This past week, I was responsible and got a flu shot. The next day, I felt horrible. The air touching me hurt. I stayed in bed. I couldn't even read. But avoiding the full-on flu is worth that.
I finally received my pre-ordered copy of Strange Planet by Nathan Pyle. It made me laugh out loud many times. I finished it over two days. Count it!
I've also been reading Restoring Sacred Art by our dear friend Joseph Bathanti. I read the poems aloud, some of which I've heard at his readings, and I can almost hear him. Poems, even the tough ones, almost always nourish me.
So I wonder, when will I write another poem?
Inspiring lists, sparkling reads, and quirky musings from a writer~reader~wife~mama~advocate who wants to seek, create, and savor life's sweet bits.
Showing posts with label poet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poet. Show all posts
Monday, November 25, 2019
Friday, April 5, 2019
Nourish/Challenge: Week 13.
This past week had a magical glow.
We went to the college where I used to teach. A professor we shared and loved was giving a reading. He remembered us. And my former colleagues seemed delighted to see me. I got so many hugs. I was worried; going back to the college was a major challenge (being my Rebecca self, feeling self-conscious about my weight, working with my limited social stamina), but it ended up filling me.
I then had two days of barely-out-of-bed depression. Mom said I'd probably spent myself. After that, I went up. I was full of energy, sleeping little, dancing, and singing. Bruce said I was "super-charged."
I finished watching a Netflix series called Maniac. It didn't do a lot for me as a story, but the cast impressed me (Emma Stone and Jonah Hill). Science fiction almost always lights up my brain.
And on Friday, we drove to Charlotte. I was ready to see my mom. I gave her a birthday stack of magazines. That's becoming a tradition.
Oliver ran wild in the fenced backyard. He played with a giant windchime that was hanging from a tree. The weather was mild, and I uncurled a little.
On Saturday, Mom and I went to Anthropologie near her house. It was inspiring as always, and a high window poured sunlight over me. I bought a small pink journal with Joie de Vivre on the cover and a mint-rose lip gloss. When Mama saw the journal, she said, "Yeah, you probably have to have that."
Later, we walked with Oliver to a nearby playground. I need to walk more! Oliver jumped in a shallow creek. I had a weird moment of forgetting what I was telling Mom. That started happening a lot when I started lithium. But this time, I couldn't do anything, and I felt out of control of my hand's making strange gestures.
When we got back, burgers were almost ready along with slightly-spicy crab dip. Mmmm.
Shane and I talked about Dear Evan Hansen. He couldn't find tickets. I fantasize about seeing DEH on Broadway along with Phantom.
James came over for a little while, and we talked about movies. He read a spooky story to me, and I was so impressed by how well he reads aloud.
We left to meet up with Dad and Michelle. Oliver's shoes and socks were wet and filthy, so we stopped at Target for footwear.
We went to Fern, a vegan restaurant. I had slightly spicy macaroni and cheese (I don't know what it was made of) with a large side of garlic broccoli. I'd go back just for the broccoli. Dad ordered me some carrot cake to go.
On the way home, I listened to DEH on Josh's big headphones. And I felt good about the life I was returning to.
We went to the college where I used to teach. A professor we shared and loved was giving a reading. He remembered us. And my former colleagues seemed delighted to see me. I got so many hugs. I was worried; going back to the college was a major challenge (being my Rebecca self, feeling self-conscious about my weight, working with my limited social stamina), but it ended up filling me.
I then had two days of barely-out-of-bed depression. Mom said I'd probably spent myself. After that, I went up. I was full of energy, sleeping little, dancing, and singing. Bruce said I was "super-charged."
I finished watching a Netflix series called Maniac. It didn't do a lot for me as a story, but the cast impressed me (Emma Stone and Jonah Hill). Science fiction almost always lights up my brain.
And on Friday, we drove to Charlotte. I was ready to see my mom. I gave her a birthday stack of magazines. That's becoming a tradition.
Oliver ran wild in the fenced backyard. He played with a giant windchime that was hanging from a tree. The weather was mild, and I uncurled a little.
On Saturday, Mom and I went to Anthropologie near her house. It was inspiring as always, and a high window poured sunlight over me. I bought a small pink journal with Joie de Vivre on the cover and a mint-rose lip gloss. When Mama saw the journal, she said, "Yeah, you probably have to have that."
Later, we walked with Oliver to a nearby playground. I need to walk more! Oliver jumped in a shallow creek. I had a weird moment of forgetting what I was telling Mom. That started happening a lot when I started lithium. But this time, I couldn't do anything, and I felt out of control of my hand's making strange gestures.
When we got back, burgers were almost ready along with slightly-spicy crab dip. Mmmm.
Shane and I talked about Dear Evan Hansen. He couldn't find tickets. I fantasize about seeing DEH on Broadway along with Phantom.
James came over for a little while, and we talked about movies. He read a spooky story to me, and I was so impressed by how well he reads aloud.
We left to meet up with Dad and Michelle. Oliver's shoes and socks were wet and filthy, so we stopped at Target for footwear.
We went to Fern, a vegan restaurant. I had slightly spicy macaroni and cheese (I don't know what it was made of) with a large side of garlic broccoli. I'd go back just for the broccoli. Dad ordered me some carrot cake to go.
On the way home, I listened to DEH on Josh's big headphones. And I felt good about the life I was returning to.
The Poet Professor.
Last Monday, the three of us went to the college where I used to teach. Joseph Bathanti, who taught both Josh and me alongside Kay, was giving a reading.
Josh took the day off work, and we took Oliver out of school early. The first time Bathanti came to the college, I was pregnant. He recognized Josh and me! He came again when Oliver was tiny.
This time, he and his wife, Joan, almost walked past us in the library but stopped. He said, "It's you guys!" He talked to Oliver and said, "You must be...seven?" How could he remember so much? We talked about Kay a little, and I almost cried. She and Bathanti were dear friends, so it was a comfort for us to be with someone else who cared so much about her.
Meanwhile, I was getting such a welcome and so many hugs from my former colleagues. My former office mate looked at me as if I were a lovely ghost. Joyce, my former boss, said that they miss me. I looked around, thinking about how happy I often was there before I got too sick.
An administrator hugged me and said, "Are you keeping up with Bruce? You two were buddies. You were best buddies." Something about that was so validating--acknowledgement and acceptance. He even seemed pleased.
The reading was lovely as always. Afterward, we exchanged more hugs, and Bathanti kissed the top of Oliver's head. Joan asked me questions about Oliver's special needs. And I got to see Bruce a little. I left feeling light. No one had forgotten me.
Josh took the day off work, and we took Oliver out of school early. The first time Bathanti came to the college, I was pregnant. He recognized Josh and me! He came again when Oliver was tiny.
This time, he and his wife, Joan, almost walked past us in the library but stopped. He said, "It's you guys!" He talked to Oliver and said, "You must be...seven?" How could he remember so much? We talked about Kay a little, and I almost cried. She and Bathanti were dear friends, so it was a comfort for us to be with someone else who cared so much about her.
Meanwhile, I was getting such a welcome and so many hugs from my former colleagues. My former office mate looked at me as if I were a lovely ghost. Joyce, my former boss, said that they miss me. I looked around, thinking about how happy I often was there before I got too sick.
An administrator hugged me and said, "Are you keeping up with Bruce? You two were buddies. You were best buddies." Something about that was so validating--acknowledgement and acceptance. He even seemed pleased.
The reading was lovely as always. Afterward, we exchanged more hugs, and Bathanti kissed the top of Oliver's head. Joan asked me questions about Oliver's special needs. And I got to see Bruce a little. I left feeling light. No one had forgotten me.
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