A Library Book Spine Poem

Spine Poetry is one of my favorite ways to create in the margins. I love sitting beside my bookshelf holding a warm cup of tea while reading the titles of the books on the shelf. When a title nudges me, I pull it off the shelf and put it in a stack. Then I rearrange them over and over again until I come up with a poem (of sorts). Here’s a little spine poetry I put together with a stack of library holds that all came in at the same time.

Girl with a pearl earring
the idea of you
(may be a) state of terror
(That’s okay)
Find your unicorn space
under the whispering door
(and let) the house in the cerulean sea
(be your) paper palace

Go ahead - try it. What poems can you create from the books on your shelf?

Ten Best Things About 2022

Last year, I claimed DEEP as my word of intention for 2022. While the year was true to that word in a lot of ways, if I had to sum up 2022 in one word, it would be TRANSITION. We tackled several different transitions this year: getting a pet, exploring school options, embracing my call to write, just to name a few. Of course, those are the transitions we chose—the world threw us several others to tackle as well. Here’s a look at what I think are the ten best things about 2022.

1—Bringing Home the Puppy

The puppy was the hardest transition of our year. There were times when I thought bringing home a puppy was the biggest mistake we had ever made. There was even a moment when I wasn’t sure my marriage would survive the puppy. I had no idea raising a puppy would be harder than raising a child, but in so many ways it is. That being said, once D found the right training program for this little stuffed animal of ours, we turned a new corner. Leonardo ‘dawg Vinci Rowe is the very best thing that has happened to our little family of four.

2—The World Mostly Went Back to Normal

2022 began with retreats being cancelled, masks still required, and all of us wondering if life would ever return to the way it once was. But, by August, the four of us had all had Covid, we left home without masks, and we had calendars that were more full than we knew how to handle. David has even gone back to the office—on the train—several times a month. For better or worse, the world is back in full force. It’s been hard at times, but it also feels really good to be in person for meetings, go to yoga twice a week, occasionally eat out at restaurants, and not worry about whether or not I have a mask in the car before I walk out the front door.

3—Reaffirming Our Commitment to Homeschool

In April of last year, we thought the girls would be attending a hybrid school beginning in the Fall. Just a few weeks before classes were to begin, the school closed. We were heartbroken. And shellshocked. All of the hours I spent researching options seemed like nothing but a waste of time. I pivoted and replanned our school year, and it’s been a fantastic experience for all of us. We’ve found a few ways for the girls to regularly connect with other kids and teachers outside the home, they’ve gotten over their desire to “go to school”, and I realized it is possible to balance homeschooling and writing at the same time.

4—The Kids Went to Camp Gramma

Until 2022, my kids have never slept away from home without me. This summer, they stayed an entire week with my parents. One kid was even sick the whole time she was there. They had a blast anyway, they had endless playdates with cousins, they kayaked in the local lake, and learned that Gramma and Grandpa are even cooler than Mom and Dad. We’re hoping to make it an annual event.

5—I Claimed My Calling as Writer

Twelve years ago, I dreamed of this day. So many great things happened for my writing life in 2022. I took three overnight trips alone, where I had a chance to sleep in, breathe deep, and think deep thoughts without getting interrupted. I started getting paid to write, from two external publications and also through Substack. I began the early stages of writing a book. Those early stages have looked like a ton of drafting, reading old material, typing old journals, and a lot of random musings. It took me all year, but I think I finally have a good idea about the narrative direction I want to take. But perhaps most importantly, 2023 was the year I actually called myself a Writer on all those forms you have to fill out asking what your occupation is. There’s no going back now.

6—My Breast Exams Came Back Clear

After some weird discharge out of my right breast, I saw a breast specialist this year. After a mammogram, several exams, and even an MRI, I received confirmation that there’s nothing to be concerned about. My doctors have been incredible at taking me seriously and listening to my fears. Because of my family history with breast cancer, I’ve been moved to the “higher-risk” category so they can keep a closer eye on me. Early prevention is key, and I’m so grateful to have an excellent team of doctors in my court.

7—My Book Club

I’ve written about my book club before. 2023 was the first year since 2019 that we met without interruption. It is the very best part of every single month. They challenge me to read books I wouldn’t otherwise read. They open my mind to perspectives I wouldn’t otherwise have. We share food together. We drink wine, cocktails, and tea together. And through conversation about books and life in general, we share life together. Everyone needs a book club like mine.

8—I Began Tracking my Menstrual Cycle

This may be the single most life-changing thing that happened last year. Well, next to the dog. Since coming off of birth control after the birth of my second child, I have tried to get better in tune with my body. I’ve been reading about creativity and the menstrual cycle for several years now, so when I discovered Nicole Gulotta’s Writing Cycle e-course, I eagerly jumped all in. By paying attention to the time of month, I learned how my energy shifts and changes throughout the month. When I take the time to plan at the beginning of my cycle, and give myself the grace to go where the energy is, I feel less scattered and more creative as the month goes on.

9—I Ran a 5K!

Last year, I shared a little about how I wanted to be a runner. I continued my training, at what felt like a snail’s pace throughout the winter. When I learned my mom would be visiting in June, I asked if she wanted to run a 5K with me. When she said yes, I knew I was locked in and couldn’t get out of it. She was in far better shape than I, but she pushed me to do it. She ran beside me every step of the way. When my calf felt like it was locking up, she slowed down with me and walked a bit. And when we crossed over that finish line, I felt like I could tackle anything. I injured my calf during that run, and haven’t gotten back out on the trail ever since, but I will forever remember the day I ran a 5K with my mom as being one of the very best days of my life.

10—I Didn’t Give Up

In the 42 years that I’ve lived on this earth, discipline has always been my weakness. When things got hard or frustrating, I tended to walk away and started something new instead. 2022 taught me that while sometimes walking away is the best thing we can do, often we need to dig our heels in and keep on keeping on. Even when it feels harder than we can bear. Through schedule changes, injured body parts, more sickness than we’ve had in many years, too many rejections to count, and edits that brought me to tears, I didn’t give up. I kept running. I kept writing. I kept homeschooling. I called doctors. I argued for better care. I called on people to help when I needed it. I demanded time for myself. I dug my heels in.

Ten Things Saving My Life Right Now: Fall 2022

What’s Saving My Life Right Now?

It’s a question that floats through the internet several times a year. A question that helps ground me and helps me put a little perspective around what’s happening in our life (especially when things are feeling a little too hectic.) This weekend, inspired by latest episode of The Next Right Thing, I sat down and made my own list of what’s saving my life right now.

1—Fall in New England

When we first moved to New England, it was Summer that had me smitten; but the longer we live here, the more I fall in love with Fall. Fall in New England is more vibrant than I ever remember fall being in the south. I suspect it’s all the maple trees—the sugar maples really know how to show off.

The colors are just starting to change, but they always take my breath away. Here’s a close up of that beautiful tree:

In a week or so it will look as though it’s on fire.

2—The Farm

Every Friday, I get in my car and drive 40 miles to Springdell Farm to pick up our farm share for the week. It seems like a long drive, but every time I pull in the drive, I find a smile on my face. Farmer Jamie grows the best food we’ve ever eaten, but my love for Springdell is about more than just the food. The farm feels like home. I love talking to the men and women that work on the farm, hearing their stories and sharing recipes. They know I use every scrap of food I can and that I appreciate every single minute of their hard work. And I never leave without feeling loved and cared for.

3—Laughing at mistakes

I was ecstatic to make the first pumpkin pie of the season with our super sweet honeynut squash a few weeks ago. It was so late by the time I made it, that we had to save it for breakfast the next morning. My kids were giddy to find pumpkin pie on their breakfast plate. Until they took the first bite.

I knew right away something was off, but it took me a few bites to realize that I forgot the sugar. Oops. I could have gotten mad at myself. Someone could have cried that their breakfast was ruined. But thankfully, we just started laughing out loud. “Well, if there’s no sugar, that means Leo can eat it, right?” one of the kids said. So the dog got the first pumpkin pie of the season, and I made the youngest help me with the second (so as to not forget the sugar once again.)

4—Soup

My youngest has gymnastics three nights a week this year right during the dinner hour, so we’re eating a lot of dinners on the go. As soon as the weather turned cool, I swapped my salad for soups and am loving the variety filling my thermos each night. We’ve had Taco Soup, Minestrone Soup, Corn Chowder, Snowcap Bean & Sweet Potato Soup, and tomorrow we’ll have Broccoli Cheese Soup. There once was a time when I hated soup, but now it is a true life-saving grace.

5—Nail Polish

Painting my nails is one of my favorite ways to make time stop for an hour or so each week. When my nails are wet, I have an excuse to not do what someone asks of me. It’s my self-care secret weapon. About four times a year, I splurge on a new color. It’s always seasonal, and it’s almost always Essie. This weekend, David picked up the new Fall 2022 color “Off the Grid” and I am already in love. It reminds me a little of mud, which I know sounds weird, but is really the very best Fall color.

6—Yoga twice a week at the YMCA

Because my youngest goes to gymnastics 20+ minutes from our house, I try to stay in the area until she’s done rather than drive back and forth from our house. When I discovered the YMCA near her gym had yoga twice a week, I was thrilled. The classes I’ve been going to are slow and meditative, and I’m noticing a huge shift in not only my physical ability, but my mental health as well.

7—Hot Tea

The cooler weather brings a shift from iced cold brew coffee to endless cups of hot tea. I’ve been making a huge pot of hot tea each morning and sipping on it as the day goes by. I find making tea to be a more sensual experience than coffee—the smells are so different, depending on what type of tea is in your mug. I am loving anything with cinnamon right now.

8—Clever Fox Planner

I discovered Clever Fox Planners this year and it has been life changing. I know you’re probably thinking “but that planner is empty - how is it doing you any good?” This picture is from last week, when I neglected to do any goal setting until Thursday. But I usually do it on Sundays, and when I do, my week feels so productive. I love the chance to separate my writing to-dos from my personal ones, and I really like sitting down to think about how to balance all of the important things in my life each week. At the end of every week, there’s a wrap sheet, where I can reflect on what went well and what didn’t go so well. When I don’t do my weekly planning, I feel like I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Sitting down to make a plan for the week helps me prioritize, and helps me juggle all the balls just a tiny bit better.

9—Leonardo Dawg Vinci Rowe (aka Leo)

There was a time a couple of months ago when I thought getting the puppy was the biggest mistake we have ever made. When we got back from our hectic summer, his constant neediness caused a lot of strife in family relationships. None of us really knew what we were getting into when we got a brand new puppy. Like my children, he needs a lot of attention. Also like my children, he needs to use his brain a lot. And—also like my children (when they were younger)—he throws tantrums when he has to be away from his people. Unfortunately, unlike with my children, the world is not setup for you to take your puppy wherever you go.

So when we were all at our wit’s end (aka I told David something had to change), he found an online training program and began Homeschooling the Dog. And in the last 6 weeks, this dog has become the puppy we all wanted from the very beginning. But I don’t think it’s all because the puppy is different. I think the training program has changed all of us. We are better puppy parents (the kids too) when we realize he’s just a puppy and puppies have needs. The puppy, like our children, needs boundaries. The puppy, like our children, needs to be told what to do. The puppy, like our children, is so much better behaved when his brain has been exercised just as much as his body.

There’s probably a deeper essay here just waiting to be written, but today I’m simply giving thanks for this adorable little pup of ours.

10—Audiobooks

Between driving to gymnastics, taking the girls to their nature class, and driving to the farm, I’m spending quite a few hours in the car each week. My Audible App is getting used like never before. We’re listening to The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish on the way to gymnastics, The Chronicles of Narnia on the way to nature class, and I’m alternating between The Odyssey and Come As You Are when I’m in the car alone. If I can’t sit on the couch and read, at least I can listen to someone reading to me.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me in the comments below: what’s saving your life right now?

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