Monday, June 2, 2008

Women's Writers Group

I had not attended a writers group class in quite some time, probably since February or March. I called Roxy, who introduced me to the group, and decided to meet her there this morning even though it required leaving Saul to his own devices at home. He had plenty to keep him busy as we have been compiling a long list of minor jobs that needed to be done around the house once vacation began. I checked my email before I left and printed out two of my blogs on paper--I Never Caught the Brass Ring, and Oak Leaves and Heather.


Printing out these logs onto paper to carry in to class was a bit disturbing to me on several levels. For one, seeing the article on paper with no "moving parts" or photos made it seem dry and static, instead of kinetic. I also have tried to be very conscientious about only printing out that which absolutely has to be printed these days in order to be ecological. I also discovered when I began attending and reading my work aloud that I became nervous and overemotional about things I had written in a very dispassionate and analytical way. In other words, I think I have taken to blogging like a duck to water and I am having a hard time going back. The class is wonderfully supportive, helpful and friendly and I enjoy it immensely, but I am finding myself torn between exploring this new medium and wanting to relate to my class in all the traditional ways that a support group is reinforcing. Most of the women in this class are middle-aged or older and have a deep mistrust of their computers. All who were there today expressed an interest in seeing my blog and I will be sending them the link this evening. I hope they will begin to explore the possibilities out there in cyberspace like I have begun to do. I think that as younger generations are trained to become more and more savvy about communicating and finding information this way, as they become socially conscious about the use of our resources, and impatient with the delay that comes with committing ink to paper, the wave of future publishing will be out there in the ether of electronic communication. Yes, I grew up loving my books and spending cherished hours browsing in my cozy neighborhood library curled up in a worn leather chair, light filtering through the two-story windows. Although those libraries still exist now, I think they may face gradual extinction in the future as the generation with fond memories like mine ages and new generations fail to understand their function.

Yesterday's blog included a You Tube video of my granddaughter, Sami, reciting a French poem in a competition held at Barnes & Noble in Baltimore. The sound was a bit garbled, so I offer here the link to the printed poem. When I Googled the title and author, I was pleased to find an adorable animated graphic atop the poetry (another one of those kinetic additions that doesn't translate well to paper). For those who don't speak French, the translation will have to wait yet another day until I have time to locate one. My own French is definitely not that good and Sami has already gone to bed as has her mother.

Saul did not have to spend his time alone as Larry showed up for a visit while Roxy and I were having lunch at Wegman's. Once we start to converse, it is like time stands still for us. Two hours flew by in an instant.

When I arrived home this afternoon, I spent an hour catching up with some business and then Larry, Saul and I spent a few hours discussing politics, the economy, and whether to buy a new computer for Saul and which one would be most efficacious. We also discussed the National Geographic-sponsored voyage that Larry and Ted will be making to the Galapagos Islands in the fall. Larry traveled to Antarctica several months ago. I would have loved to take that trip, but I am positively green with envy over this one. I guess I will have to live vicariously through his photos and stories and be satisfied with those for the time being. Maybe someday in the not-too-distant future Saul and I will have the resources to make the trip as well.

When Beth came home from work, I prepared some dinner for Mom who was tired, and then the four of us went out to a buffet. I guess we are trying to squeeze carefree fun into our child-free week. We adore having the grandkids for the summer. They may limit our lifestyle somewhat and add extra responsibility, but the joy that results is definitely worth the trouble!

3 comments:

Ari said...

I always try Babelfish first when I want to have something translated. It's not perfect, but at least you can get the gist of it. And it's free!

It does full webpages or blocks of text between most major languages.

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/

Anonymous said...

I followed Ari's directions for this translation:
In our city, there is Turns, houses per thousands, Of the concrete, the blocks, the districts, And then my heart, my heart which beats Tout low. In my district, there is Boulevards, avenues, Places, roundabouts, streets, And then my heart, my heart which beats Tout low. In our street, there is Cars, people who s' throw into a panic, a department store, a school. And then my heart, my heart which beats Tout low. In this school, there is Birds singing all the day In the chestnut trees of the court. My heart, my heart, my heart which beats Is there.

sabasenders said...

Ah Babelfish I remember it well. I remember a student submiting an A paper in spanish for J. Raddbil at hses. She wanted to know how a student with an F- average could do this with outside help. LOL