A sandstorm’s moved in and it’s in my ears and eyebrows.
I climbed an ant hill of ages today and poured it out of my shoes.
Little rainbows if you look just right and up close.
I found a way to think like a bear and like a mountain.
A shadowy cloud of snow beckons and the grains are still pelting my memory.
I don’t miss home. I’m here again.
#npm15 (National Poetry Month, 2015)
As of right now, I feel elated and energized. A snowstorm is settling into our little mountain, accumulating inches on the banisters and unburned wood stacked outside. I just got off the phone with my dear best friend up here and she is so glad to hear of the news I am going to share with you! I live a privileged life, there is no doubt. I cannot say how much I appreciate everything that surrounds me and is presented into my world. This morning, I realized a new start can come from unexpected play, grand events without planning.
Things are tasting better, feeling better and looking up. My health is important and I will soon have some of the implements to see a more healthy me emerge from within the cave I harness. Soon there will be juicing and more solid exercise. More love to share.
Today I will do yoga and practice Spanish. Tomorrow I will do yoga and practice guitar. Guitar lesson this Thursday, I’ve been practicing a pentatonic scale in E. Super bluesey. The day after that I will do yoga and the Brazilian Butt Lift!! 😉 Cause I need it… I started writing a new song and I talked about that last time. I’m going to work on that too. Feeling good.
I arrived in the night in a whirlwind of giggles and tears of reunion.
Awoke in a dark room, warm from the heavy comforter and wool South American blanket designed with a red, black, blue, and cream colored geometric design.
After less sleep than normal, I rise.
Venture to the South facing kitchen for tea and hot water for which to make my compress. Yes, I must sit on hot towels to put my pain at ease, to let loose the goop within me to be HEALed.
Although it is cloudy out, I am happy to be in this home. Still. Quiet. Exactly where I am.
The mail has stacked up since Thanksgiving when I exited last. There are magazines, bills, advertisements, and letters. Dear sweet letters. One from my sweetheart, from down South in Georgia. Three from my dear friends in Chapel Hill and Saxapahaw. I visited Saxapahaw while home for a swift meeting of the loved ones – perfectly timed as it should be, learning lessons of how sweet it is to fall in love all over again with those whom you’ve loved for centuries. Learning also to understand the process as well as the means and the ends. Time seems to stretch out when there is no returning home for a long while. This is the romance of life and the nectar of true longing and contentment. To miss and to be, all at once.
I sipped my tea and read those letters and cards this morning, smiling at the uniqueness and love in each of them. Wondering when I will create time to write back. Eager to put my pen to paper or keys to paper, whichever it may be. Typewriting surges me with prose and poems as well. I do like to sit in a big comfy blanket and read poems, or novels, or Mother Earth News. Although the times this happens have been few and far between, their occurrence will happen again, I am sure.
To all you dear folks, I send to you love from these mountains. These streams and trails. These clouds, and these sunny days to come. May peace be with you during this time of holidays and I hope you all remember to give back that which you have been so blessed. Service is the action required to fulfill words and works of faith.
Road trips make me giddy …and lighting a candle before I start my work in the political world helps me to feel more cozy. That’s what I’m doing right now.
So I live in Beech Mountain now and it’s been in the lower teens as far as temperature goes for the last week. I moved and stacked a cord of wood last night in 25 degree weather and I’m leaving town today.
Excited to go and sing with my dear friend on his newest album. I’ll be there for the weekend. It is going to be lovely embracing the musical spirit in someone else’s dreams and making them a reality. I love to harmonize with other voices. This is where my musical background comes to the forefront, singing in choirs fills my heart with gladness.
Next I’m traveling home to Alamance County where I will be celebrating thanksgiving and visiting with all of my dear pals from Saxapahaw, NC. I am very much looking forward to Jazz night at the Eddy and host
ing Trivia with a music theme. I hope that all my homie humans will be there and they can commiserate my leaving and staying gone while also celebrating my momentary return. I will also be purchasing a couple of jars of Saxapahaw Honey. That makes me happy. I will be staying with my grandparents during this visit, that also makes me very happy. I am so glad they are happy and healthy and I look forward to spending some quality time with them.
On the 30th I will be taking the TRAIN to New York City. It’s an all day ride and I can’t express how excited I am about that. I love love love traveling by train. Once I was taking the train from Minneapolis to Chicago and it was glorious. I was sitting in the all glass car, playing guitar and singing for the people around me, making friends, and discussing politics when suddenly, there she was! The Julia Belle Swain! Shining in all her glory and oh how I wished that train would have slowed down so I could have stolen a better look at her. I stood up from my seat and exclaimed, “The Julia Belle Swain!” pointing out the window looking like a child who’s just seen the moon for the first time (maniacally and excitedly with bug eyes). Needless to say, everyone on that train was wondering what else was wrong with this woman they have to ride with for several more hours.
When I get to NYC, I hope to see some dear friends and catch up with the city of a million smells. On the 1st, I’ve been invited to a gala in Brooklyn recognizing my executive director for her amazing dedication to the cause of getting money out of politics and advocating for fair elections. Joan Mandle is an amazing woman whom I admire very much. I have worked for her now for about 4 years and I hope to continue because I believe in the work that we do. Tuesday, I travel to Sarah Lawrence College to speak on a panel about student engagement, local civic participation and money in politics and then I am giving a training/workshop on lobbying in New York. It is very encouraging that my student at SLC has worked so hard and is very passionate about getting this event together. I must say however, that public speaking still makes me nervous. Singing, dancing, speaking, all of it gives me butterflies.. at least in the beginning. It’s because I care.
After I’m done in NY, I’m flying to Tallahassee. YAY for Tallahassee! They are the first city to pass the Anti-corruption act (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LhEFehRWApM ) and I get to go there the same day that there is a Granny-D (famous public financing of elections advocate) commemorative walk for campaign finance reform! Link to the event webpage: https://www.facebook.com/events/1510499305868963/ I’ll be arriving late, which means I may not be able to make it to any of the events, but hopefully I get to meet up with my alumni student who’s been helping to organize these events. The main reason I am traveling to Tallahassee is to visit my sweetheart who is down in Thomasville, GA selling Christmas trees. I helped move about 100 of those trees, so I hope I sell at least one. I am very much looking forward to being in the deep South for a few weeks – mostly for the cuddling factor and getting to see my man in his holiday Elf suit, but also for the frequent visits that we will take to the Bradfordville Blues Club. The BBC is on the chitterling circuit, otherwise known as the blues trail. http://www.bradfordvilleblues.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin’_circuit
That’s about it for now, safe holiday traveling for everyone and remember to think about and pray for those in need, and then actually DO something about it.
xoxo,
Anita
were your parents loving, faithful, and held you tight when you were scared
or were you alone for a while, to think over what you’d learned
did the music start in the dark or in the light of day
does it come from your heart, or the piano that sits in the shade
is there a muse who whispers in your ear
silly nothings that become something when you shed a tear
can you really see through someone
or something that troubles you or makes you smile
relying on intuition to know what’s right or what will take a thousand miles
the trees outside sit still in the Summer’s lack of breeze
but like a microburst of strength and divinity
a million waves came though and tore away all the leaves
all the shades, all the loose branches, all the sturdy homes, all the questions
all the rainstorms and sets of eyes closed to affection
I’ll stand aside and watch from an old creaky window, if only for a while
I’ll be sure to climb underneath the house, down to the cellar if there’s a need to cry
I’ll take these dreams to bed and wake up with them in the morning
The ones that recur, the ones that make me sweaty, the ones that are circular in design
Reminded of and smiling about how time quickly passes
There are no chances, only happenings for sets of eyes to open
Click below to see the powerpoint…
anita lorraine moore 