Are We There Yet?!

Will the shit show that is 2020 ever be over?!

There’s no doubting it, 2020 has been a year like no other in living memory! Who knew in January that the whole world would shut down? That hundreds of thousands of people would die? That millions of people would test positive for a virus that knows no borders?

For me, it’s meant I haven’t sent a post in months. Bizarrely, it’s mostly because I’ve been working non-stop (working in the town’s best-known tourist spot always means busy summers and this was no exception!), coupled with struggling health-wise (thanks to some pretty well developed, non-corona super bacteria).

My productivity came to a standstill.

But what I did do was to allow myself the time off from creative pursuits. I gave myself permission to stop. I also stopped on some social media platforms. Facebook is something I check maybe once a week. I’ve abandoned Twitter. And I have to say, it’s helped me immensely!

It’s helped keep my well-being in some kind of equilibrium despite the bizarre and worrying goings-on in the world. That’s not to say I haven’t been a bit wobbly sometimes - I won’t go into details about the effects of strong antibiotics, and the intimate relationship I developed with my toilet, but let’s just say, ‘shit show’ is an apt description! Then there are the wobbles around my anxiety of not seeing my family in Australia in October as planned. And the uncertainty of when the next time might be…

I have allowed myself to be wobbly. To feel the doubt, the insecurity, the worry… then let it go. Because holding on to it won’t help me or my relationships with others.

So on the writing front, it’s been quiet.

BUT…

In July I wrote a poem called The Dance of Life - it’s a poem about connecting to the earth, to your body, and to yourself.

I also took some photographs, using one-word captions for each as part of a challenge by a writing friend.

In September I wrote a haiku called Sway.

I’ve also taken some nice photos this summer when we’ve been out in our boat. Like the one above.

Here are a few more:

What I’ve been reading:

Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta: possibly one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. Non-fiction. Beautifully written. With the subtitle, How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. After reading it I really think it can change the world…

The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt: The second book I’ve read this year by Hustvedt and it’s beautifully written. She manages to make the ordinary, the painful, the mundane, extraordinary.

Becoming by Michelle Obama: I am really glad I read this. It’s a very personal look into Michelle Obama’s life. Reading it gives insight into how hard the Obamas worked to achieve what they did, how well they work together, how Michelle Obama’s experiences growing up shaped her and made her into who she is today. I cried. Several times. Mainly because the hopes, dreams, and hard work of the Obamas have been undone.

I’ve read 53 books so far this year. My current read is called Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. So far, I am in love! There is so much in this book that needs to be shouted, sung, talked about, passed around. It’s an amazing companion read to Sand Talk too. If you get a chance to read this magical book, please do!

What I’ve been cooking:

I made some amazing pesto the other day, with cashews. It was a dip actually, but really nice on some eggs too.

I made ANZAC biscuits for my new class of students who I’m teaching English. They’re a lovely bunch, all over 65, and wanting to get better at communicating in English. Food is a good place to start and they all enjoyed the crunchy taste of these traditional Australian biscuits (that’s ‘cookie’ to any North Americans). Next week they’re getting Lamingtons!

No photos. Everything got eaten!

Other things happening:

I’ve had a poem published in a real book (there’s also a Kindle version). In spite of COVID-19 shutting everything down, the lovely young women who put together the Poetry Pills series managed to publish another anthology of poems. This one is called Poetry Pills: A Prescription for Love, available on Amazon. It’s a lovely read, full of poems of love from poets from all over the world. Check it out! It’s a bargain on Kindle (and helps support their efforts in publishing), plus each poem has a drawing by one of the talented pair.

So despite a pandemic and allowing myself “time off”, there have been a few things bubbling away.

INCLUDING… this amazing song! Lyrics are written by yours truly, with music by a lovely friend who goes by the name of Eyra Moon. It’s called When She Sings. I also inspired another friend through my poetry - he has written a rock song using my lyrics/words. This one is called Somehow.

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Thanks for subscribing to this little newsletter. If there’s anything you’d like to know or read more of, such as more poems, more book reviews, perhaps even a recommended reading list? More photos? Let me know in the comments or press reply via email. I’d love to hear from you!

Lisa x

PS This newslettery thing took me a full week to write! Don’t you love post scripts?!