Zen and the Art of Wallmaking

A practical beginning

2025-12-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

I started "the wall" for practical reasons. The front lawn sloped towards our lakefront and Jackie and I wanted to create a retaining wall to terrace the slope and turn it into flower beds... Such a simple concept. Little did I know about how involved I would get...

The Deeper meaning of wall making

2021-12-31T13:19:00.000-05:00

Why did I get so involved with my wallmaking project? Some suggested it was in my DNA, being Italian and all... I also had a grandfather (Eliseo - nice name) who was head foreman at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. But still, does my lineage really explain how wrapped up I got into the building of my wall? Is there a deeper subconscious signficance to my wall madness?

Future present

2020-12-31T14:16:00.000-05:00

After some serious introspection, it finally dawned on me that the "meaning" of wallmaking was really deep...
I concluded -- perhaps not surprisingly -- that it's connected to an innate quest for immortality that is inherent in humans. Our mortality is clear to us from an early age and, although we do not acknowledge it very often, I think it's always there, somewhere in the back of our mind. Far from reneging our mortality, I think it's a good idea to regularly remind ourselves of it. I do. And I find our limited shelf-life inspiring rather than depressing. If we're here on earth for such a glimpse of time (insignificantly brief in cosmic terms), then I would rather do "something big" and go out with a bang, rather than merely survive until I die.
The wall itself is not exactly "something big" per se, but making it has brought to the fore the importance of a legacy. This wall is likely to far outlive me. Many other people will touch it, sit on it and enjoy it (or maybe even hate it) long after my stint in this life will be over. Fellow earthlings who are not yet even a twikle in someone's eye will interact with this legacy of mine. I won't personally achieve immortality with it. In fact, it's likely that the wall's "author" will fade into anonymity in a generation or so. But it's still something I made with my own hands and it will be around a while - comforting and supporting future generations.

A "future present".

Connecting with the eons

2019-12-31T14:17:00.000-05:00

Once you start you have to finish

2018-12-31T14:16:00.000-05:00

The best way from point A to point B isn't always a straight line

2017-12-31T14:17:00.000-05:00

The power of small stones

2016-12-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

The respect for big stones

2015-12-31T14:23:00.000-05:00

The importance of the foundation

2014-12-31T14:24:00.000-05:00

Horizontal vs. Vertical

2013-12-31T14:25:00.000-05:00

Surface vs. Depth

2012-12-31T14:25:00.000-05:00

No launching out without depth

2011-12-31T14:26:00.000-05:00

Suitability vs. Beauty (in the dark)

2010-12-31T14:26:00.000-05:00

Gradual climb

2009-12-31T14:27:00.000-05:00

You can alwyas correct later (to a point)

2008-12-31T14:27:00.000-05:00

Welcome unexpected help

2008-11-30T14:28:00.000-05:00

There is always a better way (be open to suggestions)

2008-10-31T14:29:00.000-04:00

Go with the flow

2008-09-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

Inject some idiosyncrasies

2008-08-31T14:31:00.000-04:00

Hide some secrets

2008-07-31T14:33:00.000-04:00

The power of encouragement

2008-06-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

The immutability of the result (commit!)

2008-05-31T14:34:00.000-04:00

The test of time

2008-04-30T14:34:00.000-04:00

Wallmaking & Zen

2008-03-31T14:35:00.000-04:00

Modern tools vs. the old-fashioned way

2008-02-28T14:35:00.000-05:00

The end (apparent vs. real)

2008-01-31T14:36:00.000-05:00