I might have seemed lost- seeing I haven't posted since the plowing match! But I haven't been. 2007 was a huge year for me. I managed to complete my first short story Ever and I actually enjoyed writing it. I've come to love the mornings, which I never have, not even when I was little. Jeff and I moved to a new apartment, to place full of light and space (though maybe, someday soon, we'll get to move to our own house). And well, I look forward to each day and how each day will be different in simple and homey ways and maybe in big ones and I'll get to see it all. If you've known me for awhile, then you'll know how I've always dreaded each day and how getting up in the morning and brushing my teeth was always a time of trying to push down desperate panic.
It's different now. 2007 has been my year of inward and yeah, outward change.
And this brings me to one of my new heros, EBB. EBB, I've just begun to read you, so I don't know you really well, but so far you're tremendous and if I had lived when you did, I might have set up a shrine and put fresh flowers everyday on its mantle, underneath your picture. So here's my 21 century mantle:
Recognize her at all? Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I've just begun "Aurora Leigh" and despite the high "falutin'" language sometimes, I'm really into it. If you're not familiar with Aurora Leigh, it's a story about a woman creating a writing life for herself and writing(!) and the backlash she gets for it, even from her beloved. He does, however, in the end, recognize her for the great writer she is (thank God). I think any woman trying to create a writing or creative life for herself, trying to follow her own inner voice, might think of reading this. True, it's Victorian but then again, people are people and this poem is pretty terrific. And it's supposed to be an encouraging story, despite its ups and downs and those who are learning to listen to themselves and their voice and their dreams, NEED THAT.
So yes. Dear EBB, I hope these flowers work for you.