Author: Becky

Struggling?

Mid-March, a blog post included this quote from a character in Louise Penny’s novel A World of Curiosities: “Happiness as an act of defiance. A revolutionary act.”

It’s not a new concept, at least to me, but it seems that now and again, I need a reminder to affirm it. I think always of this quote from the song “La Vie Boheme” in Jonathan Larson’s musical, RENT: “The opposite of war isn’t peace. It’s creation.”

Two musicians I keep up with on social media both live in Nashville. One has a new song coming out tomorrow, and he posted his performance of a cheerful song (by another artist) to celebrate it today. I sent him a quick message letting him know that I’m aware things are tough in Nashville right now, and that I value his creation, like happiness, as “an act of defiance” and “a celebration of existence.”

The other musician posted a song he just wrote in reaction to the Nashville school shooting. He brought his wife and two children here from another country. They support his dream of success in the U.S., and I’ve been a fan of his since I found him on Instagram. He’s struggling with recent events. His home isn’t far from the site of the school shooting. His children’s school is even closer, I think. He’s come from a place without this kind of gun violence. I sent him a similar message to the one above, citing his particular circumstances. It’s heartbreaking to me that he’s experiencing, as a father, husband, and artist, too closely what people all over the world simply don’t get about this country and its gun culture.

I don’t get it, either. The posturing, the fighting, the name-calling, and politicizing while the slaughter of innocents continues in workplaces, churches, synagogues, mosques, grocery stores, malls, hospitals, nightclubs, theaters, and in homes. Schools? It’s estimated that about sixty-eight percent of gun-related incidents at schools were with weapons taken from the shooter’s home or from a relative or friend.* An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where a gun is left loaded and unlocked.* In 2022, 34 students and adults died while more than 43,000 children were exposed to gunfire at school.*

Is there any place gun violence doesn’t occur? Victims are every race, age, gender, affluent or poor, even if in disproportionate numbers, in every state, city, and town. Among all the perpetrators, there is no single defining, common characteristic except one.

Guns. They used guns.

All this overwhelms me. Makes me feel helpless. It robs me of hope and joy. When I feel this way, creative things I love to do, want to do, seem pointless. I know I’m not unique. I know we all suffer. Society suffers.

Today, I tried to write, and nothing happened, and I reminded myself that art is an act of defiance. Revolution. Resistance. Connection. Love. Faith. Reverence. Growth. Hope.

A search for more led me to a collection of quotes from others who have said what art is. Maybe there’s something on the list that resonates for you.

Tomorrow, I’ll wake up and deal with the mundane: computer issues that frustrated me tonight. Making and eating breakfast. Reminding myself to breathe. To feel gratitude for everything good in the world and in my life, including family, friends, home, dogs, nature, humor, kindness, and art.

I’ll open my manuscript and try again to make something with words that affirms or comforts or challenges or engages, as so many writers, artists, musicians–all of the arts–have provided before me and continue to provide. I’ll try to be the opposite of the violence, fear, aggression, hate, dishonesty, greed, and prejudice that are part of this gun culture.

I’ll think about this.

*Statistics taken from the Sandy Hook Promise site.

Backtracking

I’d thought I could put some of the cardboard-sleeved CDs in the front sections of my binders, but there are just too many. Thus the Mellencamp CSd CDs went back in the box–here’s what I mean when I say “the box.”

When I was returning Richard Marx, I’d forgotten that I had a signed sleeve for the Limitless CD he released as the pandemic kicked off in 2020.

Since I was in the Ms, I pulled out my McCartney CSd CDs and listened to them while I wrote.

Paul McCartney: Pure McCartney 2016; Egypt Station 2018; and McCartney III from 2020.

Now I’ve gone back to the beginning of the alphabet in the box for my writing playlists, until I catch up to the Ms, starting with these.

A couple versions of the BoDeans’ “Closer to Free” (I think I picked this up to use on a soundtrack for a work video I made in the mid-1990s); Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie’s 2017 self-titled CD; The Best of Lindsey Buckingham: Solo Anthology from 2018; and Lindsey Buckingham’s self-titled CD from 2021.

I didn’t watch “Party of Five,” but if you did, maybe you’ll enjoy this blast from the past.


Happiest of birthdays to another of our nieces, who’s now fifteen years older than she was in this photo and still just as beautiful. We love you, Abby!

Tiny Tuesday!

I don’t know why I’m how I am. I know there are women who want their spouses/partners to give them jewelry and trips and cars for their birthday. I’m not one.

When Lynne was visiting recently, we went to Buchanan’s, a favorite nursery in the Heights, so Lynne could buy botanicals for her yard. I always like going there because of the fun things I find, like little Rocky a few years back, who keeps vigil over Houndstooth Hall.

This time was no exception. I spotted a new friend among many other items and walked it over to Tom, telling him this was what I wanted for my birthday.

We know I can’t use him as a planter, because I’m more deadly than a great white shark to indoor plants. Even if I find nothing to put inside him, he’s still a delight.

Or maybe….

Button Sunday

Or, you know, ban the books, keep children in ignorance, let them think only what some arbitrary vocal majority believes it’s okay for them to think, and good luck with how that turns out.


April 2 is International Children’s Book Day. I still have a copy of the first book I remember reading and loving (it’s not my original, which was accidentally destroyed in a bad storage room many years ago, but it’s an identical replacement my mother found). THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS AND SIBLINGS along with all those teachers and my Uncle Gerald and family friend U.A. Hall who always encouraged me to read. And think. Still doing both.

Also, Aunt Becky with Josh and Daniel.

And a little gift to Amelia in 2009 from Great-aunt Becky.

Tarot Etc. Thursday No. 24

It’s been a while for this category, but thanks to my birthday and Timothy, I have some new stuff to share. Like this coloring book.


Some of the sketches are Tarot cards. Others are just really cool celestial sketches. Or character-type sketches like this one.

I’ve noticed on some people’s posts of coloring pages on Instagram, they put something over the page to keep people from being able to just blow it up and reproduce it. The pencil is my way of trying to respect copyrights, too.

In addition to the beautiful coloring book, Tim gave me this Jacqui Oakley deck, perfect for a Jane Austen fan like me!

I picked The Magician card to share, with its description.

King of Clubs/The Magician: Skill. Jane Austen makes magic with her pen at her writing desk, using her prowess to begin something new.

Of course I believe writers are magicians, creating galaxies, worlds, beings of all kind, and stories. So many stories. I’ll have more to say about stories later in another post.

I did get some good writing done today, finishing one chapter and beginning another. I forgot to listen to music, though!

Hump Day

It’s been a day… So here are a few happier things to make it better.

When I was at Lynne’s for a few days last week, she made me an early birthday cake. IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD.

We had another cake Sunday, when we finally got to celebrate Lindsey’s January birthday along with mine. It was a very fun night of food, conversation, and gift opening!


This is a pillow we got for their “you’re back at RubinSmo Manor after your big remodeled house” warming present. It’s from the web site of a favorite Instagram account of Rhonda’s, Lindsey’s, and mine, associated with Effin’ Birds, where nothing is sacred and the easily offended dare not go. 😉


Richard Marx, Stories To Tell: Greatest Hits and More; and Limitless.

I have done a bit of writing in fits and starts. A lot has gone on in and around Houndstooth Hall the last week or so, plus the world and all its happenings are a distraction. Since I’m still in the “M” playlist section, I decided to listen to the Richard Marx I have in cardboard sleeves (as I’m moving them from the box where CDs go when they won’t fit in the binders I use to a netted section in the front of the binder with all the Mellencamp CDs that are also in cardboard sleeves). Time will tell if that works out, especially since I have more in cardboard sleeves that would need to fit in this binder (thinking of McCartney and Petty, for starters).

ETA: My last book read this month, also a gift from Timothy, is the latest Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich. The supporting cast of characters she invents each book are brilliant and keep me laughing. They tend to turn up again in future books.

More birthday stuff to come. I like to drag this celebration out each time I hit 135 years.

Tiny Tuesday!

I’m a fan of floating frames for artwork (glass on front and back) because then mats aren’t used and you never lose any of the art or artist’s signature. One of my Christmas presents from Lynne is this 5×7-inch canvas of guitars that I hung in the writing sanctuary. I like the colors and the style. When the artist painted it, she was ten years old. I hope she continues to create!