Just Thinking

Hi to All,


Now that it's March Break, our time is pretty much our own.

If you have the opportunity, pick up the book "When We were Young". It's a collection of Canadian Stories selected and introduced by Stuart McLean. I enjoyed his introduction just as much as any of the stories. He writes about how these stories bring back memories from his own childhood. I thought his thoughts were appropriate, given our writing about our own memories.

As well, I have just finished reading, for the second time, "The Year of Pleasures", by Elizabeth Berg. You may recognize that name as the author of "Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True". In "The Year of Pleasures", Betta must learn how to continue to live after her husband's death. She writes about urgency, perspctive and reflection. To quote:

"John (her husband) and I had often talked about how focused our culture was on distraction, about how ill suited we were to staying with things, following them through in a respectful and thorough way. There was a great discomfort with quiet, with stillness, at the same time that there was acknowledgement of how valuable these things could be. I once read an essay about a woman who spent an entire day simply looking at what she had, really seeing all the things she'd put in her house. I was as guilty as anyone else of buying books I never read, of rushing through days without ever looking up, of taking for granted things for which I should give thanks every day. Who appreciated their good health until they lost it? Who said grace? Who read to their children before bed without one eye on the clock, despairing of all they had to do before they themselves could sleep? Who engaged cashiers in grocery stores in conversations? Everyone seemed in a blind hurry, and there was no relief in sight. Technology rushed us ever forward, and simple civility - a certain kindness and care - got sacrificed."(p.58)
Finally, as I review my own writing, I have obviously focused on my own family. I owe so much to my parents,(bless their souls). I value my in-laws, to whom I am a daughter, even though their son and I are divorced. And of course I love my beagles, and my own darlings, their spouses and my grandchildren. Look at all the material they provided for me to write about!
Enjoy the Break!

Gwenda
 
(This post was previously posted on Sunday March 14th, 2010, but has been moved for the convenience of the reader)