Oh, Susie, this was one of the harder ones to do on plain stationery, and being a watercolor amateur! You bring me peace in all you write, my dear virtual friend!
Life happens to us every day, and more often than not, over the years we forget many of those conversations we’ve had with our loved ones. Reminding us to never again, miss an opportunity to ask questions, offer answers , or just engage . Like Arthur taught you to do for Lila. She will always remember. Sometimes there is an unnamed magic that happens, as if we pressed ‘record’ in the archives of memories. Like the old card catalogs in the library. We close our eyes, pull up one of those cherished sentences or two, and the world changes in a moment, that feels like a lifetime ago. And we hear those few sentences , crystal clear.
“You got that about right." “I don't want anyone else to say anything; just you!”
I am sure you can hear those ‘few sentences’ from your son. It truly is miracle isn’t it.
Oh, Lor. yes as you say, "as if we pressed record in the archives of memories." I hope you have written this comment down and saved it in a journal, Lor, you should be writing if you're not already.
Thank you , Mary. That means a lot, coming from you. Happy Hanukkah! We’re doing potato latkes tonight . My husband has become the master chef of latkes. He knows how to make the oil last for enough latkes to feed a crowd of two, with leftovers for breakfast. Sides of nova, applesauce ,sour cream, a sprinkle of sugar, because my dad did it when I was a kid, and matzo ball soup.
Oh you are such a love. I was happy with the tiny flowers ... Nothing is fixable with watercolors-- so you gotta be lucky (me) or good at it (not me!)
Richard, you sweet, generous soul, if you're sending the link to pre-order _Who by Fire_, advise folks for now to use Barnes and Nobel; Bookshop is a little hinky for some reason!
Oh no! Lila is home, it must mean Arthur is coming very close to fitting all the little pieces together. Well, this one hit home, many years ago when my grandpa had an entire wall of pipes and such, in his garage. Now I wonder if gramps ever read a poem before. Wish I had asked him.
Lor, Arthur is getting closer! More to come, for my lovers of this series, few as you are! but growing! with your help! .... to build on your point, I so wish I had interviewed both my parents more than I had--and I did quite bit, but I also wish that I'd recorded the answers to my questions, and to everything they told without being asked!
On of my stories that is really memoir from my short story collection _The Woman Who Never Cooked_ and that was published elsewhere even before I started writing full-time (you know, that job I needed to support my children) is entitled "Losing". I'll post it here soon. It's a tribute to my father that he read before he died and asked me to read it when he died. He loved it so but said instead in his witty, brief way, "You got that about right." He also said I don't want anyone else to say anything; just you! What a love he was!
I'm sorry I'm with grandpa on this one. I'd write poems any day rather than fix pipes and I've had to fix broken pipes and plumbing twice! I wish I had the option to fix those plumbing issues with a poem or two instead. I love the drawing in this letter. Must have taken longer to do the illustration than write the letter. What a lucky granddaughter.
Ha! I’d rather fix pipes than write poems. Interestingly, however, the character in my novels, which are partly told through his journal entries, sometimes writes in poem. Not sure where that comes from, but there it is, my rebellious inner something.
So Elite, do you have a name, I could use to chat with you and praise your poems? I don't remember how long it took--maybe I was just getting a bit better at putting watercolors on plain stationery! I'm the lucky one!
Ahh! Well Grandpa should know... but I am not so sure?
I adore the painting Mary, Grandpa in his shed, of course he writes poems with a garden like that to gaze upon!
Sending love dear one, I hope your festivities were filled with peace and love xxx
Oh, Susie, this was one of the harder ones to do on plain stationery, and being a watercolor amateur! You bring me peace in all you write, my dear virtual friend!
Grandpa's reply is craftier than it seems. I wonder what Arthur will make of all this?? From the mouths of babes...
I so agree: "craftier than it seems'!
Gramp's rules! (for the moment ;)
Ah, yes! --for the moment. xx
Nice mustache, Grandpa! we all must follow our own voice
Indeed, Ellen. XX💕
Life happens to us every day, and more often than not, over the years we forget many of those conversations we’ve had with our loved ones. Reminding us to never again, miss an opportunity to ask questions, offer answers , or just engage . Like Arthur taught you to do for Lila. She will always remember. Sometimes there is an unnamed magic that happens, as if we pressed ‘record’ in the archives of memories. Like the old card catalogs in the library. We close our eyes, pull up one of those cherished sentences or two, and the world changes in a moment, that feels like a lifetime ago. And we hear those few sentences , crystal clear.
“You got that about right." “I don't want anyone else to say anything; just you!”
I am sure you can hear those ‘few sentences’ from your son. It truly is miracle isn’t it.
Oh, Lor. yes as you say, "as if we pressed record in the archives of memories." I hope you have written this comment down and saved it in a journal, Lor, you should be writing if you're not already.
Thank you , Mary. That means a lot, coming from you. Happy Hanukkah! We’re doing potato latkes tonight . My husband has become the master chef of latkes. He knows how to make the oil last for enough latkes to feed a crowd of two, with leftovers for breakfast. Sides of nova, applesauce ,sour cream, a sprinkle of sugar, because my dad did it when I was a kid, and matzo ball soup.
Good old practical wisdom from grandpa. 😂😂😂
You bet! xo
Those flowers!
Oh you are such a love. I was happy with the tiny flowers ... Nothing is fixable with watercolors-- so you gotta be lucky (me) or good at it (not me!)
Richard, you sweet, generous soul, if you're sending the link to pre-order _Who by Fire_, advise folks for now to use Barnes and Nobel; Bookshop is a little hinky for some reason!
So lovely. Words and art. Short and sweet conversation but deep and meaningful too.
Isn't it though. What a write Simèon is! I simply adore him and wish I could meet this French poet.
Oh no! Lila is home, it must mean Arthur is coming very close to fitting all the little pieces together. Well, this one hit home, many years ago when my grandpa had an entire wall of pipes and such, in his garage. Now I wonder if gramps ever read a poem before. Wish I had asked him.
Lor, Arthur is getting closer! More to come, for my lovers of this series, few as you are! but growing! with your help! .... to build on your point, I so wish I had interviewed both my parents more than I had--and I did quite bit, but I also wish that I'd recorded the answers to my questions, and to everything they told without being asked!
On of my stories that is really memoir from my short story collection _The Woman Who Never Cooked_ and that was published elsewhere even before I started writing full-time (you know, that job I needed to support my children) is entitled "Losing". I'll post it here soon. It's a tribute to my father that he read before he died and asked me to read it when he died. He loved it so but said instead in his witty, brief way, "You got that about right." He also said I don't want anyone else to say anything; just you! What a love he was!
I'm sorry I'm with grandpa on this one. I'd write poems any day rather than fix pipes and I've had to fix broken pipes and plumbing twice! I wish I had the option to fix those plumbing issues with a poem or two instead. I love the drawing in this letter. Must have taken longer to do the illustration than write the letter. What a lucky granddaughter.
Ha! I’d rather fix pipes than write poems. Interestingly, however, the character in my novels, which are partly told through his journal entries, sometimes writes in poem. Not sure where that comes from, but there it is, my rebellious inner something.
Maybe every poet is a rebel or vice versa! Nothing wrong with fixing pipes!
So Elite, do you have a name, I could use to chat with you and praise your poems? I don't remember how long it took--maybe I was just getting a bit better at putting watercolors on plain stationery! I'm the lucky one!
Your camp letters make me want to break out my watercolors!
Ah, Zina, do! and illustrate you lovely poems!