Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

Twelve degrees, snow on the ground. I'm so over it.  The scheduled baseball/softball games at school were postponed yesterday (snow squalls) and moved to today. I suspect they won't be playing today, either, unless it warms up and dries off miraculously. Why we even schedule games this early is beyond me; they almost never get played. The Red Sox managed a win yesterday in Fenway-- wind chill at the end of the game was 25 degrees.  Winter needs to take a bow. Actually, winter needs to be hustled out the door by two very large bouncers.  And I'm glad to see we averted global annihilation last night. We'll see how long the cease fire lasts; I assume it would take good faith on all parts. I find it interesting that Pakistan is part of the brokered suspension.  I used to like to follow politics, global and national, because I thought it was interesting to see how humans organized themselves, and to what results. Now, I wish it would all just lie down and shut up.  K...

More snow. I mean, seriously. Yes, I know it's not unusual. And yes, it'll melt. But gee whiz. Saturday was sunny and almost 70.  This week is already feeling long; yesterday was a rough day at work. I haven't had one of those in a while, but yeah... draining. I hope today is better. And when I get home, I have four loads of laundry to fold. I have such an exciting life, eh?  At least I have the final sales report from the preorder phase for my book. I can start working on the broadsides I promised to send out! That should be a lot of fun. It's kind of like sending out Christmas cards.  (Well, if we get the predicted snow, it'll be just like sending out Christmas cards. sigh.) And we can't find today's newspaper. It's usually here really super early, but not today. Unless it's wedged heaven-knows-where behind something outside. I'll have to check when I leave for work.  The news cycle is apocalyptic. I'm trying not to think too much about it....

What a busy weekend-- I got a lot done. It felt both good and odd to basically just hang around all day yesterday. We all went to church, then home for a hearty brunch. Then just hung out-- Holly got a bit antsy, but she is four and sitting and reading for hours, or watching TV, or snoozing, are not on her dance card just yet. But we all had a pretty restful day. Amen.  Time and tide wait for no one, though, and we are launching into National Poetry Month. I wrapped up the pre-order sales for my book on Friday, and I should have the final sales sheet later today. Then, I'll get to signing and sending out the broadsides I had made as my thank you to those who bought books ahead of publication date. I truly do appreciate the support! And my dear friend Dawn Potter was named the next Poet Laureate of Maine! So much to celebrate-- good words and community win! And yet house work creeps back in. And I see so much yard work that will have to happen--but not yet. Flurries are in the forec...

Bunnies and eggs aside, we have much to contemplate and be grateful for in that we are, as a priest once reminded us a few years ago, Easter People. Through much darkness and tribulation, with patience and faith we wait. Jesus fulfills the Promise. We need to choose to believe that all things are possible and fulfill ours as well.  The nation --the world-- are shrouded in a confusion and darkness that troubles the soul, to be sure. But we are supposed to be the light. It is a big task, a huge undertaking, but if we are to find our way through these current troubled times, we must become "the light of the world." It is through our faith and good work that change will come.  Happy Easter, friends. Be safe. Let's light this thing up! C

Going to Adoration yesterday was really nice. I brought the Mary Oliver book, and in the time I was there in the half-light, I prayed some, and I read about 90 pages of poems that ask the reader to search out their relationship with nature, with their own inner self, and with a Creator greater than man can fathom. The poems are not preachy at all; instead, they focus the attention on the minute details of daily life. Birds, the clouds, all things in nature are the focus. If God is truly in all things, then why do we pass all things by looking for him?  The poems sometimes remind me of reading Tu Fu in translation, focusing on intimate little curious moments, and then letting us go. At other times, the poems really recollect Whitman in his expansiveness, the all-inclusive wide-ranging "I" of his poems. I enjoyed all of them. I did not bring a pencil to mark any, but there's one in particular I dog-eared, titled "At the River Clarion." I found a nice reading of th...

Good Friday. I have taken a personal day to sit quietly, to do a few things at home, but again, quietly. My whole body and mind are craving a quiet day.  I'll start out with Adoration at church for an hour.  I will do a few simple house chores.  And I hope to sit quietly and read for a while. Not the dystopian fiction I've been reading, but something more contemplative. I have Mary Oliver's collection of poems titled Devotions . I'll take it with me to church; the poems are all inspirational, prayerful, and contemplative.  And I will not doom-scroll on the internet. I will check in to make sure my students are floundering (but they shouldn't be), but mostly, I'll maintain the quiet until it is time to get Holly at school.  I wish for you a good day. Blessings and hope for us all, C