Mutual Riverfront Park by Wendy March 2020

 

Everything is temporary

The prompt was: "You have walked into the bathroom where a stranger has scribbled lipstick on the mirror, leaving behind an important message for you and anyone following": 

-Sam T. 

I don’t usually draw but I did these this week on saved cardboard.

—Celia White

Unbound

Last week I sat in a meeting, the first held remotely for this group. It had the requisite “I can’t hear yous” and “Can you speak louders?” along with “Can you (un)mute your mic?” I was so irritated, as I am often on calls, and couldn’t fathom how so many people couldn’t figure this out! I was irritated. THEN. The last straw happened! The underwire on my bra broke and dug into the soft tissue under my ribs. 

What’s a girl to do? Whip that sucker off, jam it in a file drawer, draw your sweater around you and feel better.  Then—go on vacation/staycation, forgetting about the bra in the drawer. 

What does this have to do with positivity? Or anything? As the world has constricted, me and my free-swinging boobs have felt a bit freer. We’re moving better and thinking more clearly. You may ask, why haven’t you even looked at another bra? Well COVID-19 has decided I’m staying inside, where I have spent time with the family watching Disney movies and laughing with my two favorite people. Braless. We’ve been cooking and cleaning—without a titsling holding me back. I’ve completed tasks AND done NOTHING. Because being bra-less reminds me I have some options. One of which is to not be busy. Not to be TOO busy. 

My free swinging reminds me that I don’t need to take myself too seriously … something I have a tendency to do. That I can’t save the world, something my profession tends to make us think we can do. A reminder that my “helper” status is supposed to extend to myself as well… and usually I’m decent at this. But I had begun to push harder, trying to make up for a time when the Universe said “sit your butt down.” So I did. On my couch, in my dining room, with my arms around my kid or husband. Sitting down with a pen and paper to write silly things. With my phone as I’ve sent silly reminders and random poems and quotes to my family. 

I have three days before I have to be re-bound, literally and figuratively. But, right now, this crisis (that’s what it is, and a tragic one at that) is giving me freedom. My head is more together and my stress is decreased. We’re laughing because we can. We’re connecting because we want to. We’re sharing because it feels right.  And, I feel the growth that’s needed in myself moving towards some unidentified goal.  It’ll show up when it’s time.   What I know is that being braless for a week is an opportunity to take care of myself, to spend time with family, and to have no obligations to attend to. Selfish? No. Everything in this braless house is just as it needs to be.  And, I’ll be ready to be back fighting the good fight next when I head back to work. 

One last thing? I’m glad that underwire snapped before I did!

—Ursuline Bankhead 

Be the Lighthouse

”The one thing in life you have to do. 

Spread the light. Be the lighthouse.” Yogi Bhajan

30 Mile Point Lighthouse, Olcott, NY

Finding my solace in nature, I’ve taken the opportunity to start little things in the yard and garden. As the bulbs and flowers burst through, the robins sing, and spring returns in all her glory, it feels like hope itself welling up from the Earth.

After clearing leaves and connecting with the dirt, I was inspired to decorate this rock. 

—Holly Graham

Multi-talented Anne performs and sings Selena Gomez's "Kill 'Em with Kindness"

I was at Nancy’s Cinco de Mayo party last May, sitting outside in a circle talking with wonderful, interesting people, when I mentioned that I enjoy singing but can’t play an instrument. As the conversation continued, I realized, if not now, when? 

I had a plan: perform at an Open Mike in 1 year, playing an instrument “adequately” enough to sing along to 3 songs. 

When I left the party I went right to the store and bought a guitar. I made incremental progress. Then in late November, I bought a keyboard. For as long as I can remember, I’d always wanted to play piano. For one reason or another, I’d never done it. I don’t have room for a piano in my house, but it occurred to me that I could fit a keyboard, and maybe even take it along to the Open Mike in May. 

For awhile I was practicing both but have since been focusing on keyboard. 

It’s only been a few months. I took 4 of the chords that I could play on guitar and learned how to play them on the keyboard. I want to get better at them before I add another. 

I’m amazed at how many songs I can play with only 4 chords! 

I’m grateful to Nancy and friends for the advice and encouragement that I received that day, as it has provided me with a project that will sustain me during this time.

Here is one of the 3 songs that I’ve been working on for the May Open Mike that I expect will be postponed for awhile. 

Anne's Singing + Keyboards Video

 Now in UK (moved July 2019).

I live in the unique and very old village of Covelly in Devon.  No cars allowed and a steep cobbled street all the way down to the sea and a harbor, still in use, built over 600 years ago.  Usually there are hundreds of visitors and their dogs.  Dogs always welcome.

Spring is here, has been for a few weeks, which makes it easier to bear these strange times.  I send you a little piece of it.

- Jennifer Gold

Dancing Lessons

Dancing Lessons

McClusky relished her dance lessons. 

Her instructor was a lively Russian woman named Bunina

Whose demonstrations included furious twirls and leaps.

The dance studio was downtown on the top floor of  the Arcade Building

Where the late afternoon light 

Plunged through the high windows to fill the room.

But

Being on the top floor 

The dance studio required a long dark climb up the arcade stairs

A climb that made McClusky sigh despite her anticipation.

One afternoon Bunina announced  -

“Today we will dance with Fred,” and laughing

Led the dancers out of the bright studio to the top of the shadowy stairway.

“Stairs?” McClusky dismayed, “What if we fall down?”

“Liebchen,” Bunina smiled, “You will fall

But not down. 

First you'll grab for the bannister

Then your heel will catch you

You will find your balance, then

Edges, space, the stairs themselves will dance with you,

You and the stairs 

Dancing partners.

After you've learned what the stairs have to teach you

I'll let you dance with the broom.”

McClester

When It is Hard, We Cry.

This is my title for the clay piece I just completed, inspired by the brilliant illustrator Olef Hajek. 

I adore his illustrations but this one I was referencing especially spoke to me because it is a raw depiction of that one taboo emotion that we are to keep to ourselves and many times away from ourselves....sadness...and its ultimate physical manifestation of it...crying. Very taboo. But tears are the outlet and if they are not let out, then what do we keep in? And for how long? I give myself and you permission to let it out, if you like. 

Peace and Love. 

Julia Kagan

What Keeps

“What Keeps” is a great writing prompt. Consider yourself promoted!

C. D. Wright

We live on a hillside
close to water
We eat in darkness
We sleep in the coldest
part of the house
We love in silence
We keep our poetry
locked in a glass cabinet
Some nights We stay up
passing it back and
forth
between us
drinking deep

from the book STEAL AWAY: SELECTED AND NEW POEMS / Copper Canyon Press

Desire, by Cheryl Jackson.
"This image was made on an obscure side street on the west side
of Buffalo New York."
3/22/20

"Not till we are lost, in other words, not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations."
- Henry David Thoreau

Sent in by SunHead Luanne

From a window in Seattle

Make some new friends on your own balcony or patio! 

—Jill Corral

 

My name is Liz and my son's name is Casey.

I am a mandated employee for NY State. I work with individuals with disabilities.

So I have to work during these uncertain times.

My son moved back to Buffalo three weeks ago. He has been working out of town for 3 1/2 years.

 I own a double in Kenmore NY. That is two flats or apartments. I rent out the second floor. So space is limited.

I created this DIY project in my backyard to create more space and to have another option to spend time.

My son was going to the gym everyday sometimes twice a day. Not anymore.

 I wanted something positive for my son to do while being quarantined, which is mandatory right now and the foreseeable future. I wanted him to have something to look forward to each day.

I was in my backyard standing in my garage with the door open. I wanted to be able to utilize this space but stay protected from the elements as well. I started thinking of how I could achieve this without shutting the garage door, which felt isolating. 

I tried making a wooden frame. I was going to cover it in plastic. That was a disaster.

So the next day, while in my shower,  I had a brain storm, a lightbulb moment. 

I was looking at my shower curtain, it's made of white cloth, however the liner is clear plastic.

 So I went to the dollar whatever store and picked up three extra-long clear plastic shower liners and some inexpensive shower hooks.

 I didn't want to spent much money in case it didn't work as planned.

 Well, I couldn't be happier. It worked like a charm. I had to anchor the bottom so the wind would not blow it.  Since this video I am using some sand bags and some of my son's weights to anchor it. 

I plan on keeping it like this until the quarantine rides out. 

We use it everyday now.

After securing the curtain, we put a  rug down. My son set up his gym equipment that had been stored away. We brought some furniture in the garage and set up a lounge area.

Now we can have some space from each other.  We also enjoy a nice fire and Christmas lights.

I think Christmas lights cheer up any space. Get them out of the box in the basement and cheer up any room, inside or out.

Funny side note. My dog walker stopped by.  She thought I had set up some sort of medical quarantine zone. we had a good laugh. She said on her next walk she would go in the backyard and take a look.

Well, that's my DIY.  Stay safe and make something better today.

Socially isolating at Three Sisters Island. A common goose with a not so common backdrop.
Image by Wendy.
3/21/20

There was a puddle
I walked around it that night
Big mistake that was

It is still there now
I see it every day
Now I plunge right through

- Cheryl Jackson
3/20/20

The Wish

I brought you this gift in innocence

Speaking soft in the tongue of birds

That know the sky

Was created for them to fly in;

I left my present

At the altar of Joy

Waiting for brilliant angels

To deliver it above;

The Sun, and the light inside

Guide the delivery,

My only wish is

Peace for all beings, and

For Love to reign supreme!

Brian Mucha Oct. 1997.

Greetings, sunheads!

.
Greetings, sunheads!

Here we are in a blizzard with no snow. An apocalypse with no zombies. A strange invitation to slow down, loosen the yoke of a Hurry Up, be with ourselves and our imaginations. 

I’ve always believed that writers and artists imagine the world into being. I’ve written dialogue and description and seen it manifest in front of me within a day. It’s important that we give power to our words and thoughts, and essential that these reach toward the light. 

What are so inspired by right now? What are you valuing? What is catching your eye, ear, heart? What uplifting vision can you put into the world? Please share it with us. 

Here is a photo I took at Silo City in December, when I got to bring two precious visitors to swing on the swing at sunset. 

Welcome to SunStoriesNow.
This page is meant as a positive place to hover in front of your screen to see some collected, artful words, images, and other creative projects made by a community of family, neighbors, and friends as we grapple with the uncertainty of now.

I'm a lifelong photographer, writer, and maker of graphite drawings and I believe that everyone is creative. 

This site is meant for You to share your creative projects, thoughts, and art with us all as well. Don't keep that creativity under a proverbial bushel basket. Collaborators – fellow writers who I respect very much and who I've know for a long time – are Celia White, and R.D. Pohl. I'll let them introduce themselves.

The image above is from a gig I had out on a dairy farm. I love cows so much, their sweet and curious natures, and their big eyes. It was, as You can see, a very sunny day and the clouds were so perfect behind the cows on this big, green grazing hill. One thing I have to say is I was playing it so cool on the gig but I was completely amazed at how much the cows just busted loose and pooped: frequent cow flops were happening. I'm known for my burro adoration, but wanted to share this image of a more universal beast.

Enjoy this page.
Love,
NJP