Before I begin my post today, thank you to everyone who commented on Letizia’s copyright page post last week. I am overwhelmed. It was wonderful to welcome so many great readers to this site, and I hope you’ll return often. But onward in the adventures of an aspiring writer . . .

Most of my life is spent working in the foundational levels of Maslow’s hierarchical needs, so, for me, it is a real treat to visit museums, zoos and other public places that nurture the mind as well as the body.

This past weekend my wonderful niece treated me with a visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens, spending an afternoon in “girl time” amongst wonderful plantings, themed gardens and the world-renouned Dale Chihuly traveling art collection.

Wow! Up close or far away these sculptures demand attention. They capture sunlight in glistening reflections, they glow with bright colors, and they make you wonder exactly how you could go about making something like that.  Did I say Wow? These sculptures were amazing.

Felt like I was walking amongst Truffula Trees.

One of the more common phrases I caught while walking about was that the sculptures reminded people of Dr. Seuss books.  As he’s still one of my favorite authors, I tend to agree, and think the creatives are the two poles that span a very strong magnet . . .

I don’t know how Mr. Chihuly would feel about being compared to a children’s book author.  He has a very serious background with honors and distinctions that go back to 1968 when he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship that allowed him to travel to Italy to study glassworks there. He incorporated his experience in team glass blowing into the work he’s continued through today, and co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington.

And to think that I saw it at Denver Botanic Gardens

Theodor Geisel, on the other hand, had his first book rejected 27 times before he happened to bump into a friend who’d just become the editor of the children’s section of a publishing house. Mr. Geisel told his friend he was ready to give up.  Thank goodness the friend asked to have a look at To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

I wonder if Mr. Chihuly ever read that book?

My niece with Blue and Purple Boat