Benvenuto Cellini

I am reading an autobiography written in 1558 by an artist, a rogue, an opportunist, a braggart, and most of all a human being like ourselves. Benvenuto Cellini. It is my escape for now but I am dedicating this blog to him. For he and the recent CUE (Computer Using Educators) Conference that I just attend brought me to this spot and the words that I write in my first blog. Like me, he was 58 years old when he started his autobiography. Like me, he fancied himself an artist. Perhaps that is where the similarity ends. But he brings me in touch with many things I love. I love art, most of all and especially the art of the Renaissance. Cellini was a musician, albeit a reluctant musician. Cellini rubbed elbows with Popes, Medici's, Princes, Priests, artists, soldiers, writers and the common man. I love Italy- the culture, the food, the language- especially since my culinary tour in the summer of 2004. I love Cellini's fallibility, especially the contrast of his thoughtful polite responses to confrontation to his hot-headed impulsive responses. In many ways he lived a careless life and escaped death on many occasions. That he lived long enough to write this autobiography, I consider close to miraculous. My life has been spared most of physical dangers Cellini faced, save a near drowing as a child and several dangerous situations that I found myself in as a youth. But this first entry is a start and my hope is that others may find it interesting. I will not give away the entire plot, except to say that the experiences of my youth to the age of 21 was far different than that of most people who read this blog. I welcome comments and questions as we take this journey.