My Writing life

Yes, it's true.  I agree with Emily.  I do dwell in possibility.  I love the process, the work, and the possibility that something amazing is around the corner.  Some truly wonderful things have happened to me over the last few years.  Back to the days that I first showed Judy Johns my work, and I joined Word Weavers.  The first time I met a Pulitzer Prize winning poet in person.  Wow, I felt like I was sitting near greatness!  Then there was the first contest win, and eventually my first publication.  A few years later, I won the contest which gave my first chapbook collection a home.  I poured my heart and soul into my writing.  No one could tell me what to say.  It was the one thing I had true control of.  And it saved me in so many ways, gave me a voice when I thought I had none.

One of my poems "Whale Watching" was made into a Broadside and inserted into each Winter issue of a poetry journal in Oregon.  My work was published in 20 poetry journals and magazines.

My writing slowed down for awhile.  Survival mode and three jobs made it difficult to be inspired.  I felt like I was dry and barren.  I wasn't.  I was healing from many years of abuse.  My children and I , we were healing.

Today I am returning to my inspired self again.  The words of poems I love so much are swimming through my brain.  I can see them when I close my eyes to sleep.  I bought some new (and used) poetry books. Rumi, Mary Oliver, and Federico Garcia Lorca.  I read and read them.  I am crazy in love with Lorca! Wow, what an inspiration.   I am writing like I once did, early mornings, and sometimes late into the night.  I feel like me again.  It's coming back together, this life which I once thought I had lost.  I am writing and submitting, and contacting my writer friends again.  I'm back.

There was a question in a magazine.  It said something like:  Are you just biding time, or are you doing what you feel you are meant to do?   Yes, I absolutely am.

Just plain people

Yesterday, we made a project of cleaning up the downstairs family room.  Along with that came the finding of many beloved items and some of my mother's family history papers.  My maternal grandmother was a Dastrup.  A family I have long admired for their many members and accomplishments.  Dakota has been reading in a large book titled "Dastrup Family," detailing pedigree charts and photos.  In this book, however, I found something I really love.  It is written in a small personal bio of a man named Lawrence Alvin Dastrup. He lived long ago and I do not know him, but found myself touched by this obviously humble man's words.

"Also, what I like to call a hobby, or at least I have a decided interest in it, is people; just plain everyday people.  I have decided that it isn't what people pretend to be, or put out to the world to be, that counts; it's what they really are down inside, that really counts, in this life and in the great hereafter.  I have always admired the sincere, honest, unpretentious type of person, and have loathed the pretender and insincere human animal.  Honesty in financial matters, sincerity, humility toward my fellow man, and doing unto others as I would wish them to do unto me, have always been high ideals to attain in my life.

Though I have had no unusual or faith promoting experiences I can recall, I have realized all through my life that there was a Supreme Being, who is our Heavenly Father, and who guides and directs all people in their journey through life, from the time of birth to the time of death, and whom we all can seek, through prayer, for comfort and guidance in times of crisis, despair, and in everyday living.  To me, faith promoting experiences do not have to come in the unusual or unrealistic way; to see the sun come up in the morning, to see winter change to Spring, to Summer, to Fall, and to Winter again; to see new life come upon the earth; to see how devoted our people can be in time of need or disaster; to see the simple things of life which we take for granted, such as to see a child grow and develop into manhood; these are the faith promoting things to me, which make me have faith in my religion and in my Heavenly Father.  What more does a man have to have to be a believer and to have faith in the Word of God and in the good books?"

He was not a writer, but I think maybe he should have been.

King Meadows Ranch

On May 24th, we headed South to my Mom's hometown in Sevier County.  My relatives (the Dastrups) make up a large part of this little area.  I remember going there for Family reunions, as a child.  My Mom was very close to her cousin DeReese, and we would visit him and his family as often as we could.  He passed away years ago. This time, we had been invited to stay with another cousin of my mom's that I do not know very well.  My boys long for a connection with family, and so do I.  And so . . . we went.  Up into Sigurd canyon and into the beautiful hills, where the gate to his property was opened for us. Wow!

Needless to say, the house and property was absolutely amazing.  However, it could not compare to the warm welcome we received from Mack and Norma.  They made us feel so special, and wanted us to stay as long as we wanted.  Sunday, we had a quiet evening, enjoying the beautiful views from their balcony, and telling family stories.  What an interesting life they both have lived.  Uncle Mack reminded me so much of his brothers and has a great sense of humor.  He told us about his mission to Finland, his years in Counter Intelligence in Europe during the Korean war, and serving in the presidency of the Manti temple, and later being a "Sealer" there.

Please don't get the idea that my 85 year old relative is ready for a chair and TV.  No no no!  Monday morning, he couldn't wait to get his ATV's out and ride all over the property with us.

My favorite pic!  What a great time!

"Benny's Cabin" is on his property.  The old home of an old time Boot legger.

Here are some other lovely shots of his many acres of land.  I took my life into my own hands, riding with my boys down trails and across meadows.  Ha ha.

We also went to the Richfield Cemetery, where Paul worked to edge and improve our Dastrup family graves.  I was able to put flowers on my beloved Grandma's grave, and also my Great grandparents and Aunts and Uncles.  So nice!

We are so grateful for this wonderful weekend.  We will miss Mack and Norma, and can't wait to go back and see them again.  I love my family!