Truth or Dare
April begins under false pretenses
As a person who feels like a fool much of the time, I appreciate April 1st as a day when I have lots of company. And it makes sense to launch the first full month of Spring thusly—if the weather is lovely and warm today—PSYCH! It’s not going to stay that way (ditto if it begins cold and snowy)! April keeps us all guessing, often guessing wrong, and feeling, well, rather foolish.
MUSIC VIDEO: APRIL FOOLS by Rufus Wainwright
I love Rufus Wainwright. His music is always unexpected, often quirky, and sometimes profound. This music video is a dreamlike look at famous female opera characters’ dramatic demises (and what happens next). Enjoy!
SHORT VIDEO: BITTERSWEET
A depressed and bankrupt baker encounters a VERY inquisitive and chatty kid in a park, and their interaction changes them both. Small (and very well-acted) gem here…
SOMEWHAT LONGER VIDEO (BUT OH! SO WORTH IT)
JACQUELINE DU PRÉ: GENIUS AND TRAGEDY
Cellist Jacqueline du Pré was one of the most gifted musicians of the 20th century (and arguably the most joyful and charming). Multiple sclerosis ended her career at age 28, and her life at age 42. But her art lives on forever. This is a terrific documentary about Jackie’s life and music that aired on PBS in January. Note: it will only be available to view online until April 26th, so do watch before then!
HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, GANG!!
Poetry is so good for the soul—all year long…
POEM: AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS by ADRIENNE RICH
I recently discovered this amazing poem. It reminds me of my Nana, and so many other women in the past (and even, sadly, today)—women who live with repression. I pray that we can all find a way to express our brave inner tigers.
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
POEM: FALLING STARS by Rainer Maria Rilke
And while we’re waxing poetic…it’s always a delight to encounter an unfamiliar poem by a favorite writer. I remember wishing on the stars of the night sky as a child, and my expectations that all those wishes would come true. Those expectations are long gone for me—but can still hear my darling grandsons’ wishes (and I’m so grateful when I can help make even one wish come true for them).
Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes--do you recall? And we
did make so many! For there were countless numbers
of stars: each time we looked above we were
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
knowing somehow we had survived their fall.
READ-A-THON WRAP UP
If only my Fitbit could’ve recorded my epic literary sprint! 15 books in 30 days must add up to at LEAST a jillion steps, right?
Here are my ratings for the final three books of my read-a-thon…
THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler ****
This little book, filled with the kind of odd-but-lovable Baltimore characters (in this one, the socially awkward school administrator Gail and her schlub of an ex-husband Max) who have inhabited Tyler’s 24 other novels, is a touchstone for me. I first read a Tyler novel when I was just 20, and I still rejoice when her newest debuts. This was no exception.
SO LATE IN THE DAY by Claire Keegan***
Three masterfully written short stories make up this book. Keegan explores the fraught relationships of men and women in these spare tales, with not a wasted word among them (I could take some lessons for sure). Her first novella, Foster, is still my favorite, though.
STLL LIFE AT EIGHTY: THE NEXT INTERESTING THING by Abigail Thomas****
80 year old writer extraordinaire Abigail Thomas retains her fascination with the wonderful, tragic, excting and mundane details of life. She evaluates where she is, right now, and challenges the reader to do the same. If I could be Abigail Thomas, I’d look forward to 80 (and beyond).
Closing thoughts—it was a definite challenge. I would do it again. BUT next time I want a prize too (just for reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Skunk and Badger: Egg Marks the Spot, Aiden got a nifty plastic scoop-ball game from Jarrettown Elementary School. No fair!!)
BLOG PREVIEW: LOCAL DIALECT(IC)
Can you feel sad and happy about the same situation? Sure you can! Holding two contradictory emotions at once is only human…this week I go dialectical (and I don’t want to go there alone, so join me:-)
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
We certainly do. This week, as we enter capricious, foolish, beautiful April, let’s treasure the rich complexity of this blustery, chilly, warm, and sunny life of ours, my friends!