We had a great writers' meeting today. The library was packed, the readings from our new literary magazine were phenomenal and it was nice to see something so successful that I'm involved in. (I'm president of the group and the literary magazine was my idea - www.writersalliance.org ). It's so nice to see something come to fruition that you've worked hard for.
One of our very famous local poets, who has published fifteen books of poetry, came to the meeting today and later sent me an e-mail congratulating me on the organization. She has spoken twice for our group and she was very complimentary about how well everything is going.
Still, there are some issues. I'm done with the presidency at the end of this year and boy am I glad. It was so much work, so many difficult personalities (including mine - hey, I ain't totally clueless!). I'll be glad to have some spare time again. But to see that many people show up, to listen to those readings, to know that the list of speakers we have coming in for the rest of the year is so impressive, to see how this organization has grown and prospered, makes me feel like I've accomplished something.
But not enough. Oh, no, I'm not done yet. Somehow, I want to get the kids involved. There has to be a way. Ken and I are batting around an idea. We want to start an on-line literary magazine that would include videotaped productions of the kids doing spoken word poetry. We'd like to get some of that incredible talent that the young folks are displaying and throwing away without a backward glance into some sort of permanent form. We want it to be edgy and fun, but well done, too. (Believe me, there are lots of edgy, fun, CRAPPY journals out there. You'd think the F word was THE.
But for now, I sit here relaxing in my new swivel rocker chair outside at my new glass table. I'm turning into my grandmother. Nana could sit outside for hours, just listening to the birds. I'm watching them fly all around me, cardinals and sparrows and crows fighting with everybody and swallows, wrens, all of them trilling and squawking around me. I have a million things to do, but I can't tear myself away. The sun is getting lower, the air is cooling, there's a wonderful breeze blowing and it's so quiet and peaceful out here, except for the birds. I'm sure the cats are sitting inside going, "If you don't feed us soon, we're going to eat the damn dogs." But it's just so hard to go inside on such a beautiful day. There's a psalm that contains the line, "This is a day the lord has made/let us rejoice and be glad in it." I'm not a big Bible verse quoter but on a day like this, it's easy to see why people believe.