Heart Song

Something's afoot in my life that is bringing me great joy!

It involves the Universe and the way it works in mysterious ways.  It has to do with this box of found photographs. I think of the person who is going to be a part of this project for a minute or so, and have one of the photographs choose that person to write the story that the picture tells.

It involves giving wrapped gifts and sending mail, the delicious anticipation that I feel as I drop the photograph in the mail and think about the recipient opening it, seeing the photograph, beginning to sense the story.

It involves the challenge of writing short fiction--three hundred words or less--making every word count.  One page.  One powerful page.

It involves black and white photography, the way we interact with the photographer's eye, read expressions, and become compassionate, empathetic observers.

It involves the beautiful 1880 Gallery at the Long View Center where the photographs and stories will come together to become exponentially effective in bringing new life to forgotten people.

It involves this room, writers sitting together with the most amazing Randall Kenan, and choosing photographs, working up stories, sharing our writing while our adrenaline hums, eating good food prepared by my friend, Mark Hardy.

The thought of this project makes me want to cry.  It makes me want to dance around the room.  I want to do it over and over, bringing life to forgotten people, writing with other writers, letting the cosmos rule my choices.

Hurray for things that make our hearts sing!

Long Weekend in Pictures

Thursday Night:



Friday Night:



Saturday Night:



Sunday Night:



A wonderful weekend.

Day Off/Off Day

I've taken three days off now. The first day was spent doing chores that got neglected over the workshop weekend. The second day I had a meeting that lasted three hours in the middle of the day, and did grocery shopping. Last night I went to hear the wonderful author, Jill McCorkle, read from her new book.

Today I had intentions of revising a story I wrote last year. The revision has been boiling around in my head for a few days and I feel really excited about it. But when I got up, I had no energy. None. I went down to my writing space, looked over at the desk, turned to the card-making area, and walked back upstairs without doing anything productive. I got a book, wrapped myself in a blanket and tried to read. I ended up lying down, eyes wide open, body very still for about an hour.




After dragging myself up, I could tell that no creative work was going to be coming out of me today, so I worked on organizing my photographs on the computer. I have now spent close to six hours doing this. It feels good.





My photographs, my stories, and my card papers compete for my free time. I never feel torn, though, because working on each of them raises my seratonin and gives me a boost.


It's back to work tomorrow. I'm grateful for the time off.

Fame

Many people ask why I don't sell my photograph cards. Well, I do sell them. At my local book store. But only because the owner liked them and felt bad about taking so many. So now she buys them from herself!

There's no money to be made from selling the cards, really. I might recoup my expenses, but that's all. However, this is an example of what those cards are all about to me:

The book store owner and one of her managers are going to China tomorrow. They were wondering what to take for hostess gifts and I suggested that I put together a few ten-packs of the cards. She went for it.

The thought of those cards - my photographs - going to China is the most thrilling thing I can think of. Photographs of our mountains, our wildlife, our oceans and lighthouses being used by people that I've never seen, so far away. Cards that say thank you/I'm thinking of you/happy birthday/I'm sorry/get well - what money in the world could equal the thought of that? My cards sitting on desks and under magnets on refrigerators, found in drawers years later full of sentiment. That's rich, people, and I feel as excited as I ever could about a check.

I wish my friends a safe and successful trip, and am filled with gratitude that they are taking a piece of me with them.