This morning I decided to break up the monotony for my kids and I and decided that we should take a walk around the block. I put my oldest in his wagon, and strapped my almost one year old (first birthday is next month) in my Baby BJorn and off we went. My oldest and I were both wearing our masks (I can't emphasis how proud I am that he wears his mask so well, although I credit this more to his mom being a nurse and always seeing her with a mask on) and just enjoyed the gorgeous weather and other families either in their gardens, their backyards, or taking their own family bike rides or walks. We were turning down this bike path that is still somewhat new in our town when I spotted a mom with her two little ones.
Her little boy and girl were armed with chalk and ready to make some beautiful scribbles around the messages she wrote on the ground. It really resonated with me. Because I'm a parent, I always make a point to say hello to strangers, namely because I want my kids to see that this is our community, these are our neighbors, and we should try to get to know everyone or at the very least exude a friendly and welcoming demeanor. As we passed them by she quipped to her oldest "I wish you wore your mask that well!" Which I got a kick out of. "Love Each Other" and "Be Kind" seem like such subtle messages to put out into the world and yet right now? Between the pandemic and all the individuals gathering at these rallies to get the message across that Black Lives Matter and right now? We need change, we need hope, but more importantly? We need a damn leader. If we don't have one? Lets try to lead by example. This was fantastic to see.
Even though my most recent poem appeared on the Better Than Starbucks website, there is something about holding a tangible copy of the publication and seeing your name in print. Steve Martin made know something about that:
For anyone looking to support the magazine and discover the brilliant work of ALL the contributors featured in the May 2020 issue you can grab a copy here.
This is a poem I am very proud of, and I was elated when it was first published in Terror House Magazine last December...now having it re-published in another press? I feel like an overzealous and obnoxious parent cheering for their kid on the sidelines while the kid does their best to avoid eye contact with you. I also see it as proof that when my kids get older, no matter what it is that they want to accomplish as individuals who harbor a passion for something if I can do it? There's nothing in the world that could stop them. No excuse, just push through and believe in yourself and you can make it possible. It won't happen overnight, and in my case? It took almost twenty years before I started finding my stuff getting accepted, or publishing a book but there is no finish line. Accomplishing something you love and you work hard at every single day because its who you are and its what you love? Its not a race, you're not competing with anyone or anything. Its just a matter of time before you get there.
I hope this finds all of you safe, healthy, and hopefully enjoying quality time with your families, your art, your hobbies, your newly discovered passions, and maybe self-reflecting and coming up with your own ways to show the rest of the world that we will get through this and we will be better than ever before.
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September 2021
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