Sunday at Suzy's

 Our writing group gathered in Oakland for salmon, salads, etc. and we had a great time reading our work and laughing/crying first outside around the fire pit and then inside in front of the fireplace. A really fine day because after 25 years writing together we know each other so very well. Yes, more gratitude.

when writers party

 We met at Doug and Barb's yesterday and yes, a perfectly wonderful day with laughter and tears and lots more food than the photo above featuring KFC from Eric. An old tradition. Doug played the piano and Will his cello (Ravel's Dead Princess) and that was a delightful duet. Will is the tallest and always puts the starfish on the tree top. We laughed, we cried, we ate too much ~ my tribe. Bless them all.

my writing life

 Sis gave me this delightful book which I am loving so much. I have been writing on an almost daily basis now for 25 plus years. This past week I wrote with Chef Sarah up in Napa. We can and do write freely with one another and I treasure her friendship. She said I could use her paragraph here and I do so because it expresses my feelings so perfectly. (Tiapos is the name of our writing group, as you may remember: This is a piece of shit.) Sarah's writing is definitely not, while mine often is. Here from Sarah Scott:

All this made me appreciate all the years with Jane and Tiapos up to the present and the format of reading with an emphasis on positive feedback and never telling someone what to do or how to do it. The generosity of fellow writers listening, considering with care, commenting with finesse, wisdom and mostly kindness is a precious gift. It provides a safe space to share imperfect, intimate, newborn writing. 

 

 

words, food, friends

 Yesterday was our long-awaited annual writing group meeting up at Sarah's delightful home in Napa. The weather was perfect and the food OUTSTANDING. We read, we talked, we ate too much and really, it was a perfect day in every way. Driving home we said the overused word (that we often sneer at) "blessed" because we are, indeed we are. 

Fluf in four photos

 We call our group either Tiapos (This is a Piece of Shit) or Fluf (Fuckin' Love You Folks) and we have known each other for 25 years now. And because we write we are very open and we know each other well.  Sunday at Doug and Barb's was, as always, special. At the end of our readings (after a delicious lunch) we toasted Jane Underwood who brought us all together as our teacher and dear friend. We miss you, Jane, RIP in your own poetic manner and we all send gratitude galore. (And yes, maybe we will delete that sentence at the end just to show you we remember. Maybe.)

The World Since Yesterday

 I have known and loved Will Walker's writing for more than 20 years now. He is part of our Tiapos (This is a piece of shit) and/or Fluf  (Fucking love you folks) writing world and so of course I ordered his newest poetry book from Amazon. Here is one stunning poem from The World Since Yesterday.

Subversive

Because living is a tricky business,

I bless the earth while I can, by morning light, hoping

to emulate the finches flocking in the trellis out back,

an upturned forest of star jasmine and bougainvillea,

shades of green not yet in bloom, where the finches

seem content to perch and sing and fly to another perch

with no pattern I can discern, announcing daylight,

affirming all that has led me to watch them in their busywork,

the instant embrace of any available branch,

the glide through sunlight, the song of no occasion.

~ Will Walker

our day in Napa

Sarah cooked, we read our writing, Doug played his guitar and we laughed and talked and had a splendid day outdoors where the weather was perfect. This is our yearly Tiapos event and it was perfect in every way. We toasted Jane who brought us all together twenty or so years ago.

the official photo

 Here, from Doug's camera, is our writing group last Sunday. Doug and Barb's new grand girl is featured on the left. What a party, what a group, what a day!

we writers can party!

 Doug and Barb hosted our annual Tiapos/Fluff holiday party yesterday and we laughed and cried as we read our work and made fun of each other. I will publish the group photo (on Barb's camera) later, but here are a few happy pictures for this rainy Monday. 

as promised ~ group photo

 Thanks to Eric for this fun picture in Sarah's back yard. 

The lucky thirteen

 Our writing group gathered at Chef Sarah's (top photo) yesterday up in Napa. It was a truly delightful day of food, laughter, tears and plain old togetherness. Tomorrow you will see a group photo or two, I hope, those were on other peoples' phones. Today? Afterglow.

time and people (lots of both)

 Laura collects clocks (and other stuff) and we met for an afternoon party at her home yesterday to wish Ellyn a good luck/farewell as she moves to NYC after 48 years here in SF. Then home to prepare for a birthday party with my neighbors Heidi and Rob and this morning some much needed quiet time with sweet Annabelle (not pictured). 

my tribe in the sunshine

 Only a few writers gathered at Suzy's in Oakland yesterday and I neglected to take photos except for this one of Fuzzy and Doug with his guitar. Karen H. is here from NYC and that was especially nice because she is a fabulous poet and a good friend. I wrote about my new home improvement project and it was a really lovely day, as per usual. Gratitude. Warmth.

a good walk and then zooooom

 Lots of folks out yesterday because there was NO RAIN. I stopped for a late sandwich at Cafe Sticky and then home so Annabelle and I could join the writers' group on Zoom. I didn't read any of my work, just wanted to see folks, especially Karen H. and Anna on the East Coast. And clear weather today too!

when writers go north

 There were only six of us yesterday up in Napa at Chef Sarah's wonderful home. The weather was just perfect and of course the food exquisite: fried chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, fabulous blueberry tart with ice cream, sliced tomatoes and Sarah makes the BEST biscuits imaginable. Such a wonderful Sunday. 

back to Saturday

 Here are a couple of group photos, thanks to Barb and Doug. It was a delightful day!

music, food, laughter and words

 We await the group photos from yesterday, but here are three from our writers' gathering over at Suzy's in Oakland. So much joy ~ just what we all needed. Harmony (her real name) is the rap star in the middle picture, she lives with Suzy and Floyd. Amazingly, we have been gathering for more than twenty years and yesterday we celebrated that and so much more. A wonderful day.

writers in the sun

 We met yesterday at noon at Suzy's recently remodeled cottage in Oakland. It was a long and glorious day that included BBQ salmon and tons of other wonderful food.  We read and talked (laughed and cried) by the fire pit. It's been too long since we gathered like this ~ without masks and with heaps of gratitude.

smaller than usual (but full of joy)

 The writing group gathered at Doug and Barb's yesterday for an early Early Bird Supper and we read a few pieces of our work, but mostly chatted and tried to make sense of this life. Old photos of years gone by magically appeared on our cell phones and we remembered those who weren't there for the yearly celebration and those who are rightly fearful of Covid. The food was terrific, the company comforting and yes, life is strange and yet still quite wonderful.