You are intrepid. And though I have hitched when I was young enough (to get to the American Club in Kiffisia with my best friend) that more than one car would stop, I’m a grandmom now and must stop myself from worrying about/annoying people younger than me like it’s my raison d’être.
You write with such a facility to put a reader in the time, place, emotion of experience that I can only say these are such perfect stories. As are your poems. Stay warm, both you and Laurie, you have miles ahead of you to go Wes…
And thank you for your introduction to the book. I appreciate the effort it took. I assembled all of the various parts and now I have Amy Myers helping me push it through the publication process at Amazon. It's over 200 pages because it's in the 5.5x8.5 format which is half the size of a Google docs page at 8.5x11.
It is an undertaking that I hope will put a hardcover book in my hands to take to Europe where I can edit/proofread it at my leisure while eating a croissant, drinking first rate coffee with a view of something exquisite and charming. Ten days from now I intend to be sitting in a cafe in Avignon looking back on shoveling a shit ton of snow with humor and fondness. In summary, I am looking forward to looking back on this. Ha.
I can only say you deserve that beautiful cafe in Avignon, Wes. Can imagine you and Laurie walking that city - and absorbing the serenity.
I’m hoping you’ll have the book on Amazon before the next holiday season. A tradition here is that every child gets a special book (sometimes two) from me. At least one will be your beautiful work.
Won't that be something special, certainly for me and I hope they enjoy it. Cafe Le Cide is a pretty nice spot in town with a really pretty carousel across the cobbled stones. It sits in front of the town hall- the whole damn thing is gorgeous. I adore Mexico but France is a whole different kind of beauty, really more my kind and the food is my baby.
I picked up a hammer two days ago just to pull out a small nail. It felt familiar and odd at the same time. All the calluses on my hands are gone and I don't have any cuts in various stages of healing nor any splinters for the first time in decades
As always, you've brightened my day with laughter, Wes. I was just dying reading about the meaningful glance. Flirting is always quite a mystery, isn't it?
I certainly was to that 19-20 kid. My wife says I'm still fairly clueless and how would I know otherwise? Poetry helps me sort things out, always has. That and essays.
I'm sure it's part of our fundamental role as women to confuse you a bit. I suppose you might have a leg up on many with the muse's penchant for speaking to you
No - he had never been and wanted to go. However, he loved it and thinks maybe Columbia would be a great place for grad school (he’s a college sophomore at the moment). We were all thrilled that he was so comfortable and confident enough to go off on his own sometimes. Plus, we had cheesecake for dinner Friday night! Just cheesecake. 😇
Columbia's such a great place. Our older son went there for undergrad and grad school. He loved it. A cheesecake meal has all the major food groups, I think.
You are intrepid. And though I have hitched when I was young enough (to get to the American Club in Kiffisia with my best friend) that more than one car would stop, I’m a grandmom now and must stop myself from worrying about/annoying people younger than me like it’s my raison d’être.
You write with such a facility to put a reader in the time, place, emotion of experience that I can only say these are such perfect stories. As are your poems. Stay warm, both you and Laurie, you have miles ahead of you to go Wes…
Thanks Patris.
And thank you for your introduction to the book. I appreciate the effort it took. I assembled all of the various parts and now I have Amy Myers helping me push it through the publication process at Amazon. It's over 200 pages because it's in the 5.5x8.5 format which is half the size of a Google docs page at 8.5x11.
It is an undertaking that I hope will put a hardcover book in my hands to take to Europe where I can edit/proofread it at my leisure while eating a croissant, drinking first rate coffee with a view of something exquisite and charming. Ten days from now I intend to be sitting in a cafe in Avignon looking back on shoveling a shit ton of snow with humor and fondness. In summary, I am looking forward to looking back on this. Ha.
I can only say you deserve that beautiful cafe in Avignon, Wes. Can imagine you and Laurie walking that city - and absorbing the serenity.
I’m hoping you’ll have the book on Amazon before the next holiday season. A tradition here is that every child gets a special book (sometimes two) from me. At least one will be your beautiful work.
Won't that be something special, certainly for me and I hope they enjoy it. Cafe Le Cide is a pretty nice spot in town with a really pretty carousel across the cobbled stones. It sits in front of the town hall- the whole damn thing is gorgeous. I adore Mexico but France is a whole different kind of beauty, really more my kind and the food is my baby.
Sounds idyllic - all aspects (not the least a carousel and cobblestones.) what an environment to just be. True envy here.
A carpenter who can’t always nail must be a poet.
I picked up a hammer two days ago just to pull out a small nail. It felt familiar and odd at the same time. All the calluses on my hands are gone and I don't have any cuts in various stages of healing nor any splinters for the first time in decades
Re-reading these as I’ve warned. They are treasures.
I really appreciate you giving them a re-read
As always, you've brightened my day with laughter, Wes. I was just dying reading about the meaningful glance. Flirting is always quite a mystery, isn't it?
I certainly was to that 19-20 kid. My wife says I'm still fairly clueless and how would I know otherwise? Poetry helps me sort things out, always has. That and essays.
I'm sure it's part of our fundamental role as women to confuse you a bit. I suppose you might have a leg up on many with the muse's penchant for speaking to you
Faye, check out Maria Popova's stuff.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/FMfcgzGxSHmWpxmhkjwlmZzvQVmdbqSF
This must've been a link in an email... it just took me to my gmail inbox. No Maria in sight!
try this one
https://www.themarginalian.org/about/
As a younger fellow, I was decidedly "non-musey" and I was generally confounded by women, still am.
Yeah, that sounds about right
Brings to mind a newer lyric of mine.
One Good Cowboy
I'm not the kind of woman
To tumble for a man
Who comes and goes like a stallion
Running free
But all of a sudden
I felt my heart stumble
When I saw that red haired cowboy
Smile at me
He came down from Idaho
Riding hard on the rodeo
Oh, oh I loved him
All that we had time
He's one good cowboy
Too bad he ain't mine
I'm not the kind of woman
To wager on a dream
When I know I'd best keep one foot
Flat on the floor
But when the blood is running hot
The head just tags along
Then damned if I don't pray
For one kiss more
He came down from Idaho
Riding hard on the rodeo
Oh, oh I loved him
All that we had time
He's one good cowboy
Too bad he ain't mine
Ride them ponies hard
Aw don't you dare let go
Cause you may never get the chance
To ride in a better show
He came down from Idaho
Riding hard on the rodeo
Oh, oh I loved him
All that we had time
He's one good cowboy
Too bad he ain't mine
Malcolm McKinney 2021
Sounds like it would make a decent song.
It's finished, just need to get my studio back to work.
Was the grandson looking at schools?
No - he had never been and wanted to go. However, he loved it and thinks maybe Columbia would be a great place for grad school (he’s a college sophomore at the moment). We were all thrilled that he was so comfortable and confident enough to go off on his own sometimes. Plus, we had cheesecake for dinner Friday night! Just cheesecake. 😇
Columbia's such a great place. Our older son went there for undergrad and grad school. He loved it. A cheesecake meal has all the major food groups, I think.
Hey Cheryl, next Sunday is the 3rd one of these hitching essays and a girl makes an appearance. Did you ever read "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues"?
Her name was Sissy and I never forgot her.
I never knew they made a movie of it.