#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Forget-Me-Nots in the Wetlands

Early, as I was having coffee, after Frank left for his meeting, before I took Chippie to the river, I got an email that congratulated me for being a finalist for my manuscript for a poetry prize I submitted to. Just a notice that my manuscript has moved to finalist status. Wow. How happy I am. And, of course, nervous. Grateful and humble and also encouraged. I really appreciate the encouragement bringing confidence in my manuscript. I finished a bit of revising of the new poem, sent it off for workshop, went to the river with Chippie and Frank met us out there. It wasn’t a good morning to be a painted turtle laying her eggs in the field. Chippie found two in the process before I could get to them. But no turtles were harmed—just disturbed in their important business. I kept him close on the leash. I worked in the side garden for a bit before showering off the dirt in the outdoor shower. And when I went inside Franci and Will had stopped in, just having come from Town Hall where they got their Marriage Certificate! In the same town where Frank and I got ours almost 39 years ago. I asked Franci if they had gotten their blood tests, What blood tests? Apparently Massachusetts no longer requires blood tests. I remember this chore being a big inconvenience for me and Frank in a busy pre-wedding week. Poetry workshop, good feedback, worked on my newsletter, took Chippie to vet to be weighed for his flea and tick meds: 56 pounds! A little more than Wave! A swim, late afternoon. The pond warm, pleasantly so, under a sunny sky. Went to a poetry workshop which was excellent, then had my peer poetry workshop. A wonderful day!