Shared Memories

not-quite Journaling, 59

Happy and strange words are my home.

8/29/2023: I haven’t written new dark fiction in some time. But yesterday, I started working on the profile of a delightfully creepy character--I enjoyed learning about her job, her wants, her friends, her habits, her wonderfully weird ways--and every sentence felt like coming home.

In writing as in reading, I love strange characters: Remedios la Bella from One Hundred Years of Solitude, Tiffany Aching from Discworld, Merricat from We’ve Always Lived in the Castle, Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter… These characters’ actions, feelings, quirks (and quite often their wardrobes) are a treat.

 

9/10/2023: My immune system reacted nastily to… something--maybe food, maybe meds, who knows--the damned thing is always overreacting to seemingly random stuff. So, my inflamed, itchy bits and I have been fighting to get better (and trying not to scratch). The whole thing makes me sleep too much and increases my fatigue. But it hasn’t kept me from harvesting my wee garden, doing some writing, and running (on my trampoline). Take that! crappy immune system.

 

on this equinox,
I’ll let autumn rain cleanse pain
of flesh and spirit

9/23/2023: My favorite way to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox involves cleaning and cleansing my altar, garden, home, body… Since my flesh and bones and I haven’t been feeling exactly grand, only my body and altar received some attention. But when we need, Nature provides. I couldn’t take care of my garden, so she sent rain and words to complete my ritual. See? Life doesn’t suck.

 

nature grows
the best exhibits
for the eyes and heart

9/27/2023: After a few days of gloominess, the sun has blessed New York City with its presence; so, I went for a long walk. I saw bees (okay, a bee) enjoying flowers, mushrooms popping for some light, and a baseball delighting in a reflective swim. Nature is the best hostess.

 

9/29/2023: I lost a friend a couple of weeks ago. I find myself dreaming about her often (in every dream, she’s hosting a glorious tea party in the Summerland). She looks pain-free and happy. Still, I miss her…

- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #96: What, for you, conjures up Home?

Storm, Ink, Love

I tasted the storm
feeding your tongue and my ink
(pure tinder and flint),
screaming, “Let’s spark words of love
so hot, they curl hatred’s toes.”

- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #94: Storm, Ink, Love.