Last night I watched a show on Bill Holm, a Minnesota poet. I cried at the thought of his being dead, and cried at missing my deceased husband Ken as well. Ken and I loved Bill Holm and his work: poetry, essays, piano playing. We first saw him in nearby Amery, Wisconsin. After his performance I approached him and asked to buy the book that contained a poem he had read called Advice. I intended …
News of Ken’s death continues to filter out into the cosmos. Yesterday I received a letter from a woman who had taken a class from Ken. While reading her note tears streamed down my face. “He was not terribly personable, but I saw that he cared a lot that we were learning. The thing that stood out then, and that stuck in my mind, and that brought me to write this letter, is the way …
I started taking music lessons about six months ago. I had never learned any music before that. I did not read music. But after practicing at least once, often twice a day (except the two days I was flying to and from visiting my parents), I had been making slow and steady progress through the book of exercises Recently I thumbed back to a couple carols in my exercises book. Then I remembered some music …
Today is a difficult day. Ken died December 19, 2017 around 7:30 a.m. – two years ago today. He had just returned home the night before he died. It had been a difficult night for him. After a bath with lavender oil, he never made his way back to bed. He died in his studio. At home. As deaths go it was a good one and as he wanted – at home with me and …
Thursday is my wedding anniversary. I feel a mix of emotions: sadness and gratitude. It I am honest, I just wanted more
Last night I watched a video of The Wife. The depiction of the relationship moved me deeply. I thought of the relationship of couples – and my own. No, I did not make the pots, and no, I did not grow the vegetables. When the actress Glenn Close, says, ” I can fix it. Do you want me to fix it?” I was struck with my role in Ken’s life. I was a willing catalyst. …
Last night a storm came through the area. I had checked the forecast and radar map, and I really thought it was going north of me. But then a siren went off and the news listed the county three miles east as a tornado warning Rain started pouring in the French doors on the south side of the house. I decided it was time to batten down the hatches. So, once that was done, the …
Since the potter’s death, Keppers Pottery and Produce is closed – permanently. Remaining pottery is at Dancing Bird in Cumberland. For produce, please support a local farmer.
It had been a quiet, but good day. I had felt less of the residual neck pain and headache from the shingles. I went to the laundromat. My clarinet lesson had gone well. I had done some cleaning. My day went fine until some time after six. I was in a t shirt and underwear and a woman came banging on my door wanting to buy pots in spite of having seen the closed sign. …
Since Ken’s death, I have avoided dance music and dancing. I am just not ready – yet. But I love music. People who visit often comment that there is always music playing here. As a kid I chose dance lessons over music lessons. Since I find myself rebuilding my life, I think about positive things to do and try; I decided learning to play music would be not only enjoyable, but good for my brain …
