The Reliable Promise of Renewal
In writing and in life, spring always arrives and with it comes new hope and life
Behind the Scenes updates on the land-stalker and the arrival of vintage daffodils, and a gifted Exclusive Writing Lab teaching on what is a perfect essay by Joanne Beard
Hi and welcome to Flight School:
It’s an honor to have you here and all my thanks to everyone who reads, shares, and makes comments. Please be patient with me in my responses. I’m here for long chunks of time but then need to get other things done…for instance, if you look at the top of my site-page here on Substack, you’ll see the new section “Summer of ‘72.” This is the book I’m re-writing for you, right now, and will be releasing one chapter at a time starting in early March. More on that over the coming weeks…for now, let’s get to today’s bounty of teachings starting with the update on the land-stalker.
Behind the Scenes: Amber Alert
The text comes in a few days earlier. “Have you seen this?” With it, the screen shot of a story on the local channels of communication here in our hamlet of a couple thousand souls. “Amber” as I’ve been calling her in the stories written here has stolen a car from very near where I live and it’s become a man-hunt (woman-hunt). This seems remarkable considering these were the days of ice so thick and roads so treacherous, even the most robust ATV driver remained inside, but there you have it.
It seems, despite the priest’s prayers and blessing and my wearing the scapular every day, my friend has returned to the area and has long been skulking about. Or, perhaps because of the blessing of the land and cabin, and the scapular, she hasn’t come here but has been repelled beyond my border.
I don’t know exactly what’s going on. I can’t know, really. Life is too mysterious for my simple mind. As always, I am deeply conflicted about Amber. I’m sorry for her, sad for her, worried for her, and want her to stay as far away from me as possible. It’s so odd, isn’t it, this concern, care, love and repulsion that exists in us all at once?
Ping and I receive another text from another neighbor. Amber’s joy ride is over. She’s been caught, arrested, jailed. Bail set at several thousand dollars.
I check the jail roster everyday, watching for any update. Will she post bail? Be released again? What? What will happen now?
Behind the Scenes: Spring’s Promised Renewal
Walking out to check my mail this morning, a tiny delight.
Amid the still bare branches of the bush just beyond and the trees that the line the river, here come the brilliant, brave and copiously abundant daffodils that some pioneer planted here years and years ago. These vintage bulbs, deep in the earth, contain treasures I’ve never seen in the stores. Double headed blooms, some with red rims around the corona, some with explosive frills. Everyday, soon, I’ll gather up hundreds of these blooms and they’ll be in every vase. For free!
Did you know that daffodils are actually from the narcissus family? When I looked it up, I found this on Wiki:
Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus and jonquil, are used to describe all or some members of the genus.
This definition is oddly appropriate as I just received a simple line of direction from a new mentor:
For Lent I would advise you to concentrate initially on two things: the surrender novena and the words of St. John the Baptist, "He must increase; I must decrease" and the connection of these words with the Cross.
Narcissism, the me-me-it’s-all-about-me-ism of our time is the opposite of this direction and so, this little narcissus bloom rising toward the light seems to be earth and heaven sent. Another blessing (of so many) that I honestly cannot begin to count.
Exclusive Writing Lab: The Fourth State of Matter
If you are like me, you love extraordinary writing. You have a pile of favorite books and essays and poems and quotes. This teaching is dedicated to my favorite essay titled The Fourth State of Matter by Joanne Beard. It would be most helpful if you read the essay in advance.
Here is the video and below is the handout to include resources.
I usually keep these kinds of teachings behind a paywall, but today the sun is out, the flowers on the brink of bloom, and I’m set with a mentor who will help me muddle my way along my spiritual journey. Perhaps you’ll find value and become a paid subscriber? We’ll see.
Enjoy.
My reference in the video to “Sue” and “hiccups” in her story as related to the zucchini in Beard’s story has to do with details we use that are either worked it to the best effect, or not. In the case of zucchini, Beard works the object in to great effect, also progressing the descriptions in a way that they remain fresh and compelling (vs. dull and numbing).
On generosity
I hear from writers, again and again, how they worry no one will care about what they write. What if Joanne Beard thought such a thing and did not create this art? What if she hadn’t given us a look into her intimate life: dying dog, squirrel infestation, the failing of a marriage to hold this heartbreaking version of events? Well, we would be that much the poorer.
I say it far better in the recording and I hope, for anyone who worries their stories don’t matter, you’ll think again.
Thanks for being with me, Jennifer 🐦⬛
Just reread Beard’s story. Even though I know it almost by heart, each reading feels fresh and new and it’s terrific writing. We studied braiding in a class I took at Stanford sometime ago and used this story as an example. Is there such a thing as a perfect essay? I think I will always hold this one as something to aspire to. Thanks for the chance to read again.
I can’t decide if I can be simultaneously intimidated and inspired.