Mythos & Marginalia

life notes; flaws and all

j.g. lewis

original content and images ©j.g. lewis

a daily breath...

A thought du jour, my daily breath includes collected and conceived observations, questions of life, fortune cookie philosophies, reminders, messages of peace and simplicity, unsolicited advice, inspirations, quotes and words that got me thinking. They may get you thinking too . . .

by any other name

More obvious than DNA, presence
or personality: identity. Individually,
names are given out by someone else,
by family or memory. Titles awarded
before character is developed,
without our knowledge.

A voice we live with. Should you
call out, what will you hear? A name:
in the end, all we are left with. Goodbye.
What you remember and often forget.
Introduction requires random thought
of specific examples.

Fingerprint fact and interpretation, a
name, birth date, statistics, history always
living proof of every step taken, up until
now. Evidence you are all you believe in,
selfish presentation of self-image, under
circumstances that change along with us.

Do you represent what others might think?
How well do they know you? Would you
be any different under any other name?
Will that person remain the same as you
if it were true? Hello. Ask yourself.
It is a hard title to live up to.

© 2021 j.g. lewis

friday

                 sunlight navigates its way

     between

               what was and what

            is still to come

     friday

           not just any day

               you find the freedom

       to notice

     transformation happening

     as it should

                       look up

           will you see what you should

       or observe

               all you have neglected

04/26/2024                                                                                   j.g.l.

Mondays are just young Fridays

Qualifying questions, remedial response.

Knowledge of situations often haunt.

What we know or have been told.

We tell ourselves we just don’t know.

Answers formed by thoughts untold.

Rumour and misinformation often sold.

Conspiracy theories tend to rule the day.

Bare truth and logic will get in the way.

04/22/2024                                                                                                            j.g.l.

I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.

j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.

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Casual Collector

Posted on February 2, 2024 by j.g.lewis Leave a comment

I like to say I collect postage stamps but dare not call myself a “stamp collector”.
   I’m not that organized. 
   I don’t have numerous albums sorted by year, country, and issue date, and rarely do I study the catalogues or updates from Canada Post to remind myself when the next issue is released.
   The term “philatelist” does not apply to me. I am more of a casual collector, tearing the circulated stamp off the corner of a letter or postcard and tucking it into one of several envelopes where stamps accumulate until I decide to do something with them. When I’m motivated, which is not often enough, I glue them into whatever journal I happen to be working in.
   I enjoy the art of, or on, the postage stamp that signifies a person, event or some significant piece of history.
   I know that a black history month stamp will be issued any day now, and that the post office will issue a new floral collection as it does every spring (we first must get there). The flowers are always favourites of mine. There are many other releases throughout the year to satisfy collectors, and I pick them up when needed. I correspond regularly with friends and family across the globe (some more often than others) and prefer to use the “special’ stamps” as opposed to the common issue. 
   I enjoy sending and receiving letters, I always have. Part of the enjoyment of a letter is not only news from others contained within, but first seeing the stamp and the postmark. It started when I was a kid, and I still get excited — it is one of my few geeky traits — when a letter arrives. It seems there are less and fewer letters arriving now than there was before.
   I suppose electronic communication has a lot to do with it; it is more convenient and less costly. But, a handwritten letter provides the kind of communication you don’t get from an email. 
   A letter, with a stamp, is far more personal.
   And appreciated.
   Over time, the written words and stories told in letter form become less relevant or memorable, but the stamp and postmark always remind you how important letters are. 
 
© 2024 j.g. lewis

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