Hello it’s Me
I never know what I’m in for when I call my Asheville potter son Josh on the phone. Last year when I called expecting him to be home some of my calls were routed to Canada, New York, Arizona, and South Carolina. Once when he answered his phone he told me he was in New Jersey. “What?” I said incredulously.
He usually explains that he’s at a ceramics or a wood firing convention, building a kiln somewhere, assistant teaching, presenting a slide show or otherwise on an adventure.
So we talk for a while, me in Virginia and him in New Jersey, and then he says: “Gotta go now, mom. My bus stop is coming up.”
“What? Now you’re on a bus?”
Another time this past year when I called him, his answering machine picked up and reported that his cell phone had fallen in the toilet and that he wouldn’t be returning calls until he got a new one. Then there was the call about his car being stolen while he was at a restaurant eating breakfast.
A few days ago I called him and got this report: “I’m living out of 5 boxes on Annabelle and Rachel’s porch.”
I knew he was moving out of the loft warehouse apartment where he was living in the back of his Clay Space Studio Co-op, and that he was renovating an Air Stream trailer to live in while he built a kiln, pottery studio, and house on his recently purchased property.
“It’s good practice for living in the trailer,” he assured me before adding, “I’m getting ready to go to Louisville, Kentucky now …”
Photo: The above photo is a self portrait painting Josh did, which includes a time-line of photographs from various stages in his life. The last time I was visiting him, it was hanging in the doorway of his warehouse loft apartment. I said, “But Josh the 3rd one from the end isn’t even you.” He laughed and told me who it was but I can’t remember now. Josh and some of his friends were recently filmed dancing for a video shoot, the photographs of which are HERE. Josh and Rachel are swing dancing in frame number 13, 22, and 7 from the end.
January 31st, 2007 9:59 am
I am having a hard time w. the fact that my son will 14 on the 8th. But, part of me cannot wait to see what he does after high school.
I think Josh is just the neatest kid, I mean man. 😉
January 31st, 2007 10:04 am
He’s 27! I’m not really all that much of a phone person as the piece makes it sound. There are periods when we talk more than others, but other times it can go for as much as a month without a conversation. When we do talk I take notes because he always has so many interesting things to say and news that I want to remember. I love to visit him in Asheville. He has some of the best people in the world for friends!
January 31st, 2007 3:58 pm
I really like his self portrait…..how exciting to be living out of an Air Stream while he builds his house. I always think people appreciate things so much more when they do them that way. He just always sounds like the best guy.
On another note would you let me know if you here anything about DTB tomorrow night. We didn’t know if they would ever cancel up there? I won’t come up the mountain if the weather is icy but my crazy husband and his friends would risk it!
January 31st, 2007 4:20 pm
I love the way kids are so adaptable… even if it means afew more grey hairs for us moms.
January 31st, 2007 4:53 pm
Josh tends to live large, which for the most part is exciting but can sometimes involve some ups and downs. My younger son is more steady going.
I’ll keep you posted, Deana. I’m wondering myself about the show.
January 31st, 2007 5:22 pm
Josh has always been an artist and now a dancer?!!
Love the self portrait.
I used to think he looked like Ricky Schroder when he was younger now he has grown into Ashton Kutcher.
January 31st, 2007 5:30 pm
I used to think he looked like Leonardo Dicaprio but now I agree…I think he looks more like Ashton Kutcher than anyone else. He’s the one that got me into Contra Dancing. Remember his wild moves at Dylan’s wedding?
January 31st, 2007 8:41 pm
I bet just talking to (or about) your son really makes your day. He seems like a lot of fun! Lots of dancing going on lately, a good way to stay warm? Speaking of Ashton Kutcher, we recently saw him with Kevin Costner in The Guardian, eye candy for all ages… oh, a great movie, too!
January 31st, 2007 8:54 pm
That’s a riot about the phone message “from the Toilet”! Were there funny gurgling swishing water noises in the background? I don’t even use even carry a cell phone. What a different generation it is out there!
January 31st, 2007 11:52 pm
Colleen, those were verrrrry interesting phtos! Why doesn’t Bloglines ever recognize that you have a new post??!!
February 1st, 2007 12:20 am
Hey, thanks for the visit, Colleen. It is fun that you were there while I was here. As far as I know the hosue is still there. I have not seen it since sometime in the late 60’s.
I don’t know about anyone else having trouble with Bloglines, but I am going to complain to them if I can gfigure out how….LOL
February 1st, 2007 12:28 am
Colleen, I just went to their forums page and posted a comment about it, so maybe we will et an answer.
February 1st, 2007 2:28 pm
I just have to ask if Josh has a girlfriend? 😉 He is an interesting fellow and whenever I read about him, I think of my daughter Ana. She’s an art major. She is dating someone but you know how mothers are. Here’s Ana:
http://susan365.blogspot.com/
She would die if she knew I put this here.
Susan
February 1st, 2007 2:45 pm
I try not to ask too much about Josh’s girlfriends until he’s been with them for a signifigant amount of time. He’s had quite a number of them (and has quite a few close friends who are female) but I don’t think he’s serious about anyone right now. I think at this point, he’s looking forward to settling down with the right one when that happens.
Is that a new blog?! Or do you have two?
February 1st, 2007 3:24 pm
I have two blogs. The written one and the photoblog. I just started the photoblog in January.
I know what you mean about not asking too many questions. 😉 I am trying to be more accepting of “gut” feelings/intutions and to ask questions when they rise up. I just keep getting that connection and yes, she does live in Texas.
Susan