Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
My Love Follows You Where You Go
More wishes than a thousand hearts can count for you
More smiles than a merry-go-round
The sweetest ending to a bed-time story told
My love follows you where you go
More laughter than a kindergarten out to play
One Sunday morning song that says it all
More summer than a California beach can hold
My love follows you where you go
Future like a promise - and you're a city of Gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow
My love follows you where you go
Take forgiveness - take a prayer - take the deepest breath
Take the answers in your heart
When you wake up and the world is cruel and cold
My love follows you where you go
Future like a promise - and you're a city of Gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow
My love follows you where you go
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
My love follows you where you go
More freedom than a field of flowers in the wind
More beauty than a morning after rain
Up the steepest hill - a dark and crooked road
My love follows you where you go
My love follows you where you go
My Love Follows You Where You Go Barry Dean/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose
_______________________________________________________
I love Alison Krauss, and I found out last night that I get to see her in Chattanooga next Friday thanks to a friend! And in a 1920's theatre! Now that's a Good Friday.
AND Snow Patrol is next Tuesday at the Ryman!
More smiles than a merry-go-round
The sweetest ending to a bed-time story told
My love follows you where you go
More laughter than a kindergarten out to play
One Sunday morning song that says it all
More summer than a California beach can hold
My love follows you where you go
Future like a promise - and you're a city of Gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow
My love follows you where you go
Take forgiveness - take a prayer - take the deepest breath
Take the answers in your heart
When you wake up and the world is cruel and cold
My love follows you where you go
Future like a promise - and you're a city of Gold
Stubborn in your bones and Jesus in your soul
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
I won't pretend that it's not killing me
Watching you walk away slow
My love follows you where you go
Seeing you stand there - staring at the unknown
My love follows you where you go
More freedom than a field of flowers in the wind
More beauty than a morning after rain
Up the steepest hill - a dark and crooked road
My love follows you where you go
My love follows you where you go
My Love Follows You Where You Go Barry Dean/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose
_______________________________________________________
I love Alison Krauss, and I found out last night that I get to see her in Chattanooga next Friday thanks to a friend! And in a 1920's theatre! Now that's a Good Friday.
AND Snow Patrol is next Tuesday at the Ryman!
Monday, March 26, 2012
3.23-25.2012; or, A Decidedly Green Weekend
Friday night I went to a movie with my friend Anca. I didn't really like the movie, and I cried my eyes out during it, while Anca laughed at me crying, and the stranger to my right patted my hand.
When I got to my house, Gabe and our friend Ben were on the front porch talking. It was a good, warm night outside and the entire scene was decidedly Southern. Heaven knows this is a heartland.
The next morning I woke up before the bees to dig out some more flower beds. I met this friend:
And this friend:
And discovered that our mystery bush is a honeysuckle!
Once the bees came out, I retreated into the house and made breakfast for Gabe, Ben, and myself. We ate eggs and freshly baked croissants while watching videos about how unconstitutional our federal government is. It was a very successful morning.
After Ben headed home, Gabe and I started working on some house-settling. We went in our basement and found the piano bench. I played some Bach.
And worked on designing my bookshelves. I may or may not have fallen asleep during that conversation.
We went to my parents' house and snatched up my couch and desk and some shelves. We finally have a couch!
Sunday morning, Tanya made us breakfast. She never ceases to amaze me. Her french toast was lovely, and she said she hadn't 'perfected' it yet. I wanted to tell her that if it was more perfect, I would die.
We went to the Farmer's Market, which I had never done before, and that was fun.
Apparently I was exhausted, because I fell asleep again at 4:00 and slept until 7:50, just in time to wake up and walk out on my deck and see FIREFLIES!!! ON MARCH 25!!! This is the earliest they've come out. I was so happy to see them. Even amid these raptures, I remembered I was about to be late for something very important! I rushed around, got ready and went to a party to watch the Season 5 premiere of MADMEN! Two whole hours! Gabe, Heather, and Otto were the perfect group to watch it with. And it was a good thing I took that massive nap, because we sat on the deck of his music-row cottage and talked until 2 am. Good. Rich. Alive.
But now I'm sleepy.
When I got to my house, Gabe and our friend Ben were on the front porch talking. It was a good, warm night outside and the entire scene was decidedly Southern. Heaven knows this is a heartland.
The next morning I woke up before the bees to dig out some more flower beds. I met this friend:
And this friend:
And discovered that our mystery bush is a honeysuckle!
Once the bees came out, I retreated into the house and made breakfast for Gabe, Ben, and myself. We ate eggs and freshly baked croissants while watching videos about how unconstitutional our federal government is. It was a very successful morning.
After Ben headed home, Gabe and I started working on some house-settling. We went in our basement and found the piano bench. I played some Bach.
And worked on designing my bookshelves. I may or may not have fallen asleep during that conversation.
We went to my parents' house and snatched up my couch and desk and some shelves. We finally have a couch!
Sunday morning, Tanya made us breakfast. She never ceases to amaze me. Her french toast was lovely, and she said she hadn't 'perfected' it yet. I wanted to tell her that if it was more perfect, I would die.
We went to the Farmer's Market, which I had never done before, and that was fun.
Apparently I was exhausted, because I fell asleep again at 4:00 and slept until 7:50, just in time to wake up and walk out on my deck and see FIREFLIES!!! ON MARCH 25!!! This is the earliest they've come out. I was so happy to see them. Even amid these raptures, I remembered I was about to be late for something very important! I rushed around, got ready and went to a party to watch the Season 5 premiere of MADMEN! Two whole hours! Gabe, Heather, and Otto were the perfect group to watch it with. And it was a good thing I took that massive nap, because we sat on the deck of his music-row cottage and talked until 2 am. Good. Rich. Alive.
But now I'm sleepy.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything
Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
U2's Grace
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything
Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything
Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
U2's Grace
3.20-22.2012
Tanya made this Banana Bread to mark the arrival of Spring. She really is the best cook I've ever known, and thank god, she's my room mate.
These are the steps you go up to get into our house, and when they are wet, they are treacherous.
Gabe made this chair and it's now living on our deck.
The next day I drove out to Hartsville to get my friend Cayla to do my hair, it's quite copper-golden-bright now.
We ordered dinner from a restaurant around the corner and feasted while my hair was turning 400 shades lighter.
On the way back I stopped by the church where I grew up and attended school to see my brothers and some other friends playing basketball. Oh nostalgia.
Last night I got to go straight home (I've been going to my parent's house all week to make them dinner and get the kids going on their homework while mom is recovering from her surgery) and even though I wanted to plant all my new ranunculus, the skies denied my plans and poured rain on the pollen-enflamed city (highest pollen count on Wednesday for all time!!!). So Gabe, Tanya and I moved deep into the city to have dinner.
The city sparkled as if it were Christmas-time. It wore its Sunday best on a Thursday evening.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
"Nothing Good Gets Away"
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
(Who is 'Fa'? He is John Steinbeck. He wrote this letter to his son when he was in high school.)
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
(Who is 'Fa'? He is John Steinbeck. He wrote this letter to his son when he was in high school.)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I'm aching for blackberries, fireflies, and heart-heavy twilights.
I started working on this a couple of days ago. There is a reason that the video for U2's Heartland is set in Memphis.
In decidedly un-Southern news: Just bought my plane ticket to visit so many dear friends this Summer. BNA to PDX for the first time in a very long time.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
3.19.2012, or, "Is it nap time yet?"
I woke up Friday morning to this kind of mist-glistening-purple-eyed beauty.
Waking up to such beauty led me to a garden center right after work and I came home with these new friends:
When I was planting them, I met this little fellow:
My brother and I drove our friend back up to Indiana on Sunday. We had lunch in Louisville (I got yummy honey seared 'chicken' and veggies from a great vegetarian place called Green Leaf). We walked down this street to get to our lunch:
And then drove over this bridge:
Gabe was really tired when we got to Indiana
After we dropped Christopher off, we found this gem:
And passed back through Louisville
Friday, March 16, 2012
3.15.2012, or "Et tu, Brute?"
Sunshine in the morning . . .
. . . gave way to another magnificent March storm . . .
(view from my office window-North)
. . . which gave way to dinner with friends and the usual visit to the Belcourt with Christopher . . .
(I am so excited about this)
. . . which naturally led to late night coffee shop time with the brother.
A wonderful day.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
I'm quite in love with my new house, and the good evenings we've been having there.
Last night was perhaps the most beautiful weather I've ever experienced. In my car of the way home I was whispering sweet nothings to the sky and taking photos (it's a miracle I made it home).
Tanya had made an AMAZING dinner for us all- tag pic pac, asparagus, and scallops. I love her and her desire to share her talents with us all.
(Photo by Gabe)
So Gabe, Tanya, Karie, Christopher and I sat on the deck and ate this wonderful meal, prepared by this wonderful friend, and looked to the wonderful sky.
All around us brewed bluesy storms, lightning danced in a circle, but we were in a golden pocket of peace. Our faces were all golden, our trees were golden. I was made quite silly by the Midas kissed light and ran from the front porch to the back deck to see the view on both side of the house.
Finally the storm reached us, but it was a merciful rain, not the hail that many of our friends experienced. When the storm passed, it left behind a trail of rich-rainbow-dewey sky before evening fell.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)