I'm a writer. I wrote articles for business magazines and such when I was working. But my passion was poetry. The poems were printed in newspapers and magazines as well but I was never paid much for them.
Other than the little green poetry book that was (crudely) self published in the 70s and sold thousands of copies and I saw it on e-Bay a while back for a lot of $$$.
My first poem was published in an Emory University literary magazine in the 60s. What a good feeling!
But very few people have ever made a living writing poetry - even those poets who've had great critical acclaim.
One of the things I like about writing poetry is "brevity." I like using as few words as possible. And even though I know the "correct" way to write it's fun to be creative with words. Like e.e. cummings and Billy Joel (who was a concert pianist until he started playing it his way.)
When I was younger and would get frustrated with some situation, I'd write a poem about it - and feel better. Then I'd sell the poem for $5.00 and feel even better.
In the turbulent 70s two things were going on: The Women's Movement was causing marriages to break up because women were able to work outside the home in great numbers - for the first time ever! This included the wives of ministers. The 70s were also a time of great upheaval in the Catholic Church. Priests and nuns were leaving. Many of them were getting married. Some of them to each other.
All of the above was disturbing. So I wrote the following epic poem - and sold it for $5.00.
SIGNS OF THE SEVENTIES
I feel like I'm caught
In mid stream changing horses,
Acknowledging priests' weddings,
And ministers' divorces.
***
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Long Goodbye
We had a good weekend - but death was discussed.
My Boyfriend's sister has been with hospice for a week. We talk about her daily. My niece's mother in law, whom she blogged about, went with hospice last Thursday. She died this morning.
We had a wonderful conversation with a friend last night who's been battling leukemia for eight years. He's an inspiration to all who know him.
And in the class - the one where we discussed the death penalty last week - we discussed euthanasia yesterday.
By coincidence (if you believe in coincidence) Jack Kevorkian spoke at the University of Florida a few days ago. To my knowledge, he wasn't booed or heckled. He was treated with respect, even by those who disagreed with him - much like the way we treat each other in this class.
My Boyfriend and I each had long goodbyes with our spouses. When you watch somebody you love go through the dying process - up close and personal - for five years or so, it gives you a little different perspective.
Euthanasia (definition "Good Death") is not something I believe in. Yet, I've seen loving caregivers provide comfort at the end that might have hurried things along by an hour or two. How is this different? I don't know.
I've seen families cut off dialysis treatment when the insurance payments stopped - thereby causing death within a few days. How is this different?
In the class we discussed the doctor in New Orleans who stayed in the hospital with terminally ill patients throughout the storm and then was arrested and tried in court (and exonerated) for her efforts in alleviating their suffering.
What would I have done? I don't know.
Many religious people believe that "Redemption comes through suffering."
I believe that - redemption sometimes comes through suffering.
Other times it's just a process of dying made way too long by a system that keeps our bodies going way longer than God intended.
Then, blessedly, we die.
***
My Boyfriend's sister has been with hospice for a week. We talk about her daily. My niece's mother in law, whom she blogged about, went with hospice last Thursday. She died this morning.
We had a wonderful conversation with a friend last night who's been battling leukemia for eight years. He's an inspiration to all who know him.
And in the class - the one where we discussed the death penalty last week - we discussed euthanasia yesterday.
By coincidence (if you believe in coincidence) Jack Kevorkian spoke at the University of Florida a few days ago. To my knowledge, he wasn't booed or heckled. He was treated with respect, even by those who disagreed with him - much like the way we treat each other in this class.
My Boyfriend and I each had long goodbyes with our spouses. When you watch somebody you love go through the dying process - up close and personal - for five years or so, it gives you a little different perspective.
Euthanasia (definition "Good Death") is not something I believe in. Yet, I've seen loving caregivers provide comfort at the end that might have hurried things along by an hour or two. How is this different? I don't know.
I've seen families cut off dialysis treatment when the insurance payments stopped - thereby causing death within a few days. How is this different?
In the class we discussed the doctor in New Orleans who stayed in the hospital with terminally ill patients throughout the storm and then was arrested and tried in court (and exonerated) for her efforts in alleviating their suffering.
What would I have done? I don't know.
Many religious people believe that "Redemption comes through suffering."
I believe that - redemption sometimes comes through suffering.
Other times it's just a process of dying made way too long by a system that keeps our bodies going way longer than God intended.
Then, blessedly, we die.
***
Saturday, January 19, 2008
What's On Your Bucket List?
We had some friends over for dinner last night. Great discussions about all kinds of things. It's not that we agree on everything but we all care for and respect each other so we can enjoy sharing our thoughts.
We talked about movies. "The Bucket List" was mentioned. This movie, staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, is about two old guys who are terminally ill, i.e., ready to kick the bucket, so they go out and do all of the things they've always wanted to do.
I haven't seen the movie so don't know how it plays out for them.
Last night we spent some time sharing what's on our Bucket Lists. To my surprise, I finally had to say that I'm pretty content. Oh, I'd like to see more of the world and buy a few things but basically I feel very blessed right now in my personal life.
I'm always missing my many children and grandchildren and sometimes fantasize that we could live together on a big compound. Sort of like South Fork on "Dallas." But then I remember that those people spent a lot of time trying to kill each other and had serious drinking problems - including Miss Ellie.
At this point my Bucket List would mostly consist of things for other people.
What would you like to get done before you kick the bucket?
***
We talked about movies. "The Bucket List" was mentioned. This movie, staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, is about two old guys who are terminally ill, i.e., ready to kick the bucket, so they go out and do all of the things they've always wanted to do.
I haven't seen the movie so don't know how it plays out for them.
Last night we spent some time sharing what's on our Bucket Lists. To my surprise, I finally had to say that I'm pretty content. Oh, I'd like to see more of the world and buy a few things but basically I feel very blessed right now in my personal life.
I'm always missing my many children and grandchildren and sometimes fantasize that we could live together on a big compound. Sort of like South Fork on "Dallas." But then I remember that those people spent a lot of time trying to kill each other and had serious drinking problems - including Miss Ellie.
At this point my Bucket List would mostly consist of things for other people.
What would you like to get done before you kick the bucket?
***
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sparta Vs. Athens
In my "Intellectual Devotional" I recently read about "Sparta vs. Athens: The Battle for the Ancient World."
Sparta had the scariest military in the ancient world. They started training at birth. Babies unlikely to become strong soldiers were tossed into a gorge. Sparta won all of its wars.
Sparta was the Brawn.
Athens, on the other hand, was the birthplace of democracy and home to some of the most extraordinary accomplishments of philosophy, art and science. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates were all from Athens. For all we know, these guys may have had nice abs but they weren't trying to pick a fight all the time.
Athens was the Brain.
The contest is still waging. When I was in high school I "went steady" with a guy who was huge, and excelled in basketball, football and he knew how to put the shot. I'm not sure that we ever had an actual conversation but I felt safe with him.
That was before I realized that I was really turned on by big brains.
Sumner Redstone is Sparta.
Bill Gates is Athens.
I think for the last few years the rest of the world has seen the U.S. as Sparta. I'm hoping the future will bring us back to an Athens image.
***
Sparta had the scariest military in the ancient world. They started training at birth. Babies unlikely to become strong soldiers were tossed into a gorge. Sparta won all of its wars.
Sparta was the Brawn.
Athens, on the other hand, was the birthplace of democracy and home to some of the most extraordinary accomplishments of philosophy, art and science. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates were all from Athens. For all we know, these guys may have had nice abs but they weren't trying to pick a fight all the time.
Athens was the Brain.
The contest is still waging. When I was in high school I "went steady" with a guy who was huge, and excelled in basketball, football and he knew how to put the shot. I'm not sure that we ever had an actual conversation but I felt safe with him.
That was before I realized that I was really turned on by big brains.
Sumner Redstone is Sparta.
Bill Gates is Athens.
I think for the last few years the rest of the world has seen the U.S. as Sparta. I'm hoping the future will bring us back to an Athens image.
***
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Life's a Crap Shoot
Yesterday I met with my Power Rangers. They always make me feel empowered. That's why I call them my Power Rangers.
We're all pretty much into staying healthy so we got into talking about how "Everything's a Crap Shoot."
Somebody had read that too much calcium causes some kinds of cancer. (I consume mass quantities of calcium.)
Somebody else had read that taking flu shots five years in a row can cause Alzheimer's. (A couple of us decided that we'd rather take our chances with Alzheimer's than the flu.)
And so on.
And, besides that, most of us have family crises going all the time.
What to do?
We work hard to stay spiritually, emotionally and mentally strong. We have a sense of humor. We know who's in charge - and it isn't us.
***
We're all pretty much into staying healthy so we got into talking about how "Everything's a Crap Shoot."
Somebody had read that too much calcium causes some kinds of cancer. (I consume mass quantities of calcium.)
Somebody else had read that taking flu shots five years in a row can cause Alzheimer's. (A couple of us decided that we'd rather take our chances with Alzheimer's than the flu.)
And so on.
And, besides that, most of us have family crises going all the time.
What to do?
We work hard to stay spiritually, emotionally and mentally strong. We have a sense of humor. We know who's in charge - and it isn't us.
***
The Art of Conversation
My Boyfriend can start a conversation with anybody. Well, almost. What's the secret? It's not because he's a big talker It's because he asks questions and listens to the answers.
We're all suckers for this. We all want to be heard.
This morning we were having breakfast at Steak 'n Shake, a place we'd never been before. A man across the way was busy with a pencil and paper. My Boyfriend said, "Oh, are you doing a crossword?"
This precipitated a half hour conversation. By the way, it wasn't a crossword, it was Sudoku.
We know a lot of stuff about this man, especially where he likes to eat.
The down side is that he knows nothing about us. He didn't ask us any questions or listen to the answers.
Too bad. It's the secret of relationship success.
We're all suckers for this. We all want to be heard.
This morning we were having breakfast at Steak 'n Shake, a place we'd never been before. A man across the way was busy with a pencil and paper. My Boyfriend said, "Oh, are you doing a crossword?"
This precipitated a half hour conversation. By the way, it wasn't a crossword, it was Sudoku.
We know a lot of stuff about this man, especially where he likes to eat.
The down side is that he knows nothing about us. He didn't ask us any questions or listen to the answers.
Too bad. It's the secret of relationship success.
Monday, January 14, 2008
I STILL Have a Crush on Him
Yesterday in my class we discussed "Capitol Punishment." Yes, we can actually talk about things of this nature and not provoke fist fights.
The discussion reminded me of a dinner my Boyfriend and I attended last year. The keynote speaker was Jack Murphy - or as some of you may remember him,
Murph the Surf
He got his nickname in the 50s because he was a national surfing champ. He was also a:
The discussion reminded me of a dinner my Boyfriend and I attended last year. The keynote speaker was Jack Murphy - or as some of you may remember him,
Murph the Surf
He got his nickname in the 50s because he was a national surfing champ. He was also a:
- concert violinist
- tennis pro
- stunt man
- astoundingly good looking dude with a magnetic personality and genius I.Q.
And then he and a friend pulled off the greatest jewel heist in U.S. history.
If you think Paris Hilton used to be in the news a lot (before she ticked off the paparazzi) she was nothing compared to Murph the Surf. Every young woman in the country was in love with him. Every young man wanted to be him.
He was a media darling and he knew how to work it.
After serving a short sentence (after all, nobody was hurt) he moved to Florida. He then started his real crime career that ended in a murder conviction - two life sentences, plus 20 years.
The crimes he committed in Florida weren't pretty or victimless. He was a bad dude.
But after 20 years and a religious conversion, he was released. He's spent the last 20 years speaking in prisons from Chicago to Moscow.
At first I didn't believe him. I thought maybe he was the same charming, smart, diabolical con man he'd always been. But I'll have to give it to him. He's using his gifts for good rather than evil.
Last year when I saw him wondering around in a crowd of community leaders, I knew him immediately. The blond wavy hair was lighter - but still there. He was tanned and those baby-blues were still twinkling.
He still stands out in a crowd like the Star of India.
At one time he was an argument for capitol punishment. Now he's an argument against.
***
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