A Second Hand Gift from the Bookshelf – A True Story
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I’ve known about the book in the photograph for a long time. I’ve had it for several years. It’s one of those books I’ve kept around to read later because it’s one of those books you should read.
The first photo doesn’t show quite how old this particular book is. However, the naked lady with a torch (or running torchbearer if you prefer) symbol and recognizable to many my age and old. It’s a Modern Library book, and you can still find them by the bushel at used book stores, garage sales, flea markets and your Aunt Edna’s attic or bookshelves. If you don’t have an Aunt Edna, you probably have an Aunt Hortense or something similar. Work with me here.
Back to this particular copy. It’s from the 1930′s. I know this because Library Thing tells me so. I also know because of what I found inside, which I’ll get to in a moment. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve had this book for a long time. It came from my grandparents and until yesterday had been resting on the shelf next to The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (another Modern Library copy) which also came from my Grandparents. I’ve read the book by Franklin, but it’s been many years. I wish to do so again in the future, but I couldn’t tell you how far or near that future maybe. But, I digress…or ramble. Your call.
What makes this particular book so special and precious to me is what I found inside.
Go ahead and click the picture to get a better view if you wish. I’ll wait for you to come back….
Kitty…is my Grandmother. The book was a gift to my Granddad. What jumped off the page to me was the date. 11/15/1937
They were married in August of 1937, so what I have here is her first birthday gift to him as his wife. I am currently reading the book and it’s sort of like having them both with me whilst I do so. It’s a doozy of a secondhand gift, y’know?
Andrea Beltran Interviewed!
And we’re back with another Interview. This go ’round it’s Andrea Beltran, a poet and writer from Way Down Texas Way. One of the things I’ve noticed about Andrea in the world of Twitter, is how supportive of others she is. For every tweet about her own work or life, there’s a half dozen or more pointing to things by others that have touched her or impressed her. She is no different than many I’ve come across in my time on The Twittah, but I felt like it needed to be pointed out. I appreciate her doing it, and everyone else that invests their time and effort into supporting the entirety of the online writing community.
So, without further ado or blather from me, here’s Andrea’s answers to a few questions. My thanks for her time and patience as I share these with you. (And I’m a little bit in love with the answers to No. 4.)
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1. Without naming it, describe for me your favorite dinner.
Pizza. Yes, pizza. With lots of pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. And a cupcake and coffee to close it out.
2.Do you believe in Writer’s Block? Why or why not.
I used to. I don’t like to give it a name anymore so as not to give it any more weight. I’m learning to accept the non-writing moments and just read and listen more. The writing always comes back to you, even if it takes years. (Note: A wonderful book to read during these moments is Richard Hugo’s “The Triggering Town.”)
3.Do you carry a notebook?
Yes, in my purse and laptop bag. And beside my bed. If I don’t write it down when it comes to me, I lose it.
4. Who inspires you?
Jack Myers and his wife, Thea Temple. I wish I would’ve paid more attention, written more down, during my time with him. Every day people inspire me. I’m an observer. Yesterday, it was the boy in the cereal aisle telling his mom she needed to learn to “slow life down a little faster.” It is people like you I interact and share poetry, writing, and books with on Twitter. My grandparents who just seem to keep blooming, even in their mid-eighties. My husband who patiently waits out my writing and reading time and wants to tell complete strangers about my poems.
5.What are you afraid of?
I’m afraid of losing the ones I love. I need to be more accepting of the cycle of life, but I’m working on it. I’m also afraid of not taking the leap to pursue a more purposeful life, but I’m working on that too. 
6.What makes you write? Or, what is the compulsion to write?
Great stories or poems. Any given scene in my daily life can inspire me. Most recently, C.D. Wright’s “One With Others.” I’m working on one about the boy at the grocery store too.
7.What is more rewarding for you, the finished product or the writing process?
I think it’s all a part of the same process. I do love the energy I feel while sitting with pen and paper and writing away or when I’m in the shower rapidly repeating lines to myself so I won’t forget them before I can get to my journal.
8.How can your art/writing change the world where you live?
I hope to tell the stories of people within El Paso, to bring a history of our culture to the page. I’d also like to simply get more books into people’s hands here, especially the future generations.
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Andrea Beltran lives in El Paso, Texas and moonlights as a poet. Her poems have recently appeared in caesura, Rose & Thorn Journal, and Referential Magazine. She has fun as Flashquake’s Social Media Guru and blogs about poetry and writing at http://andreakristen.
The Nuge really is a Madman
Generally speaking, I like to keep my politics off this space. I can do that elsewhere, but today I read about something that I just can’t let pass without comment. But first, some back story (because I like them…)
One of the first Guitar Hero type artists I got into as a kid was Ted Nugent. Growing up in Southeastern Michigan, it was hard to miss him. Heck, second concert I ever went to was a Nugent show at Crisler Arena (I think my ears are still ringing!). I’ve listened to his music for the better part of forty years. I’ve bought records, tapes and CD’s. Sometimes multiple copies.
I sell them tomorrow. All of them. The files will be deleted from my computer, any and all tracks will be removed from my Last.fm profile. I am through with Ted Fucking Nugent.
Why? Why now? Fair questions…
I’ve long known the Motor City Madman to be borderline insane, he’s been ranting and raving about shit he knows nothing about for years. He’s always been virulently anti-drugs, and been a supporter of gun safety and hunters rights (which I do agree with), but calling for”We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November. Any questions?” to a room full of NRA (National Reactionary Rifle Association) goons, well…that crosses a line. A serious line. As in the Secret Service is doing appropriate follow-up kind of line.
Now, you can lay this off as Ol’ Ted being Ted, but I think it’s more than that. This is a man who “endorsed” Mitt Romney for President (and one of his aides did distance the Romney campaign from Nugent’s behavior) and Romney also spoke at the same event. If that isn’t enough, today he stated on a conservative talk radio show,”I’m a black Jew at a Nazi-Klan rally,” the rock star complained to Loesch. “And there are some power-abusing, corrupt monsters in our federal government that despise me because I have the audacity to speak the truth.” Uh, excuse me?
You don’t like the guy in office? Fine. Campaign against the record. Can the horseshit vitriol and stupid comments (black jew? Really?), and in your case, to quote the great Frank Zappa, “Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar” Back to your game preserve, and good riddance.
Dead or in Jail if Obama is Re-Elected
I know I have some friends who are staunch supporters of the 2nd Amendment. I own guns, but despise the NRA. I loathe what they stand for. I have no problem with limited gun control, keeping automatic weapons out of the hands of non-military or police personel, and of strict enforcement of laws involved guns already on the books. I have family members that are card carrying, sticker on the window members of the NRA. My views aren’t very popular with them. Tough.
Poem Draft
So, yesterday I did this thing. I responded to a tweet by Ada Limon who mentioned that using the word ‘feelings’ in a poem wasn’t easy. I concurred stating I’d never do that (and I don’t think I could). I think my revulsion dates to hearing that….song….by Morris Albert a billion times growing up. Anyhow, Ada Limon took my comment as a dare, and wrote a poem draft using said word (and it’s a mighty fine draft I must say). She also used ‘glass slipper’ because Matthew Zapruder threw that one down on her as well….
I cannot use ‘feelings’ and it ain’t gonna happen, but I did pull this draft outta mid air and thought I’d share as I’ve not done so in quite some time….
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Iron oxide rusted your
Glass slippers a greenish
shade of envy and neglect.
As they remain enshrined
in cardboard, packed in lies
and loss. Truth is you realized
they never fit to begin with.
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Needs work, but it’s a start. Who know what it will end up….thanks for reading!
Elizabeth Howard – An Interview
I’d like to thank Elizabeth Howard for agreeing to answer my set of questions. Her bio is at the end of the interview. I must say up front that I am in awe of her ‘Demand Poetry’ idea. I am either ill-equipped or simply unable to write poetry to order. That she can, do does it well is a testament to her talent and committment.
And now, The Questions!
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I have to get very Zen with the keyboard. If I go too slow, I make mistakes. If I rush, I make mistakes. The final versions often have small errors in them. People seem to like that, though.
Well, I do love the finished product. I admit that sometimes I go back and re-read a poem I wrote a few weeks back and think: Wowzers! Good on you! But that is only because the writing process has become — over the course of time — a real place of joy, ease, and escape for me.
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My Book ‘Tender Mercies’
