Blog archive
September 2023
Rumor of Humor # 24
09/22/2023
Various Perspectives on Racism
09/16/2023
Rumor of Humor # 23
09/14/2023
A DIfferent Perspective
09/10/2023
Racism I Have Experienced
09/05/2023
1619 " Rump" Session
09/04/2023
August 2023
1619 Project Discussion Group explores the Arroyo Seco
08/28/2023
Beyond the Village - Judith Harris
08/28/2023
Board of Directors: Strategic Planning Updates
08/28/2023
Men's Time Brunch
08/28/2023
One Village, One Book
08/28/2023
Pasadena Racism, Past and Present
08/28/2023
Profile of a Leader: Ron Stoffers
08/28/2023
Remember John and Thelma Orr
08/28/2023
Volunteer & Leadership Training
08/28/2023
Gardenias
08/21/2023
Current Events Including the RICO Indictment of Mr. Trump
08/19/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
RofH#22
08/06/2023
July 2023
Arroyo Seco Development, Past and Present
07/24/2023
From the President
07/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #20
07/23/2023
VMC Conference 2023
07/21/2023
Strategic Plan Progress: Program Teams
07/17/2023
From the Executive Director
07/14/2023
Reflections from Villager Monica Hubbard
07/14/2023
SCOTUS: Rulings on Cases with No Standing
07/10/2023
History and Future Development of Arroyo Seco
07/09/2023
What I Like About Being a Villager
07/09/2023
June 2023
Dick and Sharon, Mixed Race Marriage
06/19/2023
Conversations with West African Art
06/09/2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
By Susan KujawaPosted: 01/27/2023
JIM HENDRICK – BEYOND THE VILLAGE
For new Village member Jim Hendrick, it has been a long and winding road to the Pasadena Village.
Jim was born and spent his early years in Bowling Green, Kentucky surrounded by lots of family. “We were poor. But everybody was poor so we didn’t feel poor.” Jim recalls that living in a rural area in a small community meant having the freedom to explore, spending days with friends and family.
He graduated from High School in 1968 at the height of the era of flower power and anti-war protests. Jim embraced the “hippie” experience. After one year of college, and armed with a high draft number, he took off to travel the countryside. He joined protests against the Vietnam war, and he was caught up in a campus riot at South Carolina University. He was deeply affected by the violence against students at Kent State and at Jackson State College, where students were also killed.
After a few years of traveling and involvement with the civil rights and anti-war movements, Jim went back to college. This time he attended the New College of Florida, which even today takes pride in being a place that educates “free thinkers, risk takers, and trail blazers.” After graduating with a degree in psychology, Jim realized “I had no idea what to do. My life had been centered around the peace and civil rights movements, and music, especially jazz.”
More twists and turns followed in Jim’s life, eventually leading him to Houston, Texas. There he got married and spent 10 years creating and managing his own monthly entertainment magazine focused on the arts and, especially, on jazz.
Jim also managed a jazz nightclub, where he made good friends, and reveled in his love of music and arts. “I didn’t get more conservative as I grew older. I was drawn to the energy of younger people, and those with more liberal views.”
However, a divorce, a second marriage, and the birth of two children, gave him pause: “I needed to earn a real income." And so, Jim became a special education teacher in the Houston school district, where he worked for the next 20 years.
During those years, as he dealt with a second divorce and his children moving with their mother to Illinois, Jim turned to art. He felt drawn to painting and he began using part of his house as a studio. “I am completely self-taught. I started to paint because I wanted to explore. I wanted to play. And then I discovered that I was able to get my feelings out through my paintings.”
With no formal training, Jim had to struggle to achieve what he wanted in his work. He learned that his mistakes were more fascinating than his successes. He also found that art is about managing mistakes, a realization that gave him a sense of peace. “I make art for myself. This is what I am. I have reinvented myself as an artist.”
So how did Jim get from Texas to the Pasadena Village?
At times Jim would fall into a temporary depression. But along came Covid, and Jim's bouts of depression deepened. “Then I did two things. I quit drinking. And I changed my diet.” He lost weight, got in better shape, and his depression eased. He began thinking more about his children, now adults. During his teaching career Jim had seen his children only occasionally because they lived in Illinois. After he retired, Jim moved to Illinois to be closer to them in their high school years.
His daughter went off to college and became a bio-engineer. Then she moved to Pasadena! As Covid lessened, Jim decided to move to Pasadena to be closer to his daughter. He downsized his possessions, putting nearly 100 paintings in storage, and moved west.
His daughter, knowing that her Dad needed friends his own age, turned to the internet . . . and found Pasadena Village. She told her Dad about it; he took a look at the website and was immediately drawn to the diversity displayed on the screen. He thought, “Maybe I could be included in this group.”
Jim’s life story will sound familiar to many older adults. Many Pasadena Village members have moved to the area to be near their children, leaving behind familiar surroundings and long-time friends. Many members have also have fallen into and out of relationships, careers, and causes. At Pasadena Village, there is room for all!
Jim’s art is on display at the Pasadena Village office, 236 W. Mountain Street, Suite 104, weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Stop by and get inspired!