Solace in a Book

New way to look at death (and life)

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This past weekend I went to a memorial service and I’m inspired to share something with you. You may be familiar with it since it was featured on NPR in June of 2005, but it was new to me – it is “Eulogy from a Physicist” by Aaron Freeman. Aaron Freeman lives in the Chicago area; I’ve known of him through his comedy and journalism. But I guess he is also a physicist. You may also want to check out “My Inner Particle” by Aaron Freeman, which appeared in Symmetry … [Read more...]

Mary Oliver and a tiny amphibian

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Summer is almost officially here—I’m wishing you sunny days in all ways. This past weekend I went to a memorial service on Saturday and on Sunday, we celebrated Father’s Day. At the memorial service, we heard the Mary Oliver poem “In Blackwater Woods.” It is from her book American Primitive (1983, Back Bay Books) and it ends with these lines: “To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones … [Read more...]

News and Mother’s Day poem by Lesléa Newman

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Hey there! Happy Mother's Day. One bit of news I heard this week is that Glimmer Train is coming to its final destination – here’s what appeared in a recent email: “Most of you already know that next fall Glimmer Train will—after almost 30 years—finally arrive at the end of the line: The last Writers Ask, #85, will be out in October 2019, and Glimmer Train #106, the fall issue, will also be out in October (a little later than the usual August) so we have time to tuck every … [Read more...]

Sexualities, drinks, and an off-putting phrase

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Good day to you! Hope things are looking up and that this May day finds you peaceful and happy. All is okay with me. We had a bad storm here the other night but weathered it. The forsythias are in bloom. I’ve heard about two calls for submissions you may want to know about. SISMW contributor Patti Wahlberg emailed to say Duende, the online literary journal produced by the students in the BFA-Writing program at Goddard College, has opened for submissions for its next … [Read more...]