Time for Nourishment in Everyday Ramblings

Another sunrise shot. This time Mt. Hood. Today it was raining but I did get out for a short walk after class. The early camelias are starting to bloom and I saw the tips of a crocus plant breaking ground a few days back as well as seeing some early snowdrops blooming across the river. Auspicious indicators of the solstice a few days away. Yay.

I hope I don’t rue (to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret for something) this day, as I have accepted the Treasurer position for the local League of Women Voters starting next year. I can’t think of a year more important in terms of elections in my lifetime. Getting clear information that is focused on being unbiased out there about what is going on and who wants to be involved (with a little why thrown in) seems of paramount importance to voters. And to all of us who live here.

We have huge changes in City Government happening along with the National election on the horizon.

Not quite what I envisioned when I jumped ship and retired eight months early four years ago. This being on nonprofit boards. Open Road didn’t exist four years ago, and I only vaguely knew about the League. I was all like it would be nice to get a garden plot, teach yoga and you know, walk a lot. Maybe do some birding. That was the extent of my ambition.

And to have my ambition to write poetry be rekindled is a surprise. I was consumed with wanting to get published, get a book, be recognized for my work earlier and that is all pretty much gone now. I just want to get back on the horse and ride my way towards the best poems I am capable of now. Knowing my capabilities have changed. The real but subtle limitations of an aging brain.

I saw this quote from the late poet Jim Harrison this morning, “the difference between poetry and you is you look in the mirror and say, “I am getting old,” but Shakespeare looks in the mirror and says, “Devouring Time, blunt thou thy lion’s paws.”

That made me laugh.

Speaking of Shakespeare on Sunday in our Zoom book club we had a Shakespearian actor read us (declaim mostly) A Child’s Christmas in Wales. It was fun and I hadn’t heard it in a long time. I feel for those poor cats being assaulted by kids with snowballs. One of the women in the group has a book of etchings that go with the story that are scary and wonderful.

Afterwards we got to hear stories about the various circumstances he played Santa and one year a storyteller in a window of a big department store downtown telling stories that were broadcast to the sidewalk out front. And a big Victorian house where they played A Christmas Carol where there were different ghosts in each bedroom and different Scrooges. Walt played one of those. The audience would move from room to room and then have cookies and wassail in the parlor.

I am looking forward to winding things down for the year and having next week off from all my obligations. Looking at the recording of last night’s class this morning I can see that I am tired.

Time for some nourishment across a number of levels.

Last updated December 19, 2023