Today’s blog title comes from a story told by Robert Fulghum, the author of “Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten”, and I think a lot of us may identify with it. It seems Mr. Fulghum and some assistants were casting a Christmas pageant, the Nativity, to be exact. The children participating were small, but eager. For the sake of order, it was announced that all the shepherds should stand together in one place, and all the angels in another. Wise men over here, Mary and Joseph,there. Most of the children scrambled to join their little groups, probably giggling and jostling each other as they did so, but one little girl raised her hand and, when called upon, asked perplexedly, “Where to the mermaids stand?” The child’s innocent trust that there must be a place in the pageant for mermaids as well as shepherds and angels and wise men touches my heart. She never doubted that it was okay to be different; she simply wanted to know where she ought to stand while the parts were decided.
I love it.
I’ve been away from this blog for days, and I apologize for that. I went to Point Roberts and spent a wonderful interlude with my dear friend, Jean Barrington, and her lovely husband, Curt. Jean and I spent much of the time relaxing beside a fire in the downstairs stove, making art. We worked in our journals, chatted, or just kept silent–whichever seemed right at the time. I took a nap every day, admired Curt’s garden and the splendid view of the water from their front window, and the whole experience was downright restorative. On Saturday, I did the benefit workshop at the Point Roberts library, and I had a grand time. I always learn I teach–probably more than my students do.
I came home rested and, conversely, exhausted. There were more plumbing problems waiting to greet me. 🙂 Although I had the best of intentions, I am only now getting back on track, so I apologize if you’ve been worried.
There ARE some weird spam things getting through–more than usual, methinks. I try to delete them, but can’t seem to keep up, so I will ask Jenni to patrol the comment section and get rid of the junk.
My tulips and daffodils are blooming—hallelujah–and the lawn has been mowed for the first time this season, too. The woodpecker is back–come mid-summer, when the protected species has finished building nests and hatching chicks, a special paint will be applied to the outside of the house to keep them away. They peck big holes into the outside walls, and the noise tests my patience AND my nerves! Usually, if I go out onto the deck and clap my hands loudly, Woodie flies off, but he (or she?) soon returns. Alas, the woodpecker is as much God’s creature as I am. 🙂 I don’t want to hurt them, I just want them to stop trying to make the outside of my house look like Swiss cheese.
I have a book to recommend: “Writing Down Your Soul”, by Janet Connor. This is a wonderful resource for personal growth, and I’m so impressed, in fact, that I’m going to give away at least one copy on the blog. Stay tuned!
Once more, I apologize for my long absence. I was really feeling rundown for a while there, but I’m getting better.
“Big Sky Secrets”, my newest book, awaits.
Be kind, be blessed, and be yourself. As the old joke goes, everybody else is taken.
About Linda
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West.
Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.
