After a spring hiatus, I return to writing, with thoughts of my mother, who never mythologized the South but rather cultivated her own garden, plainly, authentically.
Photo: Magnolia virginiana var. australis, University of Delaware Botanic Gardens
Poems, stories, and reflections
Bonjour ma belle! I’m so happy to have a new (and delicious) post from you! It makes me want to scoop vanilla ice cream from Bertillon directly into my mouth with flower petals.
My (French) mother’s day (today, May 29th!) is filled with bliss: my firstborn daughter is expecting! I’m going to be a Grand-mère! And I feel like a steel and stellar magnolia, my mind all tilt-a-whirl with adventures to come! Bises from Sharron xoxo
Oops, I meant Berthillon, with an “h”, may the French forgive me!
Merci pour cette lettre. Ah, Berthillon me manques. Bises et felicitations! ch
One is delighted to have you at the door again, and with such a splendid present. Dang, I wish I had thought of the tilt-a-wheel trope!
Please keep writing and living well. And sharing the bounty of both.
Thanks. I’m glad it resonated. I was not sure if I would be the only one to feel that wheel. But I guess a few of us took an old carnival ride or spinning teacups. Bounty–now that is a puzzle. Writing runs lean these days. We will see.
I often like to make note of best lines… but I couldn’t even choose among them… all luscious and poignant and velvety.
Welcome back.
Missed you and your beautiful words.
Thanks, Karen. Work has kept me busy–but trying to figure out a way to get a few words done here and there. Best, ch
So glad you picked up the “pen” and shared this. Thanks for the up close and untainted view. Magnolia tilt a whirl–yes!
Hey T.K. Miss you! Hope all is well. Let me know when we need to review your next book!
A skein of words that draw one in and tickle memories long asleep, Catherine. Glad to see you in my in-box. Hope work is going well!
Great to hear from you! All is well, my friend.
Ah, there you are! I was wondering where you’d gone off to. Glad you’re back, and with a wondrous magnolia, which resonates with the two enormous magnolia trees outside my studio window here: we’re on the third floor, and this year’s blooms look ready to start wafting their evening scent soon. It runs in the family: my grandmother loved them too: they reminded her of her house in Manila