Saturday, November 26, 2005
Another good resource
Friday, November 18, 2005
A small goal reached
Two days ago I finished a chapter of my novel. For over three years I have been working on a chick lit novel inspired by the events in my life in the summer of 2002. Parts of it are quite autobiographical and this particular chapter was the most. It dealt with some very painful events in my life and over the six months it took to write the first draft I often felt anxiety, fear and pain when I picked up my pen to write. But the chapter was pivotal to the action, so I pressed on.
Well, it's now done! And when I wrote the last word, I thought to myself, I think this baby is going to make it full term! It's the first time I truly felt, heart and soul, that I would finish this book.
Well, it's now done! And when I wrote the last word, I thought to myself, I think this baby is going to make it full term! It's the first time I truly felt, heart and soul, that I would finish this book.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Tracing a Path
On the Day of the Dead, I wrote about the Heroes portion of the altar I assemble each year. One of my heroes was Joseph Campbell. Curiously enough, he set me on a path that changed my life for more than ten years.
In 1987, several months before Campbell died, I found the LA Times Life and Style section on the bus during my morning commute. There was an article about Campbell, whom I had never heard of before. By the end of the article, I was fascinated by his life and determined to see the documentary about his life that was going to debut that night.
When I got to work, I called my boyfriend and read him excerpts from the article. He agreed that we had to attend the screening. We were just starting out in our careers and money was very tight, so Jim forged student IDs from a local art school so we could get the more affordable student admission to the documentary.
The documentary was amazing and I was utterly entranced by Campbell, his ideas, his personality and his work. Many of his insights about the nature of religion were ideas I had pondered and it was the first time I had ever heard anyone express concepts that had certainly never been discussed in the Catholic churches of my youth. I wanted to learn more about Campbell's work and his life.
After the film, Jim and I wandered out into the lobby. There were hors d'oeuvres and wine and we nibbled a bit and surveyed the crowd. I went to get a few more strawberries, but when I got back to our spot, Jim was gone. I looked around for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
I went back into the auditorium where I saw Jim deep in conversation with Joseph Campbell and two other people. I sat next to Dr. Campbell and when I got a chance to interject, I told him that it was an honor to meet him and his life's work was impressive and thought provoking. "Oh, aren't you sweet," he said with a smile, and patted my knee.
I avidly watched "The Power of Myth" on PBS and read "Hero with a Thousand Faces" and the volumes of "The Masks of God". I gave copies of "The Power of Myth" to friends and in 1991 I took an extension class at UCLA on myth and literature inspired by Campbell's writings. There I met the young journalist who was to become my (now ex) husband. So I tell people that meeting Joseph Campbell literally changed my life.
The reason I am recounting this anecdote is to illustrate that life changing possibilities exist everywhere and every day. A chance find of a newspaper on a bus-- what could be more ordinary than that? Yet picking up that newspaper (and acting on the impulse it inspired-- a very important point to remember!) led my life on an entirely different path.
Was it fate? Was it meant to be? I don't know and I don't expect to ever know. But now I pay very close attention to what comes into my life and when the impulse is strong enough, I always follow it.
In 1987, several months before Campbell died, I found the LA Times Life and Style section on the bus during my morning commute. There was an article about Campbell, whom I had never heard of before. By the end of the article, I was fascinated by his life and determined to see the documentary about his life that was going to debut that night.
When I got to work, I called my boyfriend and read him excerpts from the article. He agreed that we had to attend the screening. We were just starting out in our careers and money was very tight, so Jim forged student IDs from a local art school so we could get the more affordable student admission to the documentary.
The documentary was amazing and I was utterly entranced by Campbell, his ideas, his personality and his work. Many of his insights about the nature of religion were ideas I had pondered and it was the first time I had ever heard anyone express concepts that had certainly never been discussed in the Catholic churches of my youth. I wanted to learn more about Campbell's work and his life.
After the film, Jim and I wandered out into the lobby. There were hors d'oeuvres and wine and we nibbled a bit and surveyed the crowd. I went to get a few more strawberries, but when I got back to our spot, Jim was gone. I looked around for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
I went back into the auditorium where I saw Jim deep in conversation with Joseph Campbell and two other people. I sat next to Dr. Campbell and when I got a chance to interject, I told him that it was an honor to meet him and his life's work was impressive and thought provoking. "Oh, aren't you sweet," he said with a smile, and patted my knee.
I avidly watched "The Power of Myth" on PBS and read "Hero with a Thousand Faces" and the volumes of "The Masks of God". I gave copies of "The Power of Myth" to friends and in 1991 I took an extension class at UCLA on myth and literature inspired by Campbell's writings. There I met the young journalist who was to become my (now ex) husband. So I tell people that meeting Joseph Campbell literally changed my life.
The reason I am recounting this anecdote is to illustrate that life changing possibilities exist everywhere and every day. A chance find of a newspaper on a bus-- what could be more ordinary than that? Yet picking up that newspaper (and acting on the impulse it inspired-- a very important point to remember!) led my life on an entirely different path.
Was it fate? Was it meant to be? I don't know and I don't expect to ever know. But now I pay very close attention to what comes into my life and when the impulse is strong enough, I always follow it.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Day of the Dead
Today is the Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday that commemorates those who have passed on before us.
Every year I build an altar to memorialize the dead who are important to me. I have a section for family, a section for the animals I have loved, and a section for my heroes, the people whose lives and contributions inspire me every day. Some of the people in the "Heroes" section of my altar:
Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose books were among the first to make me realize other people had lived before me and had compelling stories to tell.
Dan Eldon, the young journalist who wrote and illustrated incredibly detailed diaries. His life and work inspires me to continue to chronicle my life and to live every day to the fullest, no matter where I am.
Joseph Campbell, my "guru" was the first person I ever heard articulate beliefs I had had about the nature of God that ran counter to everything I had ever been taught in church, but instinctively understood to be true.
Marguerite Henry, another author who wrote books I read over and over again when I was a child. She was also the first person to give me feedback on my writing and I treasure the letters she wrote me.
Daniel Pearl, another journalist. He exemplified everything I love about the best journalists: compassion, curiosity and the generous desire to share truths with the world.
Rosa Parks, whose seemingly small act of resistance changed the world. She reminds me that we can all change the world, even with small actions.
Some of my friends who aren't familiar with the idea of Day of the Dead find it morbid. But I find it comforting to take a special time to remember those who have died and honor their memories with a creative work.
Every year I build an altar to memorialize the dead who are important to me. I have a section for family, a section for the animals I have loved, and a section for my heroes, the people whose lives and contributions inspire me every day. Some of the people in the "Heroes" section of my altar:
Laura Ingalls Wilder, whose books were among the first to make me realize other people had lived before me and had compelling stories to tell.
Dan Eldon, the young journalist who wrote and illustrated incredibly detailed diaries. His life and work inspires me to continue to chronicle my life and to live every day to the fullest, no matter where I am.
Joseph Campbell, my "guru" was the first person I ever heard articulate beliefs I had had about the nature of God that ran counter to everything I had ever been taught in church, but instinctively understood to be true.
Marguerite Henry, another author who wrote books I read over and over again when I was a child. She was also the first person to give me feedback on my writing and I treasure the letters she wrote me.
Daniel Pearl, another journalist. He exemplified everything I love about the best journalists: compassion, curiosity and the generous desire to share truths with the world.
Rosa Parks, whose seemingly small act of resistance changed the world. She reminds me that we can all change the world, even with small actions.
Some of my friends who aren't familiar with the idea of Day of the Dead find it morbid. But I find it comforting to take a special time to remember those who have died and honor their memories with a creative work.
