it’s not easy to sit
There is a time and place, and I have reached a new time and a new mental place. Something shifted. At my tender age, it’s a miracle that I can still change. Continue reading “sitting here is hard” »
Comments: 2 Comments on sitting here is hard
coursing blood
December 15th, 2015
imaginary map of the world
Think of our blood and how old it is. I traveled to South Carolina last November, and traced genealogy back six generations. I found Columbia’s First Presbyterian Church and their graves were next to the main street, which means the relatives must have been one of the first families buried there when the church was built. Continue reading “coursing blood” »
Comments: Add a Comment
truth and beauty
December 8th, 2015
someday I will make the most beautiful art in the world
Thinking about the relationship between what is beautiful and what is true, reminds me of one of my high school students long ago.
John was super bright, but stifled when it came to accepting his artistic talent and his brains. He was the type of boy who would rather suffer consequences from doing nothing, instead of making an effort on any given project. That’s why he was at our school for at-risk students. I loved his poetry when he did write in English, and his way of expressing himself moved me deeply. Continue reading “truth and beauty” »
Comments: Add a Comment
Divorce Effects
November 17th, 2015
health helicopter
Second husband had an aneurysm yesterday, and was flown from Alaska’s Prince of Wales (POW) Island to Seattle by helicopter or something dramatic like that. His children from multiple marriages were present at his side, including mine, and he’s sounding perky, like he’ll make it. Continue reading “Divorce Effects” »
Comments: Add a Comment
accepting criticism
October 27th, 2015
accountability can feel like an attack when it’s not
Sometimes other people ‘s lives and stories matter more than mine, and I emesh into problems that don’t concern me. I’m learning to distinguish between my love of stories and my respect for other people’s privacy. The important difference is to be clear about who I am from who other people are.
I shared a story of struggle that belonged to someone, and a lady confronted me. She made me understand that the story I told was not mine to tell. Continue reading “accepting criticism” »
Comments: Add a Comment
responding to ‘persuasion’
October 13th, 2015
Deep feelings need honest music, a line between loneliness and a hopeful language. Can I repair something that was never there in the first place? I cannot control what others think and do, but I try to manipulate the way others see me. Continue reading “responding to ‘persuasion’” »
Comments: 4 Comments on responding to ‘persuasion’
Comments: Add a Comment
surviving Butte fire
October 6th, 2015
West Point made it
We lost power and experienced mandatory evacuation for a week. Now survivors stand around our town feeling stunned that the place wasn’t demolished by the flames.
The Butte fire ferociously erupted three weeks ago, and over 500 Calaveras county homes were burned to the ground not far from West Point. Some of us can’t believe we’re so lucky. Continue reading “surviving Butte fire” »
Comments: 1 Comment on surviving Butte fire
watching her grow
September 29th, 2015
Palm Beach circa 1900 – 1906. Reproduced from the collections of the Library of Congress.
My cousin is very brave when it comes to facing her feelings, and for years she’s practiced coping skills to help her with reactions from people who don’t want to discuss unpleasantries.
Several cousins got together for a picnic, and I listened to my cousin handle topics that truly used to terrify her. She knows how to use skills like recognizing painful emotion when they appear, naming her deep experience and staying in direct contact with temporary negative emotion. She responds honestly about how she feels by using specific language. Continue reading “watching her grow” »
Comments: 3 Comments on watching her grow
magical thinking
September 22nd, 2015
boy with question
B- pacing
M- sitting
B: I don’t know what to believe. Continue reading “magical thinking” »
Comments: Add a Comment