I’m very pleased to announce that I won the West Virginia Writers 2015 Annual Writing Contest in the Nonfiction category with my piece Marybelle.
Marybelle is a memoir of Vietnam and my fourth-grade year.
The story is special to me and I’m very pleased, and honored, that it won.
You can read it here:.marybellenarrative
Maggie is in her end days. I’m quite sure of it. She doesn’t seem distressed, just confused. She’s been an interesting cat – until lately, she’s never been very demonstrative. These past few weeks she has demanded attention and has been given it. These past two days, she has kept to herself….away from the food and water.
Yes, she’s in her end days. I will let her go and, if she develops pain, I will assist. She hates being in the car so I hope it doesn’t come to that.
She’s been an interesting cat. I’m going to miss her.
A few weeks ago, I fell for no good reason and landed on my knees. The impact was such that I’m quite sure I left an impression in the concrete sidewalk. One knee was torn up and developed a horrendous scab; the other swelled to the size of a softball. Both of them astonished me with their cries of pain.
The pain took my breath. For a good four days, I couldn’t stand or sit or walk or lie down without pain so intense I was reminded of labor. The pain wasn’t baby-producing intense, but it did provoke the same sort of awe.
This week, I got news that sucker-punched me. No. Nobody died. My relationships are all intact except maybe for the relationship I have with myself. For several days, my self-esteem has been crying out with the same level of pain as did my knees.
I have decided to get over it.
Today, I spent my time in the much neglected garden doing triage. I didn’t get as far as I had hoped due to the electric lawnmower dying, but I accomplished much in getting my equilibrium (and self-esteem) back. The puppies frolicked in the warm spring air and I tended to tender plants while guiltlessly executing weeds and banishing leaves.
Gardening season is upon me. I much prefer the awe of an Appalachian spring over the awe of surprise pain.
I’ve had the traditional version of this song stuck in my head for days. And then! And then, I discovered this version on Youtube. It’s still stuck in my head, but now I’m oozing as I sing along.
