of particular note

February 23rd, 2011

We have two prolific orange trees in the front yard, easily 40 or more years old but still reliably producing. There are probably 500 oranges right outside my front door perched in the trees until they get picked for juice or fruit. They don’t bother us, don’t fuss, and rarely fall. Suppose I went out and plucked a barrel, simmered them up into sloppy marmalade and rubbed it all over the bottom of your shoes?

That’s what I feel like I do when I share items like these. But hey, it’s a lonely life for all of us, the oranges too, until someone gets drunk on the juice.

This is a new anthology that borrows a previously published magazine piece of mine. Publisher’s Weekly says it has an “unsurprising lineup” of writers but “of particular note is Karen Maezen Miller’s meditation on housework.” It pays to be particular! Well, it doesn’t pay money but it still tastes good on the tongue.

Got a total kick out of this library user (damn libraries) who recounts how she wandered through the shelves in the 200s section and found someone who writes like a “normal person who happens to be a Zen Buddhist priest”  . . . “totally lacking in any conversionary rah-rah sentiments that would make me drop the book in a heap on the floor.” That’s one less fall from grace for me, and it’ll do nicely for a change.

And finally, from time to time someone will write a tiny thank you and I will respond with a teeny you’re welcome and what comes next is a heart’s rush of such power and poignancy that I trust again and know again and hope again and start all over again. The courage to keep going comes from each other.

On that note, sing.

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6 Comments »

  1. Love your example of ‘being’ and ‘sharing’. We touch people’s lives when we live out loud.

    Comment by Angela DiGiovanni | Living Out Loud — February 23, 2011 @ 4:18 pm

  2. thought of your writing today as I had a complete rage attack after my family left for work & school. The dog hair an inch thick, toys everywhere, school papers, cups, dishes and laundry. I kept thinking of your writing as a I puttered around agrily cleaning. I late went to yoga and took a walk with the dog. Rage felt and surrendered.

    Comment by brigid — February 23, 2011 @ 8:22 pm

  3. oooo! thanks for the head’s up about the anthology! I’m currently reading mama zen (and own Hand Wash Cold) and I LOVE it. LOVE. Thank you for writing it.

    Comment by Emily — February 24, 2011 @ 3:23 pm

  4. Tidbits like those are so meaningful for the solitary writer sending her words out to the universe with love.

    Also, I’m still thinking about the oranges, and the amazing marmalade you could make with them, but that’s another story.

    Comment by 6512 and growing — February 25, 2011 @ 6:39 am

  5. your writing…your incredible way with simple, everyday language, that allows me to go deep and get excited about my life in progress…a hangover i welcome with open arms. thank you.

    Comment by Tamara — February 25, 2011 @ 8:13 pm

  6. So glad I found your blog. I love appreciating and photographing my every day life. I know I am going to get a lot from your blog posts. I am off to download Hand Wash Cold.

    Cynthia
    http://coffeeonthepatio.com
    http://www.cynthiasblog.com

    Comment by Cynthia — March 3, 2011 @ 3:04 pm

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