Il dolce far niente

Posted in essay, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Life9 Comments

I just finished reading an article in AARP Magazine written by Bob Brody, an essayist and author. The article, entitled Relearning the Fine Art of Doing Nothing, reminded me that a walk around the park isn’t a race, nor should it be. Since my Bob (Robert Vander Meer) passed away May 30, 2024, I seem to be trying to outdistance my grief. Busy, busy, busy!

Brody’s article has me rethinking that approach. Maybe it’s okay to enjoy the good times as they come and not worry about whether I’m doing enough to stay engaged with life. I’m 80. Just how much engagement do I need? Well, enough to avoid isolation, but not so much I feel unduly pressured.

A good friend (also a widow), and I have agreed to start walking around a local park now that the days are getting longer, and the weather is improving. We’re building stamina for a trip we plan to take this summer that will require some degree of strenuous walking. I’m using the aid of a rollator (four-wheeled rolling walker for those of you who aren’t there yet), my friend under her own steam. After reading Brody’s article it occurred to me that with the help of the rollator, I can step right out, sometimes leaving my friend a few steps behind. Why? Because I’ve always believed that when you were headed out the door, there must be some place you had to be. For me, getting there (wherever there was) on or ahead of schedule has always been paramount.

After reading Brody’s article, I thought back to a time when just being a kid was the only thing I had to do, running wild through trees and brush, finding a hidden waterfall and underground tunnels, going places that would have given my mother a heart attack, had she known. Oh, my! Did we have fun and not a care in the world.

So, maybe, instead of racing around the park, I’ll slow down so my friend and I may talk to the dog walkers and tourists along the way, or maybe just admire the beauty all around, and the gorgeous buildings that make our town unique. And simply be.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll feel lighter in my heart because in this town where we lived many happy years together, I’ll feel the joy once more of being alive – as my Bob would say – in this great big, beautiful world. *Il dolce far niente, my friends.

*The sweetness of doing nothing.

ODE TO A BOY

Posted in essay, Inspiration, Poetry, Poetry & Prose2 Comments

Bob collected all things John Deere. He grew up on a farm, but farming was not his profession of choice. Anything would have been preferable to farming. Nevertheless, he respected those who chose to live that life and was proud of his heritage. That may be why he had such a fondness for John Deere memorabilia. For him it represented the stalwart nature of people like his dad and mom, salt of the earth people with integrity, grit, and tenacity. His happiest day on the farm came when his dad bought a tractor (not a John Deere) and retired the horses.

ODE TO A BOY
Oh, you powerful beasts,
muscled and strong, built for labor
hitched to heavy wagons
or tillers or plows as need may be.
You were all so much bigger than he,
a wee lad who wanted to please his dad
by driving those horses to each chore
fearless he, this boy, in days of yore.

That determination stayed with Bob his entire life. He loved his work. He loved his family. He did his best. It warms my heart when people speak of him with respect and affection. His happy place was his office, and his most satisfying activity was taking care of patients. It has been more than four months since he passed from this life into the next. I miss him but am grateful for the nearly 44 years we had together. And, yes, I expect to see him again, someday.

Feeling Fanciful

Posted in Inspiration, Photography, Poetry5 Comments

Happy Fall! It’s that time of year when it’s not quite autumn but it sure feels like it. This is my favorite time of year. There is no aroma like that of chile roasting and the vibrancy of color as vegetation sheds its green and prepares for winter, at least in parts of the country and the world. I can’t imagine waking up every day to blooming flowers and greenery in abundance. I like the seasons, all four of them, even that one called spring that blows through like a whirlwind.

AUTUMN MEDITATION
A perfect photo op,
the single sunflower sits atop
a sturdy stem swaying in the wind,
it does not break, nor does it bend.
Sitting there against a sky of blue
its pristine beauty hardy and true.
I want to paint it in words sublime
as I watch its silent swaying mime.

TREE TROLL
There is a troll in my tree,
only I can see,
that’s okay he will be
what he will be
and entertain the child in me.

Brain Storming

Posted in Photography, Poetry9 Comments

I try to write a poem a day, sometimes more than one, but mostly just one. Sometimes they follow a theme and at others the brainstorm is all over the place, kind of a reflection of what’s going on in my head or in my life. So, here’s a selection from the past week that I hope you will find interesting or entertaining or provocative, or all three.

The photo, by the way, is of a recent Las Vegas, NM rainstorm.

THE QUALITY OF LIGHT
How can we not be in awe
of God’s creation?
Grass shot through with sunlight
paints a variety of green
in each blade.

Listen to the trill of a hummingbird
in search of sweet nectar.

Our world is alive with beauty.
May we look at those we encounter
with the same wide-eyed wonder,
seeing in them God’s hand at work
in the beauty displayed by each soul.

LEAVES ALIGHT
Have you seen
how light streams
through leaves
making them nearly
translucent,
as if each leaf
is lit from within?

 NATURE
Trees weep with wonder,
raindrops bead like crystal gems
the shimmer of life.

LIVING THE DREAM
When you’re 17
you think living the dream
is to be popular and pretty,
your size itty bitty.

By 27 you come to realize
happiness isn’t determined by your size,
or looks or being loved by all,
such thinking leads to a fall.

37 arrives and the stunned face
that is your reflection shows no trace
of the hopes you had when you were young
your songs of happy ever after left unsung.

Time marches us toward tomorrow
never knowing if we will face joy or sorrow.
Wins and losses clutter the road in our wake,
and we hope we give back more than we take.

Where did time go?
This is the truth I now know
to live each day with kindness and laughter,
is to be remembered fondly hereafter.

FRAIL
The thing about age
is that it carves
into my body and brain
the impression I am frail,
which to a degree I am,
and feeble-minded,
which I may be,
things don’t stick like they use to.

But… that isn’t who I am.
I have earned the right
to be skeptical about politics
–– not leadership, politics ––
of every stripe and brand.

I have gained wisdom
at the hard school of life.

Silence doesn’t mean
I am addled or not with it,
but that I’ve learned
the sure way to show
how much I don’t know
is to open my mouth
and start talking.

PHOTO: SHARON VANDER MEER

IN MEMORY…

Posted in essay, poetry, Renewal20 Comments

Good grief! It’s been too long since I posted ANYTHING on this blog. Heaven knows who might actually see this, but if you do, please know I look forward to your comments.

As many of you know, my dear and amazing husband Bob Vander Meer, passed away on May 30, 2024. What follows are reflective poems honoring his memory. I confess to not paying attention to ‘poetic form’ and wrapped my heart instead around what I was and am feeling. We all grieve in different ways. I am so grateful to my family and friends for their love and support and presence, and for continuing to be there for me every day.

TIME
This is the moment.
Seize it. Do not
look to later
for by then,
it may be too late.

CHANGE
Life changed for me today,
not at all in a good way,
but possibly for the best
my husband is at rest.

He Is standing at Heaven’s door
painless and upright now and ever more.

MISSING YOU
Today is the next day
without you,
missing your voice
and seeing your
quirky, lovely smile.
I miss you.
Be at peace, my love,
and filled with joy
as you dance
with the angels
to the music of
Lawrence Welk,
and tell Jesus
your dear wife
says, ‘hi’.

STARTING NOW
We are now a me
and right now,
I don’t like it.
I never will.

You are an essential part
of who I am.
Will I go on
without you?
Of course I will,
but I’ll miss you
being beside me
every step of the way
all through the day.

HORIZONS
Clouds bunch and thin,
regroup into whimsical shapes,
like my mind and heart
creating life in new ways
as I move forward
without you by my side.
You remain in the essence
of who I am…
…that will never change.

STOP
You would think the world would STOP!
so I could breathe
and process
and grieve.
But it does not.
I rely on the healing nurture
of nature and the presence
of God in every leaf and cloud
as I find my way,
toward peace and joy each new day.

LAUGHTER
Life goes on
Altered by a new reality.
Used up and sad for now.
Good news!
He is here!
The God of all
Eases light into each day,
Rays of peace and hope.

THE BEACH
Landlocked and far from lapping waves
that wash upon the shore,
memory takes me there
where blue-grey waters
stretch to the horizon
and I am at peace.

TREE WHISPER
The shush, shush, shush
sighing through the trees
sing songs heard
deep in my soul,
quieting my spirit.

UNTOLD
How much do we not remember
of days gone by? Or do we recall
with little veracity at all,
only what puts us in a good light
doing only those things that are oh so right.
On this my 80th year around the sun,
I vow to be joyful and share the fun
of living in thankful anticipation
of every moment of grand elation.

PISMO
Sandy shores and waves
washing upon the beach,
water stealing away our footsteps
as we walk hand-in-hand.
These memories etched
indelibly on my heart.

First photo we were both MUCH younger 😊. The bottom photo was taken several years ago on our last visit to Pismo Beach, CA, a place we loved to go.

IS SELF-PUBLISHING RIGHT FOR YOU?

Posted in creativity, writing

To be published, first you must write. As E.B. White said: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” The same can be said of publishing. It is work and you must work at it, whether you are going the indie (self-publishing) or traditional route. Your creative muse may not like to hear this, but taking your book to market is a business, and as with any business, you are in charge of its success.

Indie Publishing means you take on the multifaceted role of getting your book before the eyes of readers. If you’re ready to do that, then self-publishing may be right for you. In self-publishing, you, the writer, control every stage of the process.

indie-publishingDownload

Traditional publishing is the Gold Standard for most – but not all – writers. The focus of this article is on self-publishing but it also looks at traditional publishing. Click the download button for a PDF of my recent Las Vegas Lit presentation, Is indie publishing right for you?

Sources for parts of this content include Kindle Direct Publishing, selfpublishing.com, nybookeditors.com, and xlibris.com.

Traditional Publishers Reality Check – First you write the book and then…

The work of traditional publishing includes knowing your target audience, getting an agent, writing a query letter.

On the plus side – the author gets help with editing, marketing and distribution. Note the emphasis on help. Traditional publishers don’t do everything especially when it comes to marketing and distribution.

Indie Publishing Reality Check – First you write the book and then…

The work of indie publishing includes knowing your target audience, hiring a qualified editor, hiring a cover designer, hiring an interior format designer, deciding which publishing platform to use, managing your book’s marketing and distribution, getting readers to review your book and post to appropriate sites, vie for the attention of readers in a saturated market, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. With Kindle Direct Publishing, if you have the background and skill sets, you may want to do most of this yourself. KDP has many free tools for you to use. The one service you want to consider paying for is a reputable editor. Even the most self-critical writer will inadvertently turn a blind eyes to his/her/their mistakes.

On the plus side, you control how your book will be managed and in most cases, you get 100% of royalties

In the attached presentation I show a sample self-publishing package from a company called Xlibris, with which I have had some experience. The bad news is that in the basic package, $1,999, the printing cost per book can be pricey, $11 to $13 per 280 page book, not including shipping cost. That would mean selling your book at a markup of 100 percent ($22 to $26) in hopes of making back your initial investment. That doesn’t take into consideration paying an editor, cover creator and interior book designer, marketing, and distribution costs. The good news, if you can pay the price, is that self-publishing companies have packages that cover a lot of these services. In the case of Xlibris packages range from $1,999 with limited services to $14,999. The goal of these companies is not to sell your book, but to sell you services. Not all companies are alike, so do your research before choosing one.

KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing, is a more affordable option with printing costs for a 250-page book at about $3.65 per copy, not including shipping costs. Some KDP advantages include Amazon Kindle exclusive, your book is available quickly, you have absolute control of the final product, the price for resale is more in line with the market, interior design is more flexible, and updating the file is easy. So, yes, printing costs are less, but you will still need to invest in paying an editor, cover creator and interior book designer, plus marketing and distribution costs.

The really good news is that as a self-published author you are in good company. Notable indie authors include Mark Twain, John Grisham, L. Ron Hubbard, Walt Whitman, Richard Paul Evans, Beatrix Potter, T.S. Elliot, Upton Sinclair, Margaret Atwood… just to name a few. Some of these writers elected to self-publish after becoming established. A few were self-published right out of the gate.

Potential red flags when selecting a self-publisher

1. No contact details.​ You should be able to pick up the phone and call, or at least send an email and get a personalized response within 24-48 hours.

2. No testimonials.​ There should be plenty of social proof of other authors who’ve worked with the service.

3. A hard sell. ​If the sales team is pushing you to upgrade your package, it’s a warning sign that they only care about getting your money and not about getting results.

4. Cryptic or unclear pricing. ​Reputable services explain exactly how much they charge. They don’t require that you email them first for pricing.

5. Required purchases.​ Avoid companies that force you to buy a specific number of copies as part of your contract.

6. Asks you to sign over your rights.​ The service is an assistant, not a publisher. You should retain all material rights.

7. Guarantees that you will become a bestseller.​ No one, not even a traditional publisher, can fulfill such a promise.

Helpful Links

Kindle Direct Publishing https://kdp.amazon.com

selfpublishing.com https://selfpublishing.com

Lulu https://www.lulu.com/

IngramSpark https://www.ingramspark.com

Good luck on your self (indie) publishing journey. It is not for the faint of heart. Determination, knowing your technical limitations, understanding your target market, having persistence and discipline, these are among the skills you need or will want to acquire. Anyone can write a book. Anyone can self-publish a book. Finding people to buy and read your book, that’s a whole new ballgame. That’s what makes it challenging, engaging and fun!

For more information about Las Vegas Lit go to www.lvlitnm.org

PHOTO CREDIT: BOB HENSSLER

LIGHT SHOW

Posted in Photography, Poetry4 Comments

Glittering with refracted light
snow makes everything look bright
and leads us all to observe with smiles
the quirkiness of nature’s wiles.
In every single pristine flake
dropped to earth for mother nature’s sake
it joyfully renews the earth
awaiting the glories of spring’s rebirth.

SEASONAL SILLY

Posted in creativity, Halloween, Holidays, Photography, poetry, writing8 Comments

GHOST
(An acrostic poem)

Goulies grumble,
howlers mumble,
other worldly sounds a jumble,
sighing, crying, wailing, all around
talking, talking their eerie sound!

BOO TO YOU
Hootie tunes and shrieking screams
scary thingies in your dreams.
On this haunted, hunted night
what next on tap will give you fright?
Creeping, leaping, jumping, sneaking
is that a ghost at whom you’re peeking?

Tiptoe back, slither down the hall
when spooky phantoms on you call.
Get into a warm and comfy bed,
pull the covers o’er your head.

Sweet visions conjure into being,
ignore the specter on the ceiling.
Come out and play, he moans,
Halloween lasts but a day, he groans.

Laugh, laugh away your silly fear,
the pumpkin grin will bring you cheer.
Gliding ghouls are hosts to you
waiting, waiting, and then – BOO!

WALKING IN OCTOBER
There, clouds riding high
in a brilliant blue, blue sky.
Further along blackbirds cluster,
feathers flap with wicked bluster.
A shedding tree bares its limbs,
dropping leaves like floating gems.

A pumpkin here, scarecrow there,
a ghostly presence to give a scare!
The air is fresh with a little bite,
woodsmoke smell of fireplace alight.
Oh, the joy of an October walk,
listening to Mother Nature squawk and talk.

HAUNTED HOUSE
The sorry sounds of ghostly howls
run down the walls like blood
from cuts deep into the weary hearts
of any who tread the halls
of the empty house left to dead dreams.

Once filled with flash and fun,
now memories cluster in corners
left to rot like abandoned meat
nibbled at by rats and brindled cats
prowling the creaking floors where human feet tread no more.

CROW DOWN
The crow cawed its eerie cry,
people shuddered as they hurried by
until the second settled in
bringing luck with its wings tucked in.
A third arrived, a sign of health,
and brought one more, the fourth for wealth.
No, no! here comes number five, does illness loom?
Yes, yes the sixth arrives bringing death and doom.

WHISTLING WIND
The sound abounds and sighs around,
growing soft then shrill as a broken wheel
crawling up my back in a fright attack.
From where does that sound whirl
making hearts cringe and toes curl?
Why it’s nothing more than a piece of tin,
whistling, whistling in the wind.

Halloween 2023. The photo is the resilient flower box by our front door. Seemed fitting for my Halloween-themed poetry. Enjoy!

The Las Vegas Arts Council needs you

Posted in Arts, Enrichment, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, New Mexico, My Town

The years of pandemic, drought, fire, and floods have not been kind to the Las Vegas Arts Council.

Las Vegas Arts Council

Although the facility on Bridge Street was not damaged, much of the area served by the Council was devastated. The pain and loss carried over into the business and nonprofit communities of the Las Vegas and Mora areas.

Richard Lindeborg, the current president of the organization, points out that during these hard times, the Council presented as many online art shows as it could.

“There were fewer shows overall,” he said. “Without the usual level of excitement.” The Council was not able to put on the traditional People’s Faire for three years or host the Missoula Children’s Theatre for two years.

“The number of members in the Arts Council shrank from well over 100 to the high 30s, he said, “and other sources of funding declined as well. Programs are back, but the organization continues to struggle financially,”

The Arts Council has been in operation since 1976 and is the only community art gallery dedicated to presenting contemporary and traditional art.

“We’ve called a couple of retired board officers back into service and are planning fundraising activities to help us exit 2023 in the black and build a foundation for 2024,” Lindeborg said.

The Arts Council has already launched a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $2,500 or more to meet expenses through the holidays. To contribute, go to this GoFundMe.com link. Former Arts Council President Bob Henssler set up the campaign, “Pandemic, Drought, Fire, Floods.”

The Council’s ability to operate into the coming year will depend on memberships and sponsorships among individuals and businesses.

Henssler is heading up the drive among individuals and families with a goal of signing up 100 members before the new year. Regular memberships are $50, with hopes of attracting some $100, $250, and even $1,000 members. There are also discounted memberships at $25 and artist memberships at $20.

Former Council Vice President Jim Hunyadi is heading up the drive for business members and supporters. The organization is looking for at least 25 businesses to sign up. Regular business memberships are $100, with higher level memberships for $250, $500 $1,000 or more.

“A vibrant arts scene in Las Vegas is good for business, Hunyadi emphasized. “The arts attract tourists and new residents to our community.”  

“Local individuals, families and businesses contribute the largest single share of our budget,” Lindeborg said. “Raising $15,000 locally will give us a chance to sponsor student art shows during the winter and begin planning for summer programs.

Article provided by the Las Vegas Arts Council. Please share with your network.

BLANKETFLOWER

Posted in essay, Poetry4 Comments

Is it true, gaillardia,
you amazing bit of flora,
that your common name
springs from the bright
and beautiful blankets
made by Native Americans,
pulling inspiration from
Mother Nature’s palette?
Oh! I do hope so!
I’m drawn even more
to your astounding blossoms,
and think of the unparalleled artistry
of Native American weavers
leaving threads of history and beauty
in the tapestry of life.

Photo – Sharon Vander Meer (c)