Musings & News

January 18, 2015

Liquid, Solid, Grief

Izzy dies. We go to the beach. We’re trying to clear our heads, mend our breaking hearts. It’s hard to talk about her without crying. So we talk about our work. Family stuff. Travel. We wander the shore. Everything’s a little more dull without Izzy in the world. True, the ocean is soothing. The sky. The surf. The palm trees. It’s all so beautiful, yet vague. As if viewed from a long way off, even though we’re right there, walking amidst it all. I really don’t know what’s going to pull us out of this emotional riptide. […]

January 12, 2015

Packing for Oz

Dorothy stopped by today for sarsaparilla tea she brought snapshots from the road and a munchkin cake for me while i packed my Oz-bound bag and checked it’s contents twice she prepared me for the trip dispelling this advice: Munchkinland is great for sites the rainbows good for basking never ever in the woods take apples without asking watch out for houses falling and a wicked witch’s ruse stay away from any type of gem-encrusted shoes! be warned of paths that lead astray keep to golden bricks be leery of a wizard’s vow and his big black bag-o-tricks! pay heed […]

January 12, 2015

Who Stole the Tarts? (A Poem for Artists)

The Prince of Hearts stole the tarts or was it the Mad Hatter? He was last seen having tea and growing slightly fatter Said the March Hare “How can you care?” “Does it really matter?” Aye, it’s the Queen~ oh how she screams o’er the empty platter: “Off with his head! I’ll see him dead! I”ll leave his soul in tatters!” At the queen’s decree her court did flee you should have seen them scatter But Alice knew what she must do she grabbed a bowl and batter With kitchen smarts she baked new tarts and finished with a clatter […]

January 11, 2015

I’m Taking YOU to PARIS!

We’re going to Paris! Oh yes we are! I’ve heard it all my life. From workshop participants, folks I travel with, readers and fans of my work: “You should lead tours!” So now I am. Introducing MUSE JUICE TOURS…my unique blend of inspirational workshop and enchanted bohemian travel. We’ll be going to Paris in May and June. Budapest in summer. And Prague, too. Don’t just visit the romance, live it. Don’t just indulge a fairy tale…become one. Join me. Here’s the deets

January 8, 2015

A Valentine for the Soul

Late last night, as the minute hand on the kitchen clock ticked its way toward the number twelve to open up the first moments of Valentine’s Day like a red envelope, I sat reading the last lines of Ellen Burstyn’s autobiography Lessons in Becoming Myself. I was struck by a sentence that spoke straight to my soul: You can achieve what’s in your heart if you make room there for the love that is necessary to write from. When you feel that love, you can use your blood for ink and it will be a valentine to God. And it […]

January 7, 2015

Lupe y Bruno

Because…this is adorable.

December 12, 2014

Worlds within Words within Worlds

this is a silent poem a wordless poem a single moonpearl poem found at the bottom of a lake made of hushed footfalls at twilight and the fluid feathers of dawn this is a wordless poem because words fail me words like exquisite words like euphoric loosen their ballast and rise from the tongue as hot air balloons to be swallowed by renegade clouds in a carousel sky words like saffron and sublime silken sumptuous words like plump pillows stuffed with lavender kisses, embroidered with heathered hopes strewn across an opium bed fold in on themselves, falling away from my […]

November 13, 2014

The Second Chance Cafe

In July of 2000, I drove myself to Daytona Beach, 20 minutes west of my house in muggy, Central Florida to see Disney’s new film “The Kid.” I love most anything with Bruce Willis and the previews for this film were particularly fetching. I bought some Raisinets and settled into my chair in the darkened theater. The hour-and-a-half celluloid passed in a blink. This is what happened in the dark: The main character in the film, Russ Duritz, a sharp, clean cut, professional image consultant, who is about to turn forty, meets up with his pudgy, lisping, unkempt eight year […]

October 13, 2014

Life Itself

She fell asleep dreaming of fairy tales and tattoos. And sometime between moonset and sunrise, a bumble bee hummed across the pages of her heart. He made a hive in Once Upon a Time, and honeycombs in Happily Ever After, and on the pages in between, he scattered pollen and sunshine, night blooming jasmine and foxglove. He offered cherry blossoms to the dark and brooding thoughts, forget me nots to the lonely, forgotten places. And in the morning, she awoke tasting the golden truth of her, like honey tucked inside the roses of her cheeks. I saw […]

October 12, 2014

Seussical Salvage

i’ve heard tell of This and i’ve heard tales of That but what i really want is a Cat in the Hat he made a fine mes i’ll grant you it’s so but he cleaned up quite nice when t’was time to go so i look ’round my house at the clutter and dust and makes notes to self: ORDER NOW! IT’S A MUST! but where does one order a clean it up cat with his gadgets and gidgets hidden under his hat? if he’d just pay a visit bring his thingymabob with it’s unclutter button and anti-mess knobs there […]

August 12, 2014

Two Windows, One Choice

art by fantasim You never realize just how much stuff you’ve invited into your life until you have to pack it all up and haul it somewhere. Today I’m packing up life in cardboard boxes. Time to move. I marvel at the ways passion and devotion can equal accumulation: books, records, ticket stubs, playbills, love letters, photographs, receipts for purchases both large and small. I’ve spent ten years in this house and the remnants of proof call for assessment. I scrutinize each object, asking, “How does this serve me? Should I leave it behind? How about that? Shall I take […]

May 7, 2014

You Are Adored

You may not see itor, more accurately,you may not remember it,but you are a radiant jewel,a burning star in God’s palm. Rainbow-splendored and multi-faceted, you are brilliance incarnate, formed to receive and reflect the light. And you are adored. Forged of emerald cities, ruby slippers and bricks of golden dreams, you are a fairy tale a walking, talking practical magic. A Never-ending story, you unfold, dabbling in wonder and dripping enchantment like pomegranate seeds eaten willingly to form the turning of the seasons. Each chapter of your tale reads “adored.” You are seraphim clouds breathed into the heavens. All cotton-candy […]