I was going through my laptop before this current laptop, yesterday, and I was looking for a short story I wanted to revise, and I marveled at some of the past social media platforms no longer in my life. (Or even, no longer existing. The ghost of MySpace lingers on in cyberspace.) Substack doesn't feel like a social platform, more like a place where writing/creative minds meet and see there are others of us, and we were all ready for a better way of interacting in the online world. We've all gone through a global shift together, and come out the other side. Books, writing, reading, art-making. It's all here.
P.S. The short story was found in a cardboard box. Yay for the physical world.
I have moved so much, my physical world is sparse ... so it's always a delight to happen across pieces of reality. A friend of mine recently gifted me with a typed draft of my first book that I had given to him as a previewer. It made my eyes water to see that physical piece of my transforming world from long ago. Glad you found your story.
Sep 20, 2023·edited Sep 20, 2023Liked by Joyce Wycoff
This is a beautiful post. At first look - I loved your art piece. Then I read the post. I relate to so much of it; your artmaking, love of poetry and Mexico. I share these same loves.
What you say about uncertainty is wise; it is the certain who cannot bend or be open to other ways and perspectives. All of life is uncertain, yet it is so easy to get trapped into false certainty when all is going well, then be depressed or bitterly disappointed when our miraculous luck ends - as it always does from one cycle to the next. As you said, it's all only for a time.
My mother never taught me that it was King Solomon; but when I asked her why she always would say "This too shall pass," she told the king story; that he wanted something inscribed in a ring make him feel happy when he was sad and sad when he was happy. That gift stayed with me my whole life; both bitter and sweet. The paradox of duality is that it's the same coin, just different sides - a oneness, too. The 'and, and.'
Sep 20, 2023·edited Sep 20, 2023Liked by Joyce Wycoff
I'm curious; why might it be more appropriate to use groom instead of bride, and for whom? Many of us translate or transpose how we wish, as with the idea of a God, or God as Him. I'm fine with how it is written because it is not directive. But your comment sent me down the rabbit hole of language and words, so thanks for that; starting with looking up the words bride and groom and their definitions..
The meanings for 'bride' and 'groom' are different and are applied differently; bride is only used as a noun. Groom can be a noun or a verb. A person can both groom and be groomed, and some of it to nefarious ends (like sex trafficking, egads). Nowhere does the definition include grooming plants, which is odd, since the word is related to 'grow.' Gardeners groom plants.
Never knew about THIS definition of bride, but it got me thinking about the net of connection, literally and figuratively:
in American English:
(braɪd)
NOUN
in lace making and other needlework, a loop or tie that connects parts of a pattern
Hmmm... Mary Oliver was all about connecting/braiding together parts of patterns of Nature with her own humanity and powers of observation.
Language is fascinating when you go down the rabbit hole!
I love people who identify as simply, "them" - because don't we all contain multitudes, as Walt Whitman said? I like the idea of whatever marries to amazement not having to commit to stating gender or gender based labels or words - but since writers write in words, and since poets distill language down to precise descriptors based on their own life experiences and knowing, specific words like 'bride' must've been important to what Mary wanted to convey.
But this is off topic from the thread of Joyce's substack post. Joyce conveyed the "and" of it all, a lot less wordily (haha is that a word?) than I,which suggests that she might be a poet as well as a visual artist.
For clarification, my switching the bride to groom was an attempt to be funny. I thought people would suspect I was playing because the male with the beard in the picture is me and I'm not used to referring to myself as a "bride." However I stand corrected - you do make a point. I should have responded - "For me PERSONALLY, more appropriate words would have been" -'when it's all over I want to say, all my life I was a groom, married to amazement."
I look forward to doing a lot with my Stack, thanks to you. As soon as we figure out where the "on" button is and finish the excellent guidance in Guide #1, Guide #2. Is there a Guide #3 in the wings? I'm humbled at the number of people subscribing, based on the name, without any articles. Time to figure this out. Like you, blogging since 2005 and moving the whole thing to Substack feels like trying to turn the Queen Mary around 180. It's not a high-speed boat and there's a lot of passengers and baggage to consider.
Georgia ... yes there is a Guide #3 but ... of course ... it's going to be very different ... Substack allows almost too much creativity ... sometimes I need bumper rails. Anyway, I'm happy to answer questions and I'm writing posts that will be in the Guide so there's already probably too much there for where you are right now. BTW ... I just walked away from my blog and only use it to mine stuff now. You might have more passengers to worry about than I had. ;-) Anyway, best wishes, and if I can help, just let me know.
That's what my grandmother kept saying, "This too shall pass." I knew only one grandparent because the other three died before I could walk. That's why I got to keep one until she was well into her 90's. Question for today for Joyce: Were you prolific with photography before or after the Miksang workshop. To what extent has photography become part of your creative expression, along with your graphic art?
Wow, Georgia ... love that you had a grandparent that gifted you with "This too shall pass." And, Miksang! What a reminder. Yes, I was somewhat prolific before Miksang ... however, I was frustratingly bad at it until digital came along and I started getting instant feedback. Miksang, though, was a game changer ... probably tripled the quantity of photos I took and eventually developed into a more engaged eye. Wish we were at a coffee shop ... I think we could happily talk for awhile. I'd like to know more about your journey so I'm going to take a coffee break and go visit your stack. Thanks for the note.
June ... I think that's exactly as it should be ... death reminds us to love life. And, there is a grace that comes with every age ... or, perhaps, can come with every age.
I love you ending quote and I add one word JOY. I live my life in amazement and joy ( which is usually coupled with a smile and an exclamation like ‘I love my life and thank you’)your post was a reminder that death is real and I am reminded often when I look in my cluttered drawers. I was thinking (just this morning) my poor family will have to clean and toss. So maybe I should write a gratitude note and place it at the bottom. No action yet. Just a thought. As I read all your notes, blogs and poetry, I am so lucky to be able to reflect on my life with your pondering. Thank you.
Joy is a great word to add to that quote l... and I love the idea of adding little notes in your drawers. It makes me smile to think of them finding notes from you hidden in secret places. What a way to turn a chore into a delight!
I certainly have a lot I want to do and discover, so naturally I'd love to put off death for as long as reasonably possible (everything is a trade-off!), but I'm also at peace with knowing I don't have complete control of things. I might be the oldest 47 year old I know (literally, I turn 48 in 2 days!).
I was going through my laptop before this current laptop, yesterday, and I was looking for a short story I wanted to revise, and I marveled at some of the past social media platforms no longer in my life. (Or even, no longer existing. The ghost of MySpace lingers on in cyberspace.) Substack doesn't feel like a social platform, more like a place where writing/creative minds meet and see there are others of us, and we were all ready for a better way of interacting in the online world. We've all gone through a global shift together, and come out the other side. Books, writing, reading, art-making. It's all here.
P.S. The short story was found in a cardboard box. Yay for the physical world.
I have moved so much, my physical world is sparse ... so it's always a delight to happen across pieces of reality. A friend of mine recently gifted me with a typed draft of my first book that I had given to him as a previewer. It made my eyes water to see that physical piece of my transforming world from long ago. Glad you found your story.
This is a beautiful post. At first look - I loved your art piece. Then I read the post. I relate to so much of it; your artmaking, love of poetry and Mexico. I share these same loves.
What you say about uncertainty is wise; it is the certain who cannot bend or be open to other ways and perspectives. All of life is uncertain, yet it is so easy to get trapped into false certainty when all is going well, then be depressed or bitterly disappointed when our miraculous luck ends - as it always does from one cycle to the next. As you said, it's all only for a time.
My mother never taught me that it was King Solomon; but when I asked her why she always would say "This too shall pass," she told the king story; that he wanted something inscribed in a ring make him feel happy when he was sad and sad when he was happy. That gift stayed with me my whole life; both bitter and sweet. The paradox of duality is that it's the same coin, just different sides - a oneness, too. The 'and, and.'
lovely ... thanks for connecting.
More appropriate words might be -
" When it's all over I want to say -
All my life I was a Groom, married to amazement"
I'm curious; why might it be more appropriate to use groom instead of bride, and for whom? Many of us translate or transpose how we wish, as with the idea of a God, or God as Him. I'm fine with how it is written because it is not directive. But your comment sent me down the rabbit hole of language and words, so thanks for that; starting with looking up the words bride and groom and their definitions..
The meanings for 'bride' and 'groom' are different and are applied differently; bride is only used as a noun. Groom can be a noun or a verb. A person can both groom and be groomed, and some of it to nefarious ends (like sex trafficking, egads). Nowhere does the definition include grooming plants, which is odd, since the word is related to 'grow.' Gardeners groom plants.
Never knew about THIS definition of bride, but it got me thinking about the net of connection, literally and figuratively:
in American English:
(braɪd)
NOUN
in lace making and other needlework, a loop or tie that connects parts of a pattern
Hmmm... Mary Oliver was all about connecting/braiding together parts of patterns of Nature with her own humanity and powers of observation.
Language is fascinating when you go down the rabbit hole!
I love people who identify as simply, "them" - because don't we all contain multitudes, as Walt Whitman said? I like the idea of whatever marries to amazement not having to commit to stating gender or gender based labels or words - but since writers write in words, and since poets distill language down to precise descriptors based on their own life experiences and knowing, specific words like 'bride' must've been important to what Mary wanted to convey.
But this is off topic from the thread of Joyce's substack post. Joyce conveyed the "and" of it all, a lot less wordily (haha is that a word?) than I,which suggests that she might be a poet as well as a visual artist.
For clarification, my switching the bride to groom was an attempt to be funny. I thought people would suspect I was playing because the male with the beard in the picture is me and I'm not used to referring to myself as a "bride." However I stand corrected - you do make a point. I should have responded - "For me PERSONALLY, more appropriate words would have been" -'when it's all over I want to say, all my life I was a groom, married to amazement."
love your wordily meanderings ... especially with your suggestion of me as poet. ;-)
That, too, and Mary might also agree.
I look forward to doing a lot with my Stack, thanks to you. As soon as we figure out where the "on" button is and finish the excellent guidance in Guide #1, Guide #2. Is there a Guide #3 in the wings? I'm humbled at the number of people subscribing, based on the name, without any articles. Time to figure this out. Like you, blogging since 2005 and moving the whole thing to Substack feels like trying to turn the Queen Mary around 180. It's not a high-speed boat and there's a lot of passengers and baggage to consider.
Georgia ... yes there is a Guide #3 but ... of course ... it's going to be very different ... Substack allows almost too much creativity ... sometimes I need bumper rails. Anyway, I'm happy to answer questions and I'm writing posts that will be in the Guide so there's already probably too much there for where you are right now. BTW ... I just walked away from my blog and only use it to mine stuff now. You might have more passengers to worry about than I had. ;-) Anyway, best wishes, and if I can help, just let me know.
This was good
Love this post, and also what you've done with your older blog posts. Brilliant! 💜
One day at a time with hope and faith in the goodness of humanity to prevail.
yes!
That's what my grandmother kept saying, "This too shall pass." I knew only one grandparent because the other three died before I could walk. That's why I got to keep one until she was well into her 90's. Question for today for Joyce: Were you prolific with photography before or after the Miksang workshop. To what extent has photography become part of your creative expression, along with your graphic art?
Well, now I see that I will have to wait. Looking forward to seeing what you do with your stack.
Wow, Georgia ... love that you had a grandparent that gifted you with "This too shall pass." And, Miksang! What a reminder. Yes, I was somewhat prolific before Miksang ... however, I was frustratingly bad at it until digital came along and I started getting instant feedback. Miksang, though, was a game changer ... probably tripled the quantity of photos I took and eventually developed into a more engaged eye. Wish we were at a coffee shop ... I think we could happily talk for awhile. I'd like to know more about your journey so I'm going to take a coffee break and go visit your stack. Thanks for the note.
I'm trying to be accepting. But I love life. I don't mind age.
June ... I think that's exactly as it should be ... death reminds us to love life. And, there is a grace that comes with every age ... or, perhaps, can come with every age.
❤️
I love you ending quote and I add one word JOY. I live my life in amazement and joy ( which is usually coupled with a smile and an exclamation like ‘I love my life and thank you’)your post was a reminder that death is real and I am reminded often when I look in my cluttered drawers. I was thinking (just this morning) my poor family will have to clean and toss. So maybe I should write a gratitude note and place it at the bottom. No action yet. Just a thought. As I read all your notes, blogs and poetry, I am so lucky to be able to reflect on my life with your pondering. Thank you.
Joy is a great word to add to that quote l... and I love the idea of adding little notes in your drawers. It makes me smile to think of them finding notes from you hidden in secret places. What a way to turn a chore into a delight!
I certainly have a lot I want to do and discover, so naturally I'd love to put off death for as long as reasonably possible (everything is a trade-off!), but I'm also at peace with knowing I don't have complete control of things. I might be the oldest 47 year old I know (literally, I turn 48 in 2 days!).
Happy Birthday! and this is your permission slip to start celebrating right now. My belief is that the older we get, the longer we get to celebrate.
Hey now, I celebrate myself every day! :)
Right on! As it should be. ;-)
yay us!