“She gestures like a slow-motion karate chop to the side of my neck.” “I heard the zing zing zing of the scissors, and my nose tickled fiercely as the dry hairs filtered past it.” A couple of among many wonderful lines here.
Coming back to this to say thank you, Diana. Your naming of the pied-billed grebe has reminded me of what a treasure birds have been in my life. Times when I've watched them and come to know some of their names and songs and comings and goings have been like an added tapestry to my world. Now, I've been paying attention once more. Today, on my walk through a park near my cousin's place, I found a flock of, I believe mountain bluebirds. Periwinkle. Softly curved s-shaped heads. I thought of you and wanted to tell you about them. (Also looking forward to diving in to My Gaia.)
“You’re the tailored type,” my stepmother said, steering her bright red Chevy to the curb. Across the sidewalk, through the plate-glass window, I saw the barber standing alone, wearing a white coat like a veterinarian. He watched Dorothy and me get out of the car and enter his shop.
My hair was just beginning to grow out, after having been cut short for my father and Dorothy's wedding three months earlier. It was almost long enough for braids again. I would be starting sixth grade in a few days.
“Please why can’t I just let it grow?” I asked her, one last time. The barber was turning the chair around to face me. “All the other girls…”
“We’ve already discussed this,” Dorothy said, sideways to me while she faced the barber. "Give her a nice bob.” She gestured like a slow-motion karate chop to the side of my neck. “With neat, straight bangs. At least they'll cover up that forehead.”
She turned and walked away from us. I thought maybe she would walk right on out the door and go shopping while he cut, and I could beg the barber to leave my hair a little longer, but she sat down in one of the chairs against the wall and watched the whole operation. I heard the zing zing zing of the scissors, and my nose tickled fiercely as the dry hairs filtered past it. Sometimes one managed to wriggle up a nostril, as if reluctant to leave me.
I'm really just here for the pied-billed grebe -- thank you Diana! Though I really wish it were Pie- billed...which is how i read it first two times.
And to say thank you, Holly! You know what for. ❤️
I haven't done a long solo bike trip since pre-pandemic and part of me fears that I've lost that part of myself. But I have taken steps to confirm that part of me is indeed not lost -- I recently purchased a plane ticket to a location conducive to enjoyable bikepacking in the "winter". Ah yes, almost two months of circular motion centered over solstice. I've always been a sucker for endless summer.
I read it that way too! And even posted it incorrectly on the social media posts. Sorry, Diana! You tried to teach me.
Can't wait to hear more about this new undertaking and the reawakening of a dormant part of you. And thank you for sharing. It's such a valuable reminder to me--that we can (and for me, must) take steps to ensure the parts of ourselves that matter to us most continue to have space to breathe and reinvent themselves and thrive. Aw, life.
Yes, and especially when one is "in relationship" with another human holding onto those individual endeavors becomes a whole new challenge. I'd say I'm lucky, but really I chose well, that my partner is supportive of my nomadic life that requires a lot of alone time. That said, it turns out I *really* like bikepacking with him, so this big solo trip will be a good test for determining what works for me *currently*. I hope the scale still tips on the direction of enjoying my trip while simultaneously missing him, but maybe I'll learn I don't want to do huge trips without him anymore. Time will tell...
I like this idea of sharing writing based off a prompt and then inviting us (your readers) to join along — seems fun and interactive.
It’s also got me thinking about things I’ve lost, that I could write about... hmm. If something good comes to me I’ll share it. :)
By the way I very much enjoyed this line — “... when the twin flames of independence and autonomy inside me grew so bright I couldn’t stand to be anyone’s but mine.“
Thanks, Michael! I've been thinking much on creating in community of late and how to grow that for myself. Perhaps a new set of twin flames--solitary and community explorations. ;0)
I’ve actually been thinking something somewhat similar. For example, I often have ideas or thoughts or questions that I really want to delve into and while I talk to the people around me about these things — I’ve been thinking about possibly throwing some of my musings over to the people who read my Substack. Not only so I can hear what they think but also as a way to foster conversations and a more reciprocally connected community.
I just haven’t figured out how exactly to go about it just yet.
“She gestures like a slow-motion karate chop to the side of my neck.” “I heard the zing zing zing of the scissors, and my nose tickled fiercely as the dry hairs filtered past it.” A couple of among many wonderful lines here.
Thank you for sharing!
I’m sorry the little girl you lost her long hair.
The little guy in the water is a Pied-billed Grebe. And I can't tell you how much it pleases to have a chance to say so!
How is it you come to have this wonderful piece of knowledge?
I am a birdwatcher. I write about birds and other creatures of nature in my My Gaia here on Substack.
Coming back to this to say thank you, Diana. Your naming of the pied-billed grebe has reminded me of what a treasure birds have been in my life. Times when I've watched them and come to know some of their names and songs and comings and goings have been like an added tapestry to my world. Now, I've been paying attention once more. Today, on my walk through a park near my cousin's place, I found a flock of, I believe mountain bluebirds. Periwinkle. Softly curved s-shaped heads. I thought of you and wanted to tell you about them. (Also looking forward to diving in to My Gaia.)
Ah, Mountain Bluebirds are the most beautiful bluebirds of all. Are you in Colorado, perhaps?
They really are. To me, they have a sort of fairy-like quality--flashes of periwinkle. I'm in central Oregon.
I am also very pleased you had a chance to say so!!! A pied-billed Grebe. What a marvelous name. ❤️
“You’re the tailored type,” my stepmother said, steering her bright red Chevy to the curb. Across the sidewalk, through the plate-glass window, I saw the barber standing alone, wearing a white coat like a veterinarian. He watched Dorothy and me get out of the car and enter his shop.
My hair was just beginning to grow out, after having been cut short for my father and Dorothy's wedding three months earlier. It was almost long enough for braids again. I would be starting sixth grade in a few days.
“Please why can’t I just let it grow?” I asked her, one last time. The barber was turning the chair around to face me. “All the other girls…”
“We’ve already discussed this,” Dorothy said, sideways to me while she faced the barber. "Give her a nice bob.” She gestured like a slow-motion karate chop to the side of my neck. “With neat, straight bangs. At least they'll cover up that forehead.”
She turned and walked away from us. I thought maybe she would walk right on out the door and go shopping while he cut, and I could beg the barber to leave my hair a little longer, but she sat down in one of the chairs against the wall and watched the whole operation. I heard the zing zing zing of the scissors, and my nose tickled fiercely as the dry hairs filtered past it. Sometimes one managed to wriggle up a nostril, as if reluctant to leave me.
Afterwards, my appearance was much neater.
I'm really just here for the pied-billed grebe -- thank you Diana! Though I really wish it were Pie- billed...which is how i read it first two times.
And to say thank you, Holly! You know what for. ❤️
I haven't done a long solo bike trip since pre-pandemic and part of me fears that I've lost that part of myself. But I have taken steps to confirm that part of me is indeed not lost -- I recently purchased a plane ticket to a location conducive to enjoyable bikepacking in the "winter". Ah yes, almost two months of circular motion centered over solstice. I've always been a sucker for endless summer.
I read it that way too! And even posted it incorrectly on the social media posts. Sorry, Diana! You tried to teach me.
Can't wait to hear more about this new undertaking and the reawakening of a dormant part of you. And thank you for sharing. It's such a valuable reminder to me--that we can (and for me, must) take steps to ensure the parts of ourselves that matter to us most continue to have space to breathe and reinvent themselves and thrive. Aw, life.
Yes, and especially when one is "in relationship" with another human holding onto those individual endeavors becomes a whole new challenge. I'd say I'm lucky, but really I chose well, that my partner is supportive of my nomadic life that requires a lot of alone time. That said, it turns out I *really* like bikepacking with him, so this big solo trip will be a good test for determining what works for me *currently*. I hope the scale still tips on the direction of enjoying my trip while simultaneously missing him, but maybe I'll learn I don't want to do huge trips without him anymore. Time will tell...
I like this idea of sharing writing based off a prompt and then inviting us (your readers) to join along — seems fun and interactive.
It’s also got me thinking about things I’ve lost, that I could write about... hmm. If something good comes to me I’ll share it. :)
By the way I very much enjoyed this line — “... when the twin flames of independence and autonomy inside me grew so bright I couldn’t stand to be anyone’s but mine.“
Thanks, Michael! I've been thinking much on creating in community of late and how to grow that for myself. Perhaps a new set of twin flames--solitary and community explorations. ;0)
A new set of twin flames sounds good.
I’ve actually been thinking something somewhat similar. For example, I often have ideas or thoughts or questions that I really want to delve into and while I talk to the people around me about these things — I’ve been thinking about possibly throwing some of my musings over to the people who read my Substack. Not only so I can hear what they think but also as a way to foster conversations and a more reciprocally connected community.
I just haven’t figured out how exactly to go about it just yet.
But I think what you’re doing here is very cool.
Thanks Holly :)
Looking forward to whatever it becomes!
Thanks Holly :)