#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Wave asks me early to get his mother Advil, which I do. She has a headache. So I use my magic fingers, in concert with the Advil, to solve this headache. Then, Wave gets a smoothie which he entirely drinks, but that’s all he wants. I’m a little overtired. But I take a walk outside in the cold and have a long talk with Frank over the phone. Talking through the tragedies in the news. Then I get home for poetry workshop. It’s small today, so we have a very worthwhile and deep conversation about our manuscripts. And I share two poem revisions. The first revision, I discover, from feedback, is better before the revision. So, that’s good to realize, because I agree. Now I can backtrack and get a better version with this clarity. My next poem is called a “powerhouse” by my mentor, a high compliment and I appreciate it. This poem needs minor revision. So, I’m feeling positive about the work I’m doing on this manuscript. Of course doubts, always doubts. Doubts and confidence, the merry-go-round I’m riding with all poets I know. I get time in the afternoon for holiday related errands. I buy a menorah. I’ve never owned one, we’re not Jewish. But Wave has learned about Hanukkah at school and so I want to let him light the candle for us and share what he’s learned. In the third store I go to I find a suitable menorah. But the candles are sold out. I get a bag of chocolate “coins” wrapped in gold as a little treat for him to open. I stop at the supermarket and find some birthday candles that are just the right size for the menorah. We have an easy dinner after I unpack all my bags. Frank heats up the leftovers from our lunch on Martha’s Vineyard––the wedding tasting with the caterer––and i make Wave a requested pizza which he loves. After dinner he joins me and Papa and his mom and we light one candle. For Wave, it’s the first night of Hanukkah, even though it started Sunday and we should be lighting the third candle. He’ll have nothing of that reality. He tells me I should light the first candle with a “helper” candle. So, fine. The lovely candle is lit. He gets two coins. That’s the extent of his interest for now. Then he wants a piece of his mother’s fresh baked pumpkin roll cake. First, I must scape out all of the cream cheese frosting from the roll which he doesn’t like. I’m so lucky to have him here, we all are.