Into the Wild Wood and Home Again

I just read Heather Cox Richardson's daily letter , in which she does a nice job of recapping the highlights from the eulogies given at President Carter's funeral. I am particularly struck by one phrase in President Biden's speech, that challenges me to dust myself off and to keep trying, keep working for what I know is important: "Character, Biden said, is not about being perfect, for none of us are perfect. It’s about 'asking ourselves: Are we striving to do…the right things?… What are the values that animate our spirit? To operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it’s most tested?' ” And I know that my faith in my country, in some people I had considered friends and neighbors, has been sorely tested. Like President Carter, I tend to think more globally. I want the planet to exist for all people, and folks need to be treated with respect and love. Some people make that last one really hard, and that's a tes...

Today is a national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. It's also a scary day for a lot of people in California; the wildfires raging around LA are not contained, and the water is running scarce. Of course, there have been "those politicians" who have gone off the rails yet again, politicizing a massive tragedy to try to score points by outright lies. And there's our current president on-site, pledging help.  The stark contrast between common decency and bloviation is so apparent right now, it's breathtaking.  The list of bills in the new Congress are also breathtaking: if any of them pass, it'll change how we live, here on the front lines, in everywhere America. And I can promise you this, the changes will be the cause of yet more chaos, hurt, and economic turmoil. Buckle up, folks.  So, the fires rage literally and figuratively, and the nation lays a good man to rest. He tried to make life easier for so many people, and succeeded in ways that...

January feels both like a form of enforced stasis and a rocket on rails. The weather is cold, not too snowy here (though who knows, that could change), and I dislike being outside on windy days. I'm such a homebody, but one who yearns to see and do-- it's a conundrum. It's not quite cabin fever (yet), but I would not mind breaking routine to go to a museum or some live music or something. We tried that last Friday, the live music, but I knew we were in for it when the performer began her set with "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." Seriously. I know there were families with little ones in attendance, but the paying customers with beers in their hands were not amused. O well. The food was good.  That said-- rocket on rails. The semester is coming to a close next Friday. I'm glad, in a way-- I don't mind shifting what we talk about. But so many kids are out lately-- a few because they are sick (it is winter), but others because of doctor's appoin...

I read a friend's blog post this morning, right after I read Heather Cox Richardson's recap of what has been and what may be at the federal level. I'm glad I read them in that order; my friend's post was a gentle reminder that all that is bright and lovely and worthy of our attention and love is at our fingertips, at least to start. We may not be able to impact the larger concerns (okay, crisis) directly, but we can spend our efforts making those we love and those we are charged with taking care of a lot more comfortable and as safe as possible, especially in the coming days and weeks and months...and years. Even if there were not an impending sense of disorder, that is where our attention rightly lies. I tend to forget that. I worry about the nation and world writ large, but my ability to make a true impact is far more humble.  So how do I keep this all in focus? What can I do to stay grounded? House work. Take care of my students. Hang out with Holly. Bake bread. Som...

  For me, this poem speaks not only to the historic, fragile human condition and the egos of rulers, but also, quite profoundly, addresses the current political and social challenges we face. While Eliot was a prickly sort of human being, his work resonates with me in these darker times. Today is not a day to celebrate in the United States, yet there are those who are using January 6th as their clarion call to further disruption of our country and our lives. I don't know how things will go, but Eliot addresses those fears better than I can, at least right now.  Have a safe day, C The Journey of the Magi T.S. Eliot A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter. And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we regretted The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, And the silken girls bringing sherbet. Then the camel ...

Joyous Epiphany! While this is a religious holiday, one where the Wise Men found their way to the stable and presented their symbolic gifts to the baby Jesus, I am also hopeful that we can see the face of the Christ Child in each other, daily.  A big ask, I know.  I am just as fallible as the next person; I judge too quickly sometimes. I shy away from strangers. I shrink into myself in crowds, and try not to be seen. But in my interactions with others, I hope I am at least obviously friendly. I need to be more-so, and it's hard. My nature is introverted-- which is why it's entirely strange I chose a public profession like teaching to hang my hat on. Well, I didn't quite choose it, not initially-- my mother "strongly suggested" I ought to have a marketable skill, because I would not be able to make a living as, well, anything else. In short, she said, "no one will ever pay you to read books." That kind of squashed my whole book editor dream flat. My intro...

It's a cold start to the day, as predicted. I'm in no hurry to get going, but there are groceries and other errands that are waiting for me. So, coffee and fuzzy slippers it is. The Christmas tree is still taking up water, so I am loathe to take it out of the house. It's still pretty! And it is still the Christmas season. Some would say until Epiphany (which is either Sunday or Monday), but others would say it goes on even longer. I'm willing to split the difference and take it down next weekend. I have a writing day coming up on Saturday, but that will be done by mid-afternoon, so I can take the ornaments off it between Friday when I get home and Saturday when I am done online. Geoff will haul the shrubbery out when he gets a minute. Then, it'll be a quick vacuuming and restoring some order to the living room. Maybe I'll order in a pizza and make it festive.  At any rate, the temperatures and the snowishness and the blinking tree lights are still seasonal. I do...

Friday--wow, that happened fast. Isn't it the weirdest feeling when there's a holiday in the middle of the week? Especially for those of us who were on vacation the week prior to the holiday? I swear, this is the reason why people just give up and eat Christmas cookies. The temperatures are dropping; that odd little warm-up at the end of the calendar year was only enough to irritate out-of-state skiers. Here we are, snowish and 24 degrees. And the weekend prediction is for dang cold. I'll get my groceries, but you can't make me like being outside at single digits.  But today, I have to be at work all day. Not a bad gig, really-- yes, classes will continue as scheduled, but then the last block of the day is dedicated to "activities"-- mainly because we all got too busy before the break to carve out (yet) more time for fun. I don't mind, because I get to sit and watch a movie with a small group of students. That means I can get some computer stuff done for n...

Well, here's an update: I was wrong about a "quiet" NYE-- my heart goes out to those affected by the truck driven into a holiday crowd in N'Orleans. When will people learn? I have no words. That said, while I was in the shower yesterday morning, Geoff already started in on the den/front room project which turned out rather well! Holly's play area is in the den, and my front room quiet space is restored. We were both exhausted by noontime-- but it got done, and with only a few minor little things to do (rehang some pics in the den, etc.), it is nice to have a redefined living space.  G's move back upstairs for sleeping was somewhat momentous; he has to get used to the mattress again after so many months of a camp cot, and I don't get the middle of the bed anymore (yeeps!)-- that said, we both slept okay, so that's good. Poor man has gone on for months with this toe thing, and I, for one, am glad he is finally on the right side of healing. He also got sp...

Well, 2025 came in without a crisis that made the news, so that's a good thing. I went to bed around 10pm, but the people who live a few streets above us clearly did not-- they chose to "celebrate" by blowing up everything they could lay their hands on for fireworks for two hours. So be it-- these are the same people who blow stuff up on a random Tuesday during the summer months, too. At any rate, I fell asleep, had chaotic school-related dreams, and welcomed five a.m. and my cup of hot coffee. It was nice to open my email this morning and see that I have three poems up on Verse-Virtual ; it's my first time submitting to them, and they have a lovely online journal. And I have a poem scheduled to be posted tomorrow, too, on Mocking Owl Roost . Both good things.  I am hopeful that today, we can reorganize the den and the front room. Ever since G had his toe incident, he's been sleeping on a camp cot in the den-- months, now, while it healed. It's still sore (the...