Do you remember turning the pages of your books when you were a child? Each was to be savored and the choice of when to touch the corners and pull was a weighted one, met with a springing delight of discovery slipping down the spine. “Frederick” by Leo Lionni had this effect on me like no other. Do you know the story?
The introduction describes it well: While the other field mice work to gather grain and nuts for winter, Frederick sits on a sunny rock by himself. “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days,” he tells them. Another day he gathers “colors,” and then “words.” And when the food runs out, it is Frederick, the dreamer and poet, whose endless store of supplies warms the hearts of his fellow mice, and feeds their spirits during the darkest winter days.
While trying to lasso my thoughts and photos this morning, I stared at the screen, this screen, until my glassy eyes latched on to a figure dangling from a side column. “Number of posts published: 400.” Four-hundred? Four-hundred. After the initial bounce subsided, I was pleased as punch to realize that I had passed that benchmark while writing about the serious joys of a simple rose.
And so this post is number four-oh-one.
A few months ago, my friend Judith Ross asked about interviewing me for a column in Talking Writing magazine. I enjoyed the exchange that followed tremendously and I hope that you will appreciate Judith’s wonderful perspective as well. Living in France, where the word blogueuse (the feminine version of ‘blogger’) is pronounced with a sneer, I am absolutely delighted to have been featured as a writer in a magazine for writers. Thank you, Judith.
My life, while full of good things, is unusual. My future is so open-ended as to be not exactly secure. Sans filet, they say in French. Without a net. At times, my worries of “what if and what then?” threaten to overwhelm me. But perhaps, like Frederick, I am doing something helpful in making this blog, in storing up colors and words for the unknown path that is spooling out in front of my feet. Lost in Arles just might be my 401k plan.
To read Judith’s column “When Blogging Becomes Art”– please click here.
And to discover her own beautiful blog, Shifting Gears — please click here.
Some of my photography has also been featured in the Fall Issue of Talking Writing, to see them and discover a fine magazine — please click here.
To listen:
PS. James Vincent Mcmorrow’s cover of “Higher Love” is on the album “Silver Lining” — all of the proceeds of which go to Headstrong, an Irish charity for youth mental health.
As always, thank you so much for being here…
Oh, Heather….thank you so much for that link to James McMorrow's cover of "Higher Love"; Just now (and this would be twenty years after I was dancing to Stevie Winwood's 1980's version of the song he wrote), I like McMorrow's cover much more. It's one of my favorite songs. I didn't know of this beautifully austere version.
And?….having read this posting of yours, and at the risk of seeming more than usually oblique in my references?……you should know this poem (if you don't already):
"The Fascination of What’s Difficult"
The fascination of what's difficult
Has dried the sap out of my veins, and rent
Spontaneous joy and natural content
Out of my heart. There's something ails our colt
That must, as if it had not holy blood
Nor on Olympus leaped from cloud to cloud,
Shiver under the lash, strain, sweat and jolt
As though it dragged road metal. My curse on plays
That have to be set up in fifty ways,
On the day's war with every knave and dolt,
Theatre business, management of men.
I swear before the dawn comes round again
I'll find the stable and pull out the bolt.
—-William Butler Yeats (1865–1939 )
So, pull out that bolt, Miss Heather…..
—david terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
Dear Heather, Congratulations! 401 beautifully written posts. It is wonderful to see credit given where credit is due. ox, Gina
Oh, I remember Frederick. He's gorgeous. I think there was a small film about Frederick that was often repeated on Nickelodeon when my children were little. I thoroughly enjoyed Judith's article on you and your blog. I think blogueuse sounds great; much more elegant than blogger which sounds terribly clumsy and clunky. Congratulations on 401 posts 🙂
Heather (Frederick) , I think you have already acquired so many outstanding properties wherewith you can enrich many peoples life .
Oh Sister–thank you!!!! And I remember it because he was so important to me. I think that might have been my very favorite book when I was little. 🙂
I like to think of all the beauty that you bring in your work, instilling creativity in little ones like growing a garden! Amazing.
Merci, my friend. I do believe that Frederick would fit right in as a member of your fine family! 🙂
I don't know if I have any wisdom to impart but I sure am happy to share the beauty of what I see…
Gros Bisous!
Thank you Jeanne–that means so much coming from you–someone who has taken very brave, risk-taking steps in living authentically. You inspire a lot of folks yourself, Jeanne with your generosity and unerring sense for all things beautiful.
To have experience wonder is one of life's great kindnesses to us, isn't it Edgar? I too am grateful.
People like you too, Loree and the connections we have. I love seeing your world through your eyes. Now I have a friend on Malte–who would have ever thought?
Thank you so much Lorrie! And I had no idea how much that book had influenced me but it really did.