Today begins the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the new year. I’m wishing you a good (and sweet) year, whether you celebrate or not.
If you were reading my blog three years ago, you might remember that spring and summer were the seasons of the hummingbird mother and babies, my father’s illness and death, and the passing of my oldest cat Mac.* These events swirled together, as life’s events often do, and I ended up writing a lyrical essay called “Ordering in Four Movements.”
That fall the essay was published in Phoebe (45.1), a beautiful print journal. If I ever put together a collection of prose pieces, maybe this one will find a “book” home. In the meantime, though, I wanted to share it with more readers via an online journal, so I submitted it as a reprint to Ginosko Literary Journal where it was subsequently accepted. This weekend the journal went live. I hope you will enjoy this piece. It means a great deal to me since it covers emotional issues that preoccupied my mind at the time.
Ginosko Literary Journal — “thumb through” to page 33
* The links in the first paragraph are to the original posts I wrote about these events. The one about Mac tells his life story ;).
I’m still working on my gun essay, but I was challenged to try it from a different angle, which has taken me down a muddy and tangled garden path. Oh boy.
May you have a sweet week ahead. And a happy birthday to poet Mary Oliver!
L’Shana tova! I love that transliterations can be spelled any way.
But on to your essay: you ordered chaos so eloquently, elegantly, soulfully. So many things that we can’t hold on to. No matter how hard we try, they float away. But we summon them back and make order with art.
L’shana tova, WJ! Yes, they float away until we summon them. I LOVE that!
Heart-rending with acceptance and forward looking. Happy Rosh Hashanah
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Happy Rosh Hashanah!
Thank you, Andy! I hope all is well!
I’m currently writing a post called ‘leaving’, so it seemed strange to see the word here! But Luanne this is an amazing piece of writing. Heart-rending, beautifully written, just beautiful.
This was a bit of serendipity, wasn’t it?! Thank you for your sweet comment!
Thanks for your beautiful reflections this morning, Luanne. In addition to YOU, Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. When I showcased her poem from THIRST this week, had no idea it was her birthday. Synchronicity abounds!
Isn’t that amazing? And it happens a lot, don’t you think? The thinking and then the birthday bit? Happy week, Elaine!
Shana Tova, Luanne! Your essay is beautiful and sad, and it’s possible that I cried a bit reading it.
Yours is one of several comments I replied to from my iPad the other day that is not here. AIIIIII. Can you hear me screaming? Stupid little machine. Thank you so much for your comment, Merril. I hope your year is sweet!
And yours, Luanne!
A lovely but sad essay, Luanne. Well written, from the heart. And my heart goes out to you too.
Thank you so much, Anneli. I’m really glad you liked it!
Lovely post. I enjoyed reading it. And, one doesn’t have to be Jewish to celebrate the holiday. Doing so can be a time of evaluation and introspection into for anyone.
Well put, Rae. I agree about a good time for “evaluation and introspection.” Have a sweet year ahead.
Yesterday my only surviving sibling passed away, leaving me the only one left with our shared past. Your essay has made me loose the tears I could not allow yesterday or this morning. I weep, not for him, for I know he is gone into the light, but for the fact I thought for two days I must call him and did not. Thank you Luanne for your honest and beautiful essay.
Oh dear! I just posted at your blog. I had no idea, of course. I’m so so very sorry for the loss of your brother. Sometimes when spirit calls us we don’t recognize it, but that doesn’t mean that your brother didn’t know you love him. I’m sending you hugs across the distance, Pauline. XOXO
I had the post ready to go and did not want to share my loss there. Your powerful writing has helped so thank you. xoxo
Thank you for saying so, Pauline. So little in the face of such loss. 🙁
You make writing look so effortless. How did you braid those pieces together? Beautiful, Luanne.
Haha, it just worked out this one time. Thanks, Susanne!
sweet day, may all who celebrate today, recall the escape out of Egypt, and the providence of God Most High, amen, and the words of forgiveness, that Jesus, preached
Thanks, BW.
A very moving piece, Luanne. A realization of the impact of endings, but also a celebration that life does go on.
I like the way you put it, Eilene! Yes, a celebration even in the face of it all.
Will read your piece, Luanne. Meanwhile a very Happy and Sweet New Year to you too! <3
Your writing is so beautiful. My eyes stung with tears… that’s ok. You’re a great writer, I hope you know that. xoxox
Your essay in the Ginosko Literary Journal was moving and elegiacal, like cherry blossoms carried by the wind.
Luanne, your essay is moving and beautiful and perfect. I know those times where everything happens at once.