What Do You Do When You Find A Crane?

You found a crane, now what?

Obviously you were curious enough to come to the website, which is a good start. My hope is that finding the crane made you feel or think something. I'd love to hear about it. Or see it. All comments/feedback/feelings/opinions/photos are welcome.
 
As a favor, it would be great if you would take the crane you found and place it somewhere else, for another person to find and enjoy.  I can only get to so many places, so crane finders placing their cranes elsewhere would increase the amount of people who could potentially enjoy the cranes. The farther you can place it, the better. But remember, if you're "re-releasing" it, try to do it in a dry, safe place.

I've Been Everywhere

Just got back from twelve days on the Oregon Coast.  Saw beautiful sites and towns.  Learned a great deal about Lewis and Clark.  Those two men and their crew were true explorers.

If you have not heard it, you should listen to this Johnny Cash song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmFN9C9PVpg
Always feels good to be back home after a long trip.

Origami cranes were dropped in San Diego, Portland, Salem, Lincoln City, Cannon Beach, Astoria and points in between.  Legend has it that a crane flies free of time, carrying hope of love, joy and celebration for all.  Hopefully, the individuals that found the cranes experience the best of times from life.

 Crane left along side some beautiful blown glass art in Lincoln City, OR.

Learned a new skill on my trip.  Stone Stacking.  
Stone Stacking can be a performance art, a spectacle, or a devotion, depending upon the interpretation by the audience that views it. Essentially, it involves placing some combination of  rocks or stones in arrangements which require patience and sensitivity to generate, and which appear to be physically impossible while actually being only highly improbable.

 This one was created near Cannon Beach, OR.

It is always good to be back home.  Be true to yourself, and each other.
 

Happy Birthday, America!

July 4th.  What a great day for a celebration.  Picnics, BBQ's, and fireworks.  Time for family and friends.  Also a day to remember who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. 

In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence. 

I invite everyone to celebrate with each other this Fourth of July, and remember how blessed we all are in live in this great nation.

Happy Birthday, America!

Summer Time

Summer has arrived.  Kids are out of school, and grown up minds drift towards thoughts of vacation.  Heading to Oregon in late July.  We will be spending time on the coast.   Will use most of the time to just relax, and renew the relationship.  There will be plenty of opportunities to drop origami along the way.

One of our children has grown wings, and will be moving out-of-state.  Sad for us, but a good chance to start anew for him.  Times are tough now for almost everyone.  I know so many that are trying hard to make a go of it, but the times and circumstances keep knocking them down.  I try to leave dollar bill origami animals for others whenever possible.  My little stimulus package, one $ at a time. 

This individual has lost almost everything.  No arms, legs, or head.  Must be a man, only good for two dollars.

The Big "C"

We found out in the past week that my sister-in-law has cancer.  What a punch in the gut.  I can't image being given that type of news. 

She will begin treatment.  Her main goal to is work with the doctors, and get closer to family.  Not that she isn't already.  She has always been the "big sister" and Mom.  Helping others with their problems.  Now it is time to repay the favor.

So I made her a crane totem.  Twelve cranes with words of inspiration.  Hoping that it will bring her a smile, and remind her how much she is loved.

Legend of the Crane

In many parts of the world cranes are revered as the messengers of the gods.

Cranes are symbols of happiness, justice, diligence, purity, loyalty, piety, filial gratitude, beauty, and love.

In China and Japan cranes are symbols of longevity and immortality.  The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures, and is said to live for a thousand years.  In the empire of China, the crane was the symbol for a long life and wisdom.

In Greece, the crane is considered as symbol of watchfulness and intelligence. 

In ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, the figure of the crane represents the letter B.

The Aztecs of Mexico originally came from the region Aztlan, which meant "land of the crane" or "near the Crane" (azta =  crane, tlan = near).

Representatives of the Crane family are found on all continents of the earth except in the Antarctic and South America.  Once cranes have chosen a partner they will stay together for life.

The Number 12

Religious beliefs were piled on top of respect for the number 12.

The ancient Zoroastrians had twelve commanders on the side of light (light being a symbol for the sun).  The Greeks imagined 12 gods on Mount Olympus, and many of the gods had 12 sons.

Christians, believe that the Savior had 12 disciples, and Muslim Shi'as list 12 ruling Imams following Muhammad.

Buddhists hold that life is composed of 12 stages, which together keep the wheel of life turning, ensnaring all life in a cyclic form of existence from which it is hard to escape.

In Judaism, Jacob had 12 sons, who went on to procreate the twelve tribes of Israel, God's chosen people (God being the sun, with twelve divisions). So, as Christianity arose out of Judaism, it too inherited the reverence of the number 12. Jesus had 12 disciples.

There are 12 days of Christmas. The song Twelve Days of Christmas came from the traditional practice of extending Yuletide celebrations over the twelve days from Christmas day to the eve of Epiphany.  Thus Twelfth Night is another name for the twelfth day of Christmas or January 5 (the eve of Epiphany). Similarly, Eastern Orthodoxy observes 12 Great Feasts.

There are twelve basic hues in the color wheel; 3 primary colors (red, yellow, blue), 3 secondary colors (orange, green & purple) and 6 tertiary colors (names for these vary, but are intermediates between the primaries and secondaries).

The calendar has twelve months in a year.  There are twenty-four hours in a day in all, with twelve hours for a half a day. The hours are numbered from one to twelve for both a.m. and p.m.  A new day is considered to start with the stroke of midnight (12). Furthermore, the basic units of time (60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours) can all perfectly divide by twelve.

12 people make up a jury. No one is entirely sure why the number has been fixed at 12, but it is a precedent that dates back to the 12th century in the English Common Law. This number may come from religious history (12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel).

Honey Badger

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg 


Watched this video.  Then made a Honey Badger that can eat a snake.  Totally bad ass.

Money Origami

Money and origami.  There is not a better way to leave a tip for a server, and add a smile to their face.  One word of caution.  You must tell them to never feed their new money pet.  No matter how much complaining the money pet does, they should never, ever be feed.  Because if you do, the money pet will eat everything they can find.  Taste is not an issue.  It just has to be chewable.  You may think this mean and cruel, but do not worry.  If the money pet really truly becomes hungry, they can buy their own food.  After all, they are made of money.

One Week

Seven days have passed.  One week.  A couple dozen cranes with inspirational messages have been left from San Diego to Oakland.  In airports, stores, coffee shops, restaurants.  These were left to bring a smile and joy into the lives of others.  Not one reply.  I know it makes this individual happy to release them into the care of others.  One can only hope they found a good resting place, and not the trash can.

A good friend lost his father this week.  They were not close.  But still sadness set in.  One can hold onto things that happened long ago.  The hurt never really heals.  We tuck it away, and try to remember only the good times.

Some good advice for all of us...

Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly
and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you
 cry. You might not get a second time.

But do share your joy with someone. Lost time can never be returned.

FoldingFool.

Welcome

This is my first blog.  FoldingFool says "hi".  Like a number of us, I learned to fold the classic crane in 3rd or 4th grade.  The skill was soon forgotten.  Flash forward about 40+ years.  My daughter became ill.  Medical science sent us from one specialist to another.  Test after test.  Not one could pinpoint the cause or determine a cure.

That is what started the journey of 1000 cranes, called a 'sembazuru'.  It is said that making one will bring you wellness, good luck, a long life....   I found folding to be relaxing.  The sembazuru was completed and hung.  Things started getting better for my daughter.  The final cure has not been found, but a great deal of progress has been made.  Each day is better.  Life moves forward.  We stay positive.

Now my family and friends call me a FoldingFool.  Any scrap piece of paper is turned into origami.  It does not matter where or when.  Any design is free game. Cranes, dinosaurs, pigs, dogs..., you name it.  There is a way to make it out almost anything out of paper and folding.  Dollar bills are often turned into tips at restaurants.  The servers love them.  Southwest Airlines has been giving out a dollar bill origami design each month for over a year now in their in flight magazine.

I hope you find a crane and good luck follows you throughout your life.  Each is meant to bring a little joy and peace to those that find them.  Find one of mine,  and you are welcome to post a note or a photo.

Some sites you might also want to visit:

Sandy and the 1000 Paper Cranes        www.1000cranemission.com 

Simple Origami Folding Instructions    www.origami-instructions.com/simple-origami.html 

Best wishes, good health, and a long life to each of us.

FoldingFool