Are We There Yet?

Last week, after many months of struggle and enduring the pain and hardship of illness, Judy Marz died. We spoke about what the Spring would bring not that long before. And Spring is still about to arrive, whatever happens to us all, but without Judy. She brought me into a world that is about possibilities and love. We all gathered to her as she labored toward her next destination. Her oldest friends were there along with me, among her newest friends.

I was given the traditional all time best Christmas present, the "Bag 'O Books", this year along with a number of other books from everyone else who knows that I an a bookavore. My son and his girlfriend gave me a great book. ""The Best American Non-Required Reading 2007". Every piece, from poetry, lists, comix, memoirs, and short stories has been so engaging. Dave Eggers is the editor along with a group of high school students that he teaches in the Bay Area. Breakfast is better lately. The part of winter that makes me wince when I think of it has arrived. Rain. Freezing rain. And so much gray monochromatic landscape. It is difficult to believe that this same place is full of color and energy at other times. Now it is dead or asleep or both. Makes me tired just thinking of it. I draw the curtains and hope it will go away. I take long hot baths surrounded by candles. If I ever get to the point where I can write more than a couple of paragraphs before going ...