Porthole

My Month is May. R3,4,7,8,9,10

Spring?

A mini-review of "Invalid Item"  by Bruce.

Ah... Springtime in Surrey? In any case, although I like the sonnet and give it a 4.0 rating, its language is weak. What tree is blooming? Whitethorn, apple, plum? 'blossoms festoon whitethorn' perhaps. And could it be 'hyacinths' or 'lilacs' instead of 'spring flowers'? Why mention 'winter'; why not 'frost' or some other sign of winter. Instead of 'in the young hearts' why not 'in throbbing/budding/bursting hearts' or some other sign of action instead of merely descriptive and static adjectives. For that matter... every 'is' and 'the' needs to be struck. So much could be done to make this less generic! A stronger title could be "Springtime in Surrey" with no need to use the word 'spring' again in the text. The reader would know where and when. Do you have a May festival like in Derbyshire? Specificity is best. Adding a fragrance would be a nice touch; it already has sights and sounds.

"Space Blog"  "What is your favorite season and why is it your favorite?

Spring. As in the Month of May. Where I grew up March was the cruel step-mother and April its cruel offspring. May was misty and warming, never too hot nor too cold. Any snow was a final kiss that melted in a day. Plus, all the flowers and new growth on the trees. And the first smell of freshly mown grass. May was a nice month elsewhere as well. Kansas = warm spring. Costa Rica = hot and humid and buggy after the first rains, but green and no longer dusty. Montana is nice in May, a warm green spring.

For "Welcome To My Reality Forum" 

3. What would make you happy right now?

Hearing my friend Gary's voice. Always happy to connect with someone who is wind and water (think glacial). As a lava rock (earth and fire) I appreciate his unruffled demeanor. With coffee in my cup and sun shining through the windows on this cool day that would cheer me up.

4. How do you feel right at this moment?

Okay... so much writing to do. So not completely calm. A bit on edge but my blood pressure and temperature seems okay (both yo-yo) so I should be grateful. I'm a tad overwhelmed but not to the extent that I was over the summer.

7. What makes you sad?

Everything. A sense of loss. Health slipping away and the realization that I can't get it back. The loss of friends and family most of all. Joyce and Lavinia died (Ron too) so I can't tell them that I miss them. I'm not in touch with people like I'm used to when I travel or when I can hang out in a cafe. Many of the young people I once knew have flown away. Life goes on. I feel left behind.

8. What do you need to let go of?

So many things. I've let my journal go (after over 15 years and 50,000 pages). I need to let go of family and friends. They aren't interested in me. I'm letting go of the idea of ever being a writer according to the world. I must be satisfied with writing for myself... I need to let go of the notion that I can travel without some serious forethought.

9. What makes you angry? How do you deal with your anger?

Fear perhaps. A sense of losing control. Memory loss does not help. I may need to impose some routines on myself (like where I set my glasses down). The last 8 months have been full of free floating anxiety and the injustice of not being able to travel or even prove that I am safe to travel. And the sheer costs that limit a budget traveler. Deal with it? Not well. I try to avoid people when I'm overly angry.

10. What cheers you up when you are feeling down?

Any small kindness. And weather events like the first snow. Any unexpected good news. A postcard in the mail for instance. Elle - on hiatus sent me a card from New Zealand and I must write a few for the Snail-Mail group "The Snail Mail Forum" . I picked up 6 Montana postcards last Saturday. No excuses! Sunshine helps as autumn fades into winter.

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