Two posts in one day! I found out this morning that my short story “En Plein Air” won first place in the Charlotte Writers’ Club Emerging Writers Contest.
The Back Cove in Portland, Maine, features prominently in my story "En Plein Air." Here it is at low tide.
When I go walking now, especially near sunset, the crisp (though not too cold) air; the smell of the drying leaves; bare branches, but green grass on the ground; the particular kinds of vegetation–these sensations all combine to make me feel as I did in high school, in college, winters of my youth, winters I knew before I left North Carolina 14 years ago.
In those years, I took so many melancholy walks alone in winter, and I always thought on those walks of who I would become.
"Void" is one of the pieces I'll have at the sale.
I entered five works in the Charlotte Art League’s December art sale / exhibit. While I was down there today, I switched my work to a different rental wall. My first wall was on the end of a side corridor; people didn’t come down there that often to look. The new wall is in a better location, along the main corridor, so I’m hoping more people stop to look at my work (and buy it).
The number of the new wall is 11D. Instantly I thought: 11D–11 December! My birthday! In the Tyranny of Jessica, 11 December is the 50th anniversary of the robot landing!
So I decided to take the new wall number as an auspicious sign. Good things are on their way, I tell myself. This is my lucky number.
I was in Salisbury for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a good time–and I was happy that I now live close enough to drive down there and visit the family, instead of flying in from far away, as I’ve done on holidays for the past 14 years. I did a lot of painting with the little cousins on the picnic table outside. The weather down here is so warm. It’s unbelievable.
When we got home last night, I went straight to the newspaper to see my article, Windows to Heaven, which came out in Saturday’s “Faith and Values” section of the Charlotte Observer. I’m really pleased with the layout.
This is the "Panis Angelicus" we always did at the monastery, and which we sang a few weeks ago at church here. So beautiful. I sing with the soprano part.
Our church choir meets every Monday night. We’ve been practicing music for Christmas. One piece we’re doing is the Ukranian “Carol of the Bells.” I’ve heard it lots of times but have never sung it: “Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away …” (Here’s a clip of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the carol. We don’t have near as many people on our choir, but I think we still sound pretty good.)
We have a handbell choir for the Christmas season, too, something else I used to do at the monastery. It’s been five years since the last time I picked up a bell with my white-gloved hand (more…)