I wrote this poem in September of 2001, a few days after the towers fell. I still have vivid memories of Windows on the World, and of the morning of September 11 when I watched the horrific events unfold on my TV screen. I’ve flown a few times since then, but whenever I see a… [Read More]
Christmas Consumption–remember when we shopped till we dropped?
I wrote this poem four years ago, in 2017. I never dreamed how drastically my habits as a consumer would change in a single year, but Covid-19 has utterly destroyed the joy I used to take in spending. Not just in shopping, but in so much more—dining out in restaurants, going to movies, and most… [Read More]
Be Here Now–good pandemic advice from Baba Ram Dass
Be Here Now. The title of Baba Ram Dass’s 1971 book became the catch phrase for millions of westerners seeking enlightenment through eastern spiritual practices, including yoga and meditation. But being in the present moment, letting go of the past and future, has always been challenging to me—until now, in the age of COVID-19. Over… [Read More]
Poemunizing: The Theory of Wastebaskets
On Friday the 13th of March, I began self-quarantining at home with my husband, my dog and my cat. Over a month has passed, and we’ve fared remarkably well. I’m amazed at my emotional equanimity, especially since I’m diagnosed bipolar. In part it’s because I’ve rid my life of so many meaningless obligations that didn’t… [Read More]
Appreciation, Albany Poets and Word Fest
Julie, I love and admire this window into your world, your history, your heart and–hallelujah–your healthy brain. What an honoring account of your parents and their contributions to your creative/writer self. Your voice is compassionate and generous. SUBDURAL promises to be captivating. Marj Hahne left the comment above about my previous post, “How a Near-Death… [Read More]
How a Near-Death Experience Jump Started My Memoir
There’s nothing like a near-death experience to bring home the realization that it’s high time to get to work on that memoir you’ve been procrastinating about for ages. My own epiphany came about when I emerged from emergency brain surgery the day before Halloween. I’d been laid low by a subdural hematoma on October 29th—ironically,… [Read More]