learn such an important lesson. The year began with excursions to share The Cause Collection with students at a number of educational institutions in Rhode Island (the State of Hope). There we learned our message of hope, through self-awareness and social responsibility, resonated with secondary schoolers as well as college students, friends, and family. We hoped to participate in the University of Oklahoma, Norman, 'Get a Grip' Week in February, but thankfully things were postponed, allowing us to begin work early on cutting the new CD that accompanies The Cause Collection, Bein' Spiritual.

In the spring we brought our message to Herkimer Community College and Hobart & William Smith Colleges. We also visited prospective venues in Manhattan where things looked hopeful for the fall. Our theme of hope carried us throughout the summer, for The Cause Collection was available to the general public (predominantly tourists) at a local Greek Revival Mansion, Esperanza (Hope). There we learned our message resonated with people of all ages and origins while also serving students of neighboring colleges. Consequently, we were encouraged to share our message online by the fall, but our momentum was abruptly interrupted.

In early September, Rose became ill with what appeared to be a kidney stone problem. To make a long story short, she began the month as a seemingly healthy forty-nine year old and ended the month as a fifty year old with advanced osteoporosis, having the bones and posture of a woman in her nineties. Unfortunately, that was the good news. The bad news was that multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) was the cause. The doctors told us we'd be lucky if Rose lived another six months. Appropriately, Bein' Spiritual was released on the day we got the diagnosis. Thank God we experienced all that hope!

What goes around comes around, so with hope, prayer, faith, strength of will and community, and love, of course, things are improving day by day. The medical industry's traditional methods disagreed with Rose's chemistry. We're quickly learning the counter culture of Alternative Medicine and its advantages, thanks to family, friends, neighbors, and the kindly Mennonites who've settled in our region. It seems so many people have direct experience with cancer and a need for alternative treatments these days.

So, with a renewed sense of the value of hope, we carry on. They say Rose is in "some sort of remission," but they don't know how long it will last. Meanwhile, our message of hope is quite a bit more fortified with experience, and we hope to share it online soon at www.CauseCollection.com. Or if you prefer to turn off, tune out, and drop in, . . . So, we begin this year in another state of hope, praying all your dreams come true while keeping the lid on Pandora's box.

Please keep us in your prayers. Love, Rose & Park,

P.S. Patsy will be 33 years old on St. Patrick's Day. Each human year is 3 - 3.5 horse years, so she's not only a centaur, but also a centenarian, and we still have much to learn from her!

Time to Live & Pass with Care, 1998-1999

We dreamed of contacting you once again with our traditional Christmas mailing around Martin Luther King Day, but we were entertaining circumstances beyond our control - acknowledging Thy will be done. Early last May we celebrated surpassing Rose's prognostic "deadline" at the Rose Cultural Festival. Many expected this event to be her memorial. Rather, we chose to perceive it as an opportunity for Rose to actively attend her own festive funeral services and we greatly appreciated those who came to celebrate with us. When this jubilee was over, we soon realized what followed was indeed 'borrowed time.' Creating time to receive such loving support made our experience a cross between This Is Your Life, It's A Wonderful Life, and Life Is Beautiful. It was all seemingly God sent since it came with so many blessings.

So, as Rose was declared "NO LONGER IN REMISSION" in August, bedridden in September, and subsequently pronounced "IN THE FINAL STAGE" for a great many stages thereafter, we continued to recreate our life to be in the present here at home and for the Hereafter. All in all, nineteen months of heightened intuition, last words, and lasting memories reshaped our lives. We managed to remain in pretty good shape for the shape we were in. A new meaning to our lives was the understanding that nowhere did our lives have more meaning than here together now. In time we saw we had nothing but time, lifetime, to enjoy the rapture of our relationship with life itself.

We took time to honor the Afterlife in accordance with our way of life. Naturally, Rose's death on the morning of Tuesday, March 2nd was nearly imperceptible. Although her spirit remains, by afternoon her physical remains were interred in a private ceremony, laid to rest out in our pasture within a circular grove of pines we had named 'Heaven.' In this way, it can be said, she remains on Earth as she is in Heaven. An official approved the arrangements by stating, "Highly unconventional, but legal.", and I affirmed, "Sounds just like my wife."

Thank you for your role in the many networks that helped make Rose's passing such a beautiful experience for us. We envision another jubilee! Come celebrate her life here at home . . . In honor of Rose's appreciation of/for originality and spirit, we encourage your meaningful expressions and request your active participation help create this eventful time. Please realize your only limitation is vision, not supervision, so we're anticipating quite a celebration.

More good times, Yoshi lived a dog's life and passed away on September 8th. He'd been 10 for the past 5 years and it finally caught up with him. Patsy reached her 34th birthday this St. Patrick's Day! Oddly enough, she's as healthy as a horse since we retired her saddle. Our website is developing into an ideal venue for our creativity and vision. I'm now engaged in a good deal of 'homework' that Rose & I designated for this time. I'm also exploring opportunities both here and back in Manhattan that will further our mission and message. Please recognize there's still much to learn for the living. However, know that we are alive, we have a lifetime to live, and it's what we make it.

Keep becoming, Rose & Park.

P.S. Just before she passed, I asked Rose if there is anything more we can DO? After some thought, she replied, "GOOD!"

God Bless our community and thank you for your loving support during our nineteen month journey. Rose now enjoys Eternal Life, having lived and passed as she chose. She wishes for you to celebrate her life as you choose! "The Spirit's a source, the Will's a force, and the Choice is your."

Thank you to those who honored her memory by contributing to the community service scholarship fund in her name.

Note: Rose received a Certificate of Merit from New York’s Governor George E. Pataki on April 27, 1998:

. . . upon being recognized for your invaluable contributions to communities within Yates County for which you are paid tribute at the "Rose Cultural Festival" held in your honor. As a teacher, musician, volunteer and resident of Yates County, you are applauded and complimented for your many accomplishments that enhance the lives of others. As a Keuka College graduate, you are recognized by your fellow alumni as someone who is a source of pride through achievement in artistry, service to others, benevolence toward society, and strength of character.

Italy Hillbilly Holiday Message, 2000

Since I skipped a year of correspondence after Rose's passing, let's pick up where we left off. After March 2, 1999, 'homework' for the Afterlife phase commenced with preparations for the Celebration of Rose's life. Adapting to the abrupt change in family chemistry, disseminating personal effects, and attending to the neglected grounds and gardens became the focus. The June 12th Celebration was a blessed event with generations of friends witnessing the impact of Rose's spirit on those whose lives touched hers. They generously contributed to her dream of establishing a community service scholarship fund, raising more than $4,000 towards a goal of $15,000 by the end of June 2003.

Shortly thereafter I took in a home-mate, Grace-Marie Beans, in preparation for my eventual return to Manhattan planned for that following autumn. She had earned our trust as an Integrative Wellness Practitioner during the time of Rose's illness, being quite a supportive companion and an ideal steward for our home in my absence. As I awaited the availability of a unique position in one of the State Offices in Manhattan, I continued working on our website, wrote a book about our experience (The Will of A Fool), founded a nonprofit organization (Cultural Renewal), engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations including volunteer work for the State of New York and the Federal Government, and prepared for the Y2K crisis that never came.

The new year brought press coverage of Patsy's 35th Birthday. At 15.2 hands, she's now the oldest horse in the county! (She's not doing so well at the moment, but we're doing what we can to encourage her to bounce back.) To accompany her, we took in two geese, Mother & Silly, who provided us with more than fifty eggs this season. They offer so much comic relief while guarding the grounds and display such pure grace while enjoying the pond. We also added to our family, honeybees from Buckfast Abbey in England.

As the pleasures of country life began to outweigh the calling of city rhythms, spring-cleaning became major reconstruction. The change in family dynamics merited a number of changes in our living conditions. Patsy's inability to eat hay initiated the conversion of our attached stone hay barn into "The Chapel," a sacred space for Grace-Marie's private practice, Graceful Healing. Redesigning our underground home resulted in creating more of a mountain than a molehill here on Italy Hill. In addition, we built a loft in my room and rebuilt the Guest House to accommodate two tenants, relocating my studio to The Green Barn near Patsy's remaining stall. The task-filled summer gave way to delightful trips to RI, NH, VT, ME, and NYC. Just before the election I enjoyed a weeklong trip to VA, DC, and Philly with Marianne Williamson and the folks from The Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Recently we hosted four students from Up with People for nearly a week. During their stay with us, the international organization collapsed and their dynamic program was cancelled indefinitely. We were fortunate enough to attend the final performance (of the 35 year show) in North America. The amazing energy of this show inspired me to reconnect with all of you, reaffirming the message: Despite adversities, 'the show must go on!'

I often sense Rose's presence and am reminded of her anthem 'Keep Becoming!' Much continues to be accomplished since her passing and I greatly appreciate all the support. In her absence, I've learned to have an intimate relationship with life itself, and enjoy sharing that with all those who appreciate it. May your life continue to be blessed. Happy New Year!, Park.

Delight before Christmas, 2001

We were delighted, more than two dozen festive folks managed to make it through a snow storm to celebrate Patsy's 36th Birthday here on St. Patrick's Day. She learned to swim this year and earned the nickname "Ester Williams." She's still going strong as the oldest horse around - more than 110 in human years! Mother & Silly Goose again laid more than fifty eggs this year, loosing many to the scheming red fox. Whinestein recuperated all afternoon after helping harvest this year's crop of catnip. Owl consumed a cottontail, all but its lucky foot. Monstro (the largest of all our bass) who lurks at the end of the dock, swallowed a full-grown chipmunk the cats brought in with one great gulp. The honeybees in our multi-species family, continue to generously provide a most delectable wildflower honey. Our commune now incorporates the energies of a herd, a gaggle, a pride, a school, a hive/swarm, a tribe, and a pack with visits from Kelly, our guest canine companion.

We also enjoyed a sense of belonging with a record number of visitors here, sharing in the delights of our simple life. We had wonderful times creating lasting memories. The year included journeys Back East and to NJ to "play family" with good friends, volunteer at the Clearwater Festival, enjoy a most beautiful wedding in East Haddam, tuna fish on the high seas, paint a mural, and learn more of family history from The Elders. (It appears I'm 1/64th Native American, most likely Penobscot.) After Thanksgiving in PA with some homemade pumpkin pie, I visited a mystical prehistoric site in CT called Gungywamp.

Honoring Rose's 'Keep Becoming!' anthem, much continues to get accomplished since her passing, as the "homework" of the Afterlife phase nears completion: Rose's cause advanced by passing through the NYS Assembly. (They unexpectedly made it retroactive to include her interests as well.) With the Senate and the Governor's approval, we hope it will be passed into law early next year. Offerings brought to the Celebration of Rose's life were incorporated in the stonework completing Grace-Marie's space to practice her Healing Arts. These sentimental items contributed to the completion of our home's creative construction. (Her private practice expanded from The Chapel to include an office in nearby Canandaigua!) She also successfully developed Rose's idea, of creating a directory of local alternative practitioners, into the reality of The Finger Lakes Complimentary Healthcare Network. Totally refurbished, our Guest House now accommodates new tenants, a delightful family of artists. After the Herculean effort to clean out The Green Barn, it now houses my studio and 5 vessels for a local marina. Our pear tree (symbol of Hope & Good Health), our cherry trees (symbol of Paradise), and the peach tree (symbol of Immortality & the Fruit of Salvation) Rose & I planted, were all so heavily loaded with fruit this year they resembled weeping willows (symbol of Mourning, with the ability to bend, give way, and spring back to survive the storm). Perhaps it's some sort of sign!

The times and circumstances demanded a reassessment of The Cause Collection & Cultural Renewal. I've come to realize over the past two and a half years, these projects are just too much to manage alone. So, I believe the best way to advance these cause-related efforts is seeking to have them associated with the interests of a college or university. The act of advancing these efforts to fruition marks the completion of all the tasks set before me in my previous life and cleans the slate for the consideration of new opportunities in the future. Then anything's possible! Any suggestions?

As I keep becoming, I continue to enjoy an intimate relationship with life itself, and delight in sharing that with all those who appreciate it. May your lives continue to be blessed. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! Peace, Love, & Fulfillment, Park.

Highlights for the Holidays, 2002

Happy Hearty Holidays! Although this year had its trials, it was certainly stuffed like a stocking with triumphs and monumental memories. The year began here in the Finger Lakes with progress towards advancing my cause-related projects. Abruptly, unexpected challenges forced me to return to Manhattan. While dealing with Family Court and the aftermath of betrayal, during the four months there I managed to: establish an independent volunteer outreach program, linking Ground Zero workers with support and counseling as well as with those seeking to document their experiences for posterity; participate in committees proposing designs for both The Memorial and for the Urban Design to rebuild Lower Manhattan; enjoy classes at The Foundation Center; join Marble Collegiate Church - the birthplace of Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking; make new friends while reconnecting with old ones; and find a grateful home-mate to share my place there. I never expected a seed of contention to bear so much delectable fruit! Betrayers betray themselves more than those they betray.

By midyear, I relocated to Westport Island, Maine, where commercial fishing for illusive tuna and cooperative lobsters provided a fresh perspective from the sea. Wrestling with monstrous Mako sharks and fleeting trap lines demands a genuine sense of clarity. For four months I enjoyed the island life with generations of good friends, challenging work in a great environment, and the faithful canine companionship of the loveable "Dukie." We had fun contributing our generation's renewal to family property restoration projects. Great company, fresh seafood, sparklers, pillow fights, and flashlight tag made our season's end potluck party a most memorable occasion. I just love ME and intend to spend much more time there.

The year was also highlighted by: an unforgettable wedding in Princeton on New Years; adventurers visiting our Finger Lakes winter wonderland; Rose's music being spotlighted in a NYC café; Patsy's 37th Birthday Bash; a curious upstate political rally; pre-party fun in Mystic; a funeral for a good friend in Newport; volunteering again at the Clearwater Fest on the Hudson; a significant High School graduation; waging war with fireworks on the beach in Little Compton for the 4th of July; experiencing 9/11 ceremonies in NYC; retiring the ole Cause-Collection.com mobile for a newer vehicle; a howling Halloween Party in Westport; a most lovely wedding in Brooklyn; the passing of Patsy on Thanksgiving Day (see below); and a beautiful Baptism in NJ. Again, we're volunteering at the local soup kitchen on Christmas Day, and we'll celebrate this remarkably monumental year with a "Lull Between The Holidays Potluck" party on its last weekend.

We can choose to experience the tests we're forced to encounter with whatever approach best overcomes them. Sometimes it's such a struggle just to be, and other times it can be an outright battle against forces wishing us not to be. Creativity and faith can function as survival skills, while perspective and perseverance can produce lemonade. Tragedy is merely a perspective and devastation a perception. Count your blessings as we endure. Be thankful for the time we do have with one another, for the good times we share are indeed eternal. If you like the way things are, then cherish them, for things will certainly change. If you don't like the way things are, then be patient, for things will certainly change. I'm now working on a strategy to create a transition for whatever phase will bless my life next.

May your lives continue to be blessed throughout the New Year and beyond. Keep becoming while overcoming. Peace, Love, & Fulfillment, Park.

A Horse of a Different Color

Italy Hill, JERUSALEM, NY: Patsy's Blarney passed away on Thanksgiving Day. As the oldest horse in Yates County and perhaps the oldest Quarter horse known, her 37 years, 8 months, and 11 days were a lot to be thankful for. Since each year of a horse's life equals approximately 3-3.5 human years, Patsy lived to be at least 113 - if not more than 130!

Patsy was born on St. Patrick's Day in 1965, the Chinese calendar's Year of the Snake. As Tradition foretold, her nature was indeed 'strong willed, intense, and displayed great wisdom.' She caught the attention of Rose Ann Russo of Branchport who teamed up with her in her formative years. Rose explained, "I like my horses like I like my men, spirited. I'd rather have to harness them, than need to light a fire under them." After years of riding English, Patsy and Rose began training with a western saddle. A special saddle was specifically designed for Patsy's one-armed rider by John Crowley of Double K Farms on Italy Hill and Craig McMinn of Guyanoga Valley.

Patsy & Rose competed against 'horse hussies' from all over the eastern U.S. and Canada in the New York State Women's Rodeo Championships. The persistent pair became quite proficient at barrel racing, a timed competition demanding tremendous skill and total unity of horse and rider. They then mastered team penning, a timed collaboration corralling an unpredictable steer. Patsy at 21 (approx. 70 in human years) and 'Rodeo Rosie' teamed with Kim and Kerri Crowley of the Double K to win the 1986 NYS Open Women's Rodeo Team Penning Championship. In all, the dynamic duo performed professionally for nearly a decade before pursuing the peaceful pleasures of a sulky.

Patsy had many rolls outside the arena. She willingly provided a community service as a 'sorrel retriever,' helping drive stray livestock back to their respective barnyards. She also played Cupid one spring day in her 28th year, bringing Rose and her future husband Parkinson Pino together. While visiting a neighbor, Park saw Patsy down on the ground one morning with serious some stomach trouble. He remembered, "After unsuccessfully wrestling with this 1200 lb. horse to get her up, we merely used the reflected light of a mirror to spook her into rising on her own." After walking her illness off, the three spent the rest of that day and eventually the rest of their lives together. When Patsy became a centenarian at 30, she retired to recreational trailblazing on their 17-acre fenceless free-range farm and occasionally accommodated her young friends with a unique riding experience.

During the 19 months Rose spent at home suffering from bone marrow cancer, Patsy would often come to the door and let her presence be known to Rose's delight. She personally took charge of greeting the daily caregivers and visitors. When Rose lost consciousness days before she passed away, Patsy stood outside her bedroom window in silent tribute to their loving connection. After attending the private graveside services for Rose (who was interred in Patsy's pasture), Patsy galloped about as if Rose were riding upon her back once again. That summer she co-hosted the celebration of Rose's life, mingling among her guests untethered and playfully participating in hide and seek.

When Patsy reached the unprecedented milestone of her 35th birthday, her notoriety drew quite a crowd of admirers to her surprise party. Although coverage in the newspapers fanned her celebrity status, she took it all in stride. At age 36 she overcame her lifelong fear of water and enjoyed daily swims in the pond. She proved: you can lead a horse to water and make 'em swim; and you certainly can teach an ole horse new tricks. She celebrated this past St. Patty's Day with generations of friends at her 37th birthday bash.

Two days before Thanksgiving, in an intimate dialogue known only to horse-lovers, Patsy informed Park she was ready to head for greener pastures. When the two visited the spot in the pasture called 'Heaven' where Rose was put to rest, Patsy gingerly grazed on the wildflowers remaining upon the gravesite. She then gave up eating all together, but kept herself hydrated as she waited for her calling.

Thanksgiving morning, Park and his home-mate Grace-Marie Beans found Patsy down without her natural will to rise and shine. She was rolled onto a canvas tarp, covered with her favorite winter blanket, and snuggled as they waited for the vet to arrive. After rejecting apple-wedge offerings, her consciousness drifted between worlds until some fresh alfalfa caught her attention. Having thoroughly enjoyed her last supper and heartfelt goodbyes, Dr. Andy Dunn administered the agent enabling her spirit to leave her ancient body in one fleeting breath, as an eager bird flees its cage. The following day she was interred beside Rose in a private ceremony. Appropriately, she passed away in the Year of the Horse (2002).

(image) Patsy in Paradise, weeks prior to her passing.

It takes a community. Patsy had no offspring, but is survived by her farm-mates Park & Grace-Marie, the cats - Whinestein & Owl, the geese - Mother & Silly, the honeybees in the hives, and the bass in the pond. They thank the following for contributing to Patsy's life: Merle Van Gee for bringing Patsy into this world, Horace Corell & Son for introducing her to this area; The Crowley Family for boarding, training, and so much more; the former Agway, Carey's Outlet Supply, Country Max, and Jeffers for her nourishment and supplements; the Apple Barrel and Hey Family Farms for her treats; Hoot & Teena Lane for her tack; Eastview Veterinary Clinic for superb medical care; Dr. Barbara Allen for chiropractic treatments; Benny McCheyne for persevering while providing her pedicures; Barbara Slade and Michele Beans for invaluable tele-consulting; Kathy Swarthout, Edgar Brown, Jennifer Ziegler, Marnie Race, and Gail Furst for extra TLC while horse-sitting; Dr. Don Perry, Roberta Halsey, the entire Salvatini-Beans Clan, countless friends and admirers for their support; Gary Metz for building her exceptional stone barn; Bill Erickson for helping maintain her pasture; Ron Rundt for kindly returning her when the grass seemed greener on the other side of the road; and George Gudinas for being patiently on call so many years to help bury her.

From within our community and beyond, as well as right from the horse's mouth, one would often hear of Patsy, "Now that's a horse of a different color!"

2003 & Me, A Belated Review

2003 began with accompanying the Starr-Snaith family to protest for peace in Washington, DC. As we carried signs stating: "Hey UN Inspect US!," "Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Oil!," and "Got Peace?," we witnessed many movements in action. In a context of anti-Bush people spewing rage, Vets chanting rounds, communists proselytizing, Grannies' voicing political harmonies, and creative extroverts seeking media attention, our peaceful picnic in the center of all the action on the Mall made its own statement. By our account, there were more than 450,000 souls out in the cold being their beliefs, yet the media acknowledged only 30,000. That's the freedom of the press!

We met up with Dr. 'Patch' Adams at the Smith Opera House in February. He proved to be a great example of how Hollywood creates a pretty picture, employing artistic license to dramatically profit on a fully flaw-filled reality. As a theme of disillusionment seemingly permeated the early months of the year, I responded by actively participating in local political issues, peace vigils, and networking friends via periodic pro-peace email releases. The connections these efforts engendered fostered a family of spirit, whose support enabled me to survive the challenges of my next bout with disillusionment.

My big Family Court trial in Manhattan in March provided so many heartfelt lessons: see people for who they really are; over-invest in only the very best; be mindful of truly lost souls; be less selfless as a survival skill; reassess sentimental associations; recognize the mundane value of material things; money can and does buy power, yet power eventually corrupts itself; integrity attracts support; sacrifice to honor respect; take risks to defend and preserve one's integrity, honor, and freedom; expect a funky form of justice from our legal system; have faith in karma, honest lawyers, and Sicilian curses; being a pack rat may someday provide the evidence needed to win one's case; and so many more. This two-year bizarre ordeal thankfully illuminated those ardent supporters among family and friends. I so enjoyed Neen & Ron's aftermath gathering in Greenwich following the trial. I greatly appreciate all those who advocated the truth, for it has indeed set me free. Although there never was a dull moment with the antics of my dysfunctional sibling, I'm quite delighted this roller-coaster witch-hunt charade ends this month. It cost me dearly, yet I earned and learned so much more. Thanks again for all your support!

April was showered with trials and triumphs. My mother's mysterious illness drew me to South Carolina. Thankfully, my experience of being a patient advocate and primary caretaker for Rose proved to serve Mum's best interest and reassured me that Rose had not died in vein. While in SC, we enjoyed Middleton Place where the azaleas were in full bloom around a heavenly cypress lake. I then visited family and friends in Asheville, NC, having great fun with Andrea & John and falling in love with the energy and nature of the region. The Biltmore gardens appeared as a fragrant slow-motion fireworks finale! Although I missed Merle Fest and Monticello on the way home, I visited M & Jim and the rest of the family in PA. We had a blast playing with the newborn kids (goats) and unexpectedly crashed a wedding during a cultural tour of Cathedrals. Giggles galore!

By midyear, I relocated to Westport Island, Maine, where an abundance of thick fog, hungry ticks, and mischievous red squirrels dominated the season. Commercial fishing for tuna and lobsters proved to be one of the worst seasons on record. I eyed a Basking shark, but we didn't even catch a Mako! On the positive side, there were a great many whales, including finbacks and humpbacks. Their breaching and fluking was quite a sight to see at sea. We spotted enormous bulls as well as some moms with calves. One day a lonely seal pup with beautiful chocolate brown eyes swam up to our boat for some company. We communed quite a while before he was called back to the depths.

A highlight of this year's stay in Maine was sharing July and August with Brian (Grace-Marie's 16 year old son). Aside from having a great deal of fun enjoying 'The Maine Experience,' we continued contributing our generation's renewal to family property renovation projects, including creating a megalithic fireplace for cooking crabs atop the coveside cliff. Having been fully indoctrinated into the ways and workings of island life, the South End community awarded Brian 45 merit badges for all of his efforts. (He also received the symbolic first slice from one of Tree's famed homemade pies.) We celebrated Brian's right of passage into manhood with a Labor Day Potluck Party at Edgecliff, complete with good company, fresh seafood, sparklers, pillow fights, flashlight tag, the potato cannon, and a fireworks/flare extravaganza. My folks came up from RI, Mike surprised us by boat from Kennebunkport, and Grace-Marie came out from the Finger Lakes. (While visiting, she broke tradition, as an active female hand on board for one of Brian's days out lobstering.)

The year was also highlighted by: many memorable potluck gatherings; campaign victories; seeking assistance from Harvard's Social Enterprise Initiative for the efforts of CauseCollection.com & CulturalRenewal.org; celebrating my birthday at my 20th (Skidmore) Reunion in Saratoga Springs; exhibiting creative works in The Tang Teaching Museum; rejuvenating visits in VT, NH, and MA; volunteering again at the Clearwater Fest on the Hudson; a significant High School graduation; Tad & Anneke's great July wedding in Middlesex; whitewater rafting and cliff-jumping on the Kennebec; a visit to the MacNamara Foundation; creating a "Walk of Art"; making new friends in Kennebunk; disillusionment over love and the politics of the academic world; a presidential inaugural; working with good friends on construction projects; Thanksgiving in Little Compton; Wah's dynamic 50th Birthday at Eastman; getting creative with a sculpture; Grace-Marie moving on to a new life in the big city; seeking a new home-mate; health problems; a great Christmas Eve with Angie; and a fun New Year's Eve with Grace-Marie and the kids (not goats) at her new pad in Canandaigua.

I'm sorry I've been so uncharacteristically out of touch with most of you and that this holiday letter wasn't completed sooner. Lately, an emotional response to last year's challenges has directly tested my well-being. Apparently, prolonged stress activated an imbalance in my system, resulting in my current state of 'fragile' health. Although it's set me back a bit, the good news is I am rebuilding my strength by developing a fresh perspective to help me better approach the challenges of this Happy New Year. So, may your year bring you fulfillment in your pursuit of happiness and perhaps we'll enjoy more good times together in the coming seasons.

May your lives continue to be blessed. Peace, Love, & Fulfillment, Park.

Presently

As a potentialist, Park continues the work of The Cause Collection and Cultural Renewal. He also enjoys volunteering for a number of worthy causes, developing other projects for Creativity within Reason, and participates in engaging interdisciplinary collaborations that promote connectivity. He now divides his time between The Finger Lakes Region of Central New York, Manhattan, and the coast of Maine.

"The future does not belong to those who are content with today . . . it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason, and courage in a personal commitment." Bobby Kennedy

Co-Creator

"It is not similarities that create harmony, but the art of fusing various elements that enrich life." Anonymous (one of Rose’s favorites)

College senior yearbook photo (1969)

Reflectology: In Time I See

Rose Ann Russo was born on September 25, 1947, in Norwich, Connecticut. At the age of eighteen months she lost her right arm in an automobile accident. This blessing of fate shaped her life in a unique pattern of experiences that challenged her to overcome the consequences of personal tragedy. With faith and determination instilled by her mother, Rose developed her own "different" identity.

One consequence of the above-elbow amputation was the necessity for bone revision operations until Rose physically ceased to grow. Another was a prosthesis with a hook which drew so much negative attention during her junior high years that she changed to an artificial hand for high school. She dutifully wore a conventional prosthesis until age thirty when she rebelled against what she perceived as society's pressure to imitate normalcy. She devoted the next decade to developing a genuine identity. In that time she learned that both function and comfort mattered and the imitation meant limitation as far as what her creative spirit longed to achieve. Her next prosthesis was a custom made socket and attachment for depressing chord buttons on an autoharp, the instrument she had played in college with a ruler wrapped to her limb.

A Connecticut State fund for the 'handicapped' enabled Rose to attend Keuka College on Keuka Lake in Central New York. She entered in the fall of 1965. The role model her sister had provided as tutor to her and her brother greatly influenced her decision to choose teaching as a profession. She graduated in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She then immediately accepted a fifth grade position in the vicinity of scenic Keuka Lake and married a local resident who also had one arm.

In 1973, Rose received from the University of Rochester a Master of Arts Degree in Education with a specialty in Reading. She taught fifth grade for five years. During this period she and her team teaching partner developed "The Comprehensive Reading Program for Intermediate Grades." In 1974, the State Education Department in conjunction with the New York State Reading Association recognized the innovative management and instructional system as one of the top reading programs in the state. At the request of the superintendent, Rose then created the district's first remedial reading program at the junior/senior high level. Her former team teaching partner joined Rose again in 1977. They developed the Tower Thinking, Writing, Reading Program which they presented at the Ninth Annual Toward Humanizing Education Conference sponsored by the New York State Education Department, Division of Humanities and Arts Education.

Rose undertook the study of Spanish in 1980, because of her ever-widening interest in language and culture. In 1987, she took a semester sabbatical to earn a state teaching certificate in French. Upon returning to the classroom, she taught both languages. In 1990, she completed state certification in Spanish.

Outside of school, Rose served local Sheriff's Departments as a multi-lingual translator. She also helped organize her church's outreach program for Hispanic migrant farm workers, whose faith and music she admired and participated in.

Rose's interest in music had developed in her early childhood. Her father was her primary model of singer, songwriter, musician, performer, and entertainer, both in the home and professionally. His influence pervaded her life well beyond his untimely death when she was only ten. The private art lessons she took during the traumatic period following his death proved a positive means of self-expression. She continued taking lessons for six years. As a result of developing artistic skills, she became art editor of her high school newspaper and received from her senior classmates the award of "Class Artist."

During her junior year of high school, Rose learned to play the cornet in the school band. She played in numerous concerts including a performance in the New England Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. Also during the high school years, she attended revival meetings where live gospel music revitalized her spirit and sparked her enthusiasm for vocal harmony.

In college, Rose took voice lessons. Accompanying herself on the autoharp, she enjoyed singing and playing in her free time. During the early Seventies, she sang in a quartet at a small local church. At nearby prayer meetings, she developed a friendship with a singer/songwriter whose example inspired her to create her own music. As a duo, she and her friend performed their original songs in church services and other spiritual gatherings.

Rose divorced in 1980, after ten stormy years of marriage. Shortly thereafter, she developed a serious relationship with a fellow teacher. He also sustained injury due to an accident. Together they designed and built a passive solar house in a hill not far from Keuka Lake. Their enthusiasm for acoustic music led them to attend bluegrass festivals throughout the state and to invite musicians in the local area to their home for jam sessions. At festivals and jams, Rose practiced singing lead as well as harmony. Performing with friends at civic events gave her experience as a band member and organizer.

As a whole, Rose's activities in the Eighties reflected her many and varied interests. Horseback riding was one of her favorite activities. The trainer at the farm where she boarded her spirited mare designed an attachment for the front of her saddle that enabled her to ride in women's rodeo. In 1986, "Rosie" along with her trainer's two daughters won the New York State Women's Rodeo Championship Team Penning Event. After several years of intense competition, Rose and her horse retired to recreational trail blazing.

The experiences of sailing on Keuka Lake and hunting on its surrounding hills reflected Rose's deep appreciation for nature. To explore different cultures, she traveled to Europe and Mexico. She and her friends particularly enjoyed sailing adventures in the Virgin Islands and San Francisco Bay.

In the mid-Eighties, Rose purchased property adjacent to the solar house and there developed and established The Friend Shop. She sold on consignment "herb specialties and friend-made gifts" created by over thirty friends who shared her interest in either herbal lore or arts and crafts. The Friend Shop gave her valuable experience in networking and operating a small business.

In the early Nineties, basic incompatibilities in her second long-term relationship precipitated another stormy period in Rose's life. Before and after the final break-up, the process of self-assessment, coming to awareness, and readjustment required renewed faith and determination. During this period she produced a number of introspective songs. She formed a collection of old and new compositions and enlisted help to realize her new vision of recording an album. In December of 1992, The Friend Shop became a pre-recording studio where musically talented friends volunteered their time to rehearse sixteen songs to be recorded at a studio in Rochester, New York. She named her new business Friendmade Music and her supportive friends, The Right Hand Band.

In summary, Rose's life developed along three lines of growth: her personal life, her avocation, and her vocation. Along the path of personal life, her journey to wholeness as an individual and a woman was complicated by a handicapping condition that confused her perception of herself and other's perceptions of her. Along the path of avocation, her journey to fulfillment as an artist was hampered by storms in her personal life and the ever-present demands of her vocation. Along the path of the vocation, education, her journey to self-respect was imperiled by her own nature which always compelled her to seek innovative, more functional ways of educating. Always being out on a limb, she was vulnerable to non-acceptance and low self-esteem.

In 1993, circumstances raised Rose to a new level of fulfillment. On the personal side, her music so inspired artist Parkinson Pino that he created the engaging cover for her CD and asked for her hand in marriage. They wed on Armistice Day, November 11, 1993. As for her avocation, on November 7, 1993, Rose finally released cassettes and CDs entitled In Time I See, a pun on the collection's title song In tim a cy. Along the line of vocation, she finally perfected her "Scholastic Solar System" of language study. When the school board offered a retirement incentive to teachers with twenty-five years of service, she accepted. She retired in June of 1994.

The studio that recorded Rose's music promoted In Time I See and drew attention to her and her accomplishments. As a result, she received acclaim in local and regional press and in a TV interview on a cultural affairs program featuring her song about being 'handicapped.' In time she saw herself in a position to inspire the physically challenged to develop their talents and to educate the public about what it means to be 'physically challenged.' Consequently, she launched a cause-related marketing campaign to benefit nonprofit organizations whose purpose was to meet the needs of the physically challenged. She first established a profit-sharing relationship with the Rochester based National Association of People with Disabilities. She shared with NAPD proceeds of sales of In Time I See promoted by an ad in their magazine, Challenge. Rose then arranged to benefit a whole network of nonprofit organizations in an ever-widening field of service.

The fusion of her personal life, avocation, and vocation into a whole lifestyle generated in Rose the self-confidence to accept new challenges. When the first retail store to offer In Time I See invited her to perform in January of 1995, she armed herself with the socket made earlier for the autoharp and an attachment designed and fabricated for her by one of The Right Hand Band. She began to practice on her dobro which was easier to keep in tune than an autoharp and had a resonating sound instrumental in supporting voice. She played and sang her songs for a receptive audience in her first solo concert.

Time saw Rose develop and evolve, and in time she saw herself emerge as a rose does: in her own time and in her own way. Her unique pattern unfolded in her music and continued to reveal itself. In the few years since her In Time I See CD, she taught herself to play a variety of instruments. She was then asked by Park to compile a collection of her meaningful songs, to associate them with his Cause Collection images. This collection of twenty-four original songs became her Bein' Spiritual CD. Rose explained, "Since fifteen friends collaborated to help me produce In Time I See, that represented interdependence. Now having produced Bein' Spiritual entirely on my own, it represents independence." As the ancient confluence of two forceful watercourses once created the Y-shaped Keuka Lake, Rose & Park's creative energies merged to complete Cause Collection's The Art of Cultural Renewal. The rest is in his story (above) . . .

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