July 30th, 2018 → 6:51 am
“I spy entertainment in her: she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation.”
My third novel is at last complete. It is even more controversial than my last one, but it was important for me to see it through. I leave it as a legacy for my son, whose own remarkable life was the novel’s inspiration.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
June 25th, 2018 → 6:38 am
“Grief fills the room up of my absent child,
Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,
Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,
Remembers me of all his gracious parts,
Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form.” – King John
My son has left for summer camp (a 2-week overnight camp), and it is just so unnatural without him. His presence fills the house; his toys, his clothes, his smell… his laughter, his smiles, his questions… My son will return in two weeks, yet if his brief absence to this happy place is still so biting, I literally cannot imagine what the bereft parents at the U.S. border are going through right now.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
May 18th, 2018 → 5:45 am
“Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel.” – Hamlet
I made a new friend yesterday afternoon, and then met up with an old friend after work for coffee. A medium friend (what do you call someone who isn’t a new friend or an old friend, but a recent friend of 2-3 years??) I found out is leaving the United States at the end of summer and moving to the Netherlands; I don’t know when I’ll see her again. Friends come and friends go, they give pleasure and sadness, and if I could grasp some of them with hoops of steel, believe me, I would.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
May 7th, 2018 → 5:54 am
“The seasons alter…
the spring, the summer,
The childing autumn, angry winter, change
Their wonted liveries.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The semester is ending, the weather is turning, neighbors are moving, colleagues are retiring, change is afoot. I feel the need to grasp onto something steady, heavy, and strong. As the rivulets of life rush past, cool, wet, and murky, I look into the waters and consider. And sigh. And then, as a yellow butterfly winks past, I slip off my shoes and step into the stream and enjoy.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
April 14th, 2018 → 6:44 am
“Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons,
and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping houses,
and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-colored taffeta,
I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous
to demand the time of the day.” – Henry IV, Part I
This quote reminded me of my mother, who was famously bad at small talk. A woman in an elevator once said to my mother, “Nice weather we’re having.” To which she replied, “I find that insignificant.” Ah, my mother… A flawed but fierce woman, whom I miss terribly….
[Note: “leaping houses” refers to brothels, and “dials” to sundials]
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
March 19th, 2018 → 5:22 am
“He wears the rose
of youth upon him.” – Antony and Cleopatra
I took my seven year old son to college yesterday. We just needed to stop by my office so I could get something I’d left behind, but my son entered one of the empty classrooms and began strutting in front of the chalkboard, imitating his elementary school teacher. “Who can tell me the difference between NON-fiction and fiction? Anyone?” We played teacher for over an hour. It was so adorable. Maybe my son will go into education himself one day!
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
February 12th, 2018 → 6:46 am
“Then westward ho!
Grace and good disposition attend your ladyship!” – Twelfth Night
‘Westward ho!’ was the cry of Thames watermen to attract westward bound passengers from London to Westminster. The phrase sounds so American to me, however. Westward ho, young man! Go West and make something of yourself!
I am not headed out West today, but I did finally return to my latest novel. Opened the dust-caked notes and began the long awaited edit of Draft #5. I purposely give myself space between drafts so as to let the material appear fresh again, but sometimes it’s hard. I’ve been wanting to get back to this for weeks now. I’m so excited!!
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
January 15th, 2018 → 5:29 am
“The day shall not be up so soon as I
To try the fair adventure of tomorrow.” – King John
A new school semester begins this week. I approach it with eagerness and a sense of adventure!
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
December 30th, 2017 → 5:52 am
“Anything that’s mended is but patched.” – Twelfth Night
I have always hated the platitude, “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It is so patently untrue. If you’re hit by a car and have surgery to your organs, those organs are forever compromised. If you lose a parent when you are young, then you forever lose the bulwark of their protection, guidance, and aid. If you are raped or otherwise abused, you forever-after harbor a fear in the depths of your soul; a crack, that with the right pressure, breaks open and ruins you at the most inconvenient times. You may very well survive your injuries, and, if you are exceptionally lucky, survive without bitterness, but stronger? Never. To believe so is to live beneath a gossamer web of candied ridiculousness. Injuries are patched, often colorfully, even artfully, but definitely patched, mended, bucked up, and held together with but thin layers of hope, prayer, and fortitude. Here’s to my own mosaic wonderfulness!
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
December 23rd, 2017 → 12:14 pm
“These clothes are good enough to drink in.” – Twelfth Night
My son’s Black Boys’ Reading Club was over yesterday afternoon. Five boys between the ages of seven and eight all running around my house like crazy children while us mom’s drank wine at the table where the boys were supposed to be reading, and discussed where we get waxed (both geographically, and physically). This morning I woke to discover one remaining bottle of moscato, still nearly full. I looked down at my pajamas, I looked back at the bottle of wine, I looked down at my pajamas again, and then I went to find a clean glass. It’s the holiday season, amiright??
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life