Harry Leslie Smith, World's Oldest Rebel, dies at 95

In 1999, his wife of 52 years died. A decade later, his son's death "tipped him over the edge to start writing his memoirs, at 87. His passion earned him a column in the Guardian. Gradually, his defenses of the poor, his pleas for social justice and the wisdom of his age--as expressed in his last book, "Don't Let My Past Be Youe Future" (2017)--made him a must-read for a new generation....In his writings and on the lecture circuit, Mr. Smith argued for the peservation of the social safety net and against austerity programs in England, Canada and the United States....He spent his last years touring refugee camps in Europe and denouncing President Trump."

"Enjoy yourself," he often said. "It's later than you think."

NYTimes, Sunday, December 2, 2018

David Austin loved roses

"He lived and breathed them all the time. He was not a particularly social man. He was quite shy and very happy to dedicate his life to roses.

"He'd carry around a little book, forever making notes in his barely decipherable handwriting."

He had a very inquiring mind but it was mostly about roses."

Obituary of David Austin, founder of David Austin Roses, December 29, 2018, NYT

(Note: Constance Spry, a pink climbing rose with a myrrh scent.)

Tribute to Tereze Gluck

"An indelible presence, with a genius for pleasure, insatiable in her love the world...she was someone widely and deeply loved."

NYT obituary December 19, 2018

Photographer gains permission--a heart feels a heart

Photographer approached a father and son who refused to be photographed. They changed their mind after she took the time to explain that her father had profound reason to look favorably on Japanese. His father had escaped Nazi Germany on a visa issued by a Japanese diplomat.

Goal setting

"We skate to where the puck is going."--Wayne Gretsky

Art world and negative criticism

There is so much ingenious work, so much intelligence, so much dedication, and really so much high midedness in the at world that, were it shared by the rest of the world, we would have entered a golden age."--Arthur C. Danto

Quoted in his obituary, October 28, 2013, NY Times

He avoided negative criticism, which he considered cruel.

Birthdays

"Oh, I don't celebrate birthdays....we should celebrate each glad moment as it comes."

"I'll make you a glad moment cake then."

Crooked Heart, by Lissa Evans, page 239