Is A List Enough?

 Early this am, I read my Substack, Isolation Journals. 99% of the time, maybe 100%, a prompt

that causes me to pause, think, write and write some more. Today was the Day. 2,200 Lists Later was Suleika's title. I love lists, scraps of things, that I need to buy, do, or just remember. I am typing

now from yellow post it notes. No order, just quick words, spilling from my brain at all hrs or day or night. Makes me so happy.

I have a friend, Jamie Romano, who keeps a book of quotes. So beautiful is her handwriting, and so organized her entries. She even makes some of her own journals and gives them as gifts.

I have good friends that we discuss memories with, some vault worthy. Like how did all the surfers that we grew up with, hippies maybe, high yes, turn into MAGA people. I was trying to explain this to my husband, this week retuning from heart doctor!! I named names, and stories. I told him when I get home, I'm calling Susan, because you do not know about Lee Carrolls Bedroom activities!! Or Jeff Owens teaching me to surf, these are notes!!Lists.

I have another group of girlies that love movies, and TV and books.We have lists of people ( OK maybe male people) to whom we may have a strong desire to sleep with, details included. Dirty, filthy hair, Natty and I dont mind, I think Purlotta is cleaner!!! we all agreed on Paul Mescal!! in a jack flash minute, Timothee  is on the fence right now. We all agree on Swifter dusters for sure. 

Family Lists, lord have mercy, those have a journal book of their own. Growing up in the south, I have massive amounts of stories, my lists are long. We sit our crazy on the front porch and offer them a drink. Wonderful stories of all on relatives, WONDERFUL aunties and cousins.

My life is made up, put together with many lists, scraps of ribbon and threads of love.

I consider all, good material.

Happy Sunday

Mom, You Need To Blog.

I have not blogged on Stop Talking Aunt Lucille, for a long time. I write in six journals, and on Substack, Isolation Journals . Write poetry and grocery lists, but I hand write blogs for days like this one, angels.

Books consumed my summer and have run into winter, so I thought now I would give you a taste. 

Note: three books I got for Christmas but did not highlight or review were, An Artists Life by by Mary Whyte, Women Holding Things by Maira Kalman, Wise Women by Joyce Tennison. Two good friends sent me these jewels, and they are a must read for all women. AND you can offer to male humans, but.....I think they are for Women only. ( I also got a pair of earrings made out of baseball leather, from The Roswell Barons, that blew me away.) All the above were my favorite Christmas gifts. OH and some vintage jewelry, and granola that thrilled me. I have the best girlfriends!!!

Now to books I picked out.

1.They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson.  What Your children need is a good depression.

Our parents didn't see us from dawn to dusk.

Same family. Our memories are all different, our experiences unique.

2.Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell ( My favorite book and movie) She is unmoored,  She grows up with the awareness  that she is merely tolerated. The words seem to slide down the page, as if they weigh more at the end of a sentence than at the beginning.

3.Things in Nature Grow by YiYun Li (very sad) Call it aching, call it wrenching or call it shattering. I am in an abyss. I don't want ad end point to my sorrow. That a mother can no longer mother her children won't change the fact that her thoughts are mostly a mothers thoughts.

4. The Mad Wife by Meagan Church. Stories have a way of finding us at just the right time, or sometimes at the most fragile moments. Another woman lost to the epidemic of nerves mixed with boredom. Mama sometimes called me obstinate. (My Mom called me, too sensitive, hard headed and too much imagination) ( schooled just said, I talked too much!)

5.Everything Happens For A Reason by Kate Bowler. I have taken up cursing for lent. Joy persists somehow and I soak it in.

6.The Lost Book Shop by Evie Woods.

7. Growing up Jacksonville.

8. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

9. Bread of Angels by Pattie Smith

All of these are good , but Theo of Golden pretty special. I also Love all Patti Smiths books.

I need to close and go see my beloved dentist, yuck. It is grey outside, raining and no leaves on the trees yet. Melancholy hovers near, but I do see some Daffodils!! When Happiness shows up give it a comfortable seat and a good book.