I met Davide and his wife Juliette at the Laumeier Sculpture Park–96 acres of outdoor sculpture that rivals anywhere in the world.

All three of us went there for a Fire Artists Meet-up. We were, however, the only ones. So, we met-up with one another and found a surprising array on similarities in our life paths. We think of our lives in episodes or chapters as we explore places and cultures. They met in Zimbabwe, next to Botswana–one of my heart homes.

I look forward to seeing Davide’s work in person. Let’s cross our fingers for an exhibition very soon.

Graphic by Dry Icons.

Show: “The Monte Carlo Years”
Opening Reception: August 20, 2010 7-10 p.m.
Show dates: August 20-September 2010
Phone: 314-351-2929
email: grand4140@att.net
website: http://www.grand4140.com

Then read Sports Illustrated moving article about Stan Musial.

The last poem of “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” is “Anniversary.” You can listen to it on the audio book “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music.” Just scroll down and click. The poem begins like this:

ANNIVERSARY

August 16, 2005
Julia’s one year anniversary.
You’ve been in the world of my ancestors for a year now.
Six years older, you always went before me.
Then, last year, you passed through.
I can’t say “passed on.”
No. You’ll never pass on.
You’re too fierce and present for that.

You passed over the waters in the famous boat.
Probably rowed it yourself.
Come on, confess. Didn’t you?
Said to the helmsman.
“Sit down, take a rest.
Let me take over for a little while.
You look like you haven’t slept in a million years.”
And, while you were at it, redesigned the boat
for greater comfort and speed.
Sewed some new boat cushions on the way over,
in-between oar-strokes.
Then, docked, stepped out on that far shore.
Claimed it as your own.

A year. How can that be?
I woke up a year ago:
Not knowing
my life was about to be changed forever.
Not knowing
this date would be carved in flesh and blood.
How innocent I was that morning.
That morning when I woke up,
not knowing…

To learn more about my sister Julia A. Thompson on Riehlife type her name in the search box at the top of the home page on the right.

Here’s the Riehlife report card from January 2008.

See the announcement of the anthology launch: Spirit of a Woman: Stories to Empower & Inspire.

At the Missouri Writers Guild Conference I presented a variation called: “Prose? Poetry? Who knows?”

I enjoy exploring the line between the two genres. We toggle back and forth and learn lots.

I drew upon my experience of expanding Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary, told in story poems, into the audio-book Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music.

See my article on Blogging Authors on “How to Make & Produce an Audio Book.” Each of these six steps are illustrated by videos, several featuring conversations with my sound engineer Scott Kidd.

1. Creative;
2. technical (editing, mastering, disc numbering);
3. legal (licenses and copyrights);
4. production;
5. distribution and marketing; and,
6. Big Celebration.

Here’s just one of the many powerful testimonials it’s been receiving:

“I have no doubt that some of the stories in The Spirit of a Woman will remain with me forever. All of them illuminate a core truth: The shape of a woman’s life is formed not only by circumstances and events but by her resilience — from which can unfold unexpected resourcefulness and moments of sheer grace.”
— Charlene Spreknak, Author of Missing Mary

You can order The Spirit of a Woman: Stories to Empower and Inspire on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and Book Sense now.

Read more on the Woman Spirit website.