Ramblings. As in: Have Words -Will Ramble. As in: Ramble: to write or talk aimlessly or without sequence of ideas, to proceed with turns and twists; meander As In: observances of an everyday life in passing through the spectrum of extraordinary.
GIDDY-UP GONE GONE
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Well, I went and did it. I traversed the state and took care of the adorables after taking hubby to hit the emergency room with some kind of wicked bug and I noticed the longer I was in North Carolina the sllllloooowwwer I got at my ZaZa duties. Then I delivered the girls safe and sound and took off for a retreat for a few days in the Maggie Valley thinking a little R&R, a good nap, and sitting by that babbling brook would cure me of all my symptoms. Nada. It's always great to retreat and get to silent place to let the buzzzing of our brains slow down to a hum but the buzzing in my brain began to pound and screech. I'm one of those people that start out with green tea and humming. Vitamins and something holistic. By Monday morning I was in for a trip to the Doc saying hit me with your best show and some pills. She told me to park my pony and rest awhile. Now I must confess to you, I only like to rest when I want to rest - not when I have been way-layed with some kind of creepy fluish feverish thing that makes me stop in the middle of deadlines and work to do. I HATE not being productive in a creative way. Just HATE IT. Which is not the same as people that hate not having their house cleaned. This is an output thing, not a tidy up thing. Oh well, what little I have tried to do has left me with the serious understanding that I am good for nothing but reruns of the Twilight Zone and chicken noodle soup. If only the Noshville Deli would deliver up here on the hill.
However, in the midst of the fever I fulfilled my promise and ordered Adorable number two a book. Highly recommended by friend Dana Ashley, I followed her advice and chose It' Time To Sleep My Love and it's well on it's way. That was my good thing. My bad thing is that I left Nashville with beautiful spring weather which meant I left my plants on the front porch INCLUDING my big Christmas Cactus Mama gave me for Christmas. Now if you have one of the First editions of the Deep, Down, & Dirty South you know my mother has an incredible green thumb and I do mean incredible. And that I have a puny little brown thumb that tries so hard to grow green things. So when Mama brought me this large beautiful and blooming catus for Christmas she expected to see it living next Christmas. Well, I suddenly realized that it was twenty degrees in Nashville when I was away and asked husband if he brought the plants in from the porch. He said - What plants? Do I need to tell you? No, I don't. I'll just let you know that it's over. They're all history. My miracle grow and painstaking pride was for nothing. Ya'll just don't tell Mama that her prize winning Christmas Cactus is frozen solid black and deader than a doornail. Okay?
And be certain you check out the new additions on River Jordan Radio and upcoming programs for weeks ahead. We're having a good time over there in spite of my head needing to be sent out for repairs and my eyesockets feeling like they are shooting fireballs.
Getting so excited about Saints In Limbo getting closer to debut, while working on the new novel scheduled (if I stay on track and get over the FLU!!!!) for next Summer. Let me know what your reading and why you love it! I'm always wanting to pass along great words about new works or classics you've just discovered!
posted by River Jordan at 11:37 AM
 
Spring, Snow, and Trailing ZaZa Dust
Monday, February 23, 2009
It's happened. It's here. Put down the date. On Friday, February 20, I saw my first bud of Spring. First on a tiny little tree covered in pink buds that might be pear or Japanese Magnolia. Then driving down the road, a glorious big tree full of white buds ready to pop. Dogwood maybe. I don't know but I know Springtime when I see it. Never mind that I was on the coast of North Carolina. Spring is spring and hope is eternal. Works for me.  AND you know what I caught Adorable number one doing on the internet???? No, she wasn't searching the gossip rags or trying to communicate on match dot something. She wasn't even looking at toys. She was looking at BOOKS on Amazon. I caught her red-handed looking for great books and you know what I did? Well, of course, I whipped out that card faster than greased lightning and said, WHICH ONE? We'll order it now! And she said, Now? You can just do that? Oh, well what is a ZAZA for if she can't whip out a card for a book and have it delivered toot sweet? Now, if I hadn't been exh austed from all that two Tide and coming down with something that has now caught up with me - I would have said Pick another and another. But I didn't and I did good to get all the addresses right and hit order now. So PINKALICIOUS is now on it's way to the mailbox and I just realized that I didn't order a book for Adorable number two who LOVES her books almost as much as the stringy haired baby doll she refuses to part with. (Make note - ZAZA is ordering book for 2 year old Adorable today. Any suggestions out there?) Speaking of baby doll known only offiically as BABY - I love the way that the two year old relates to this doll. When it goes missing she walks around calling it in a very Calvin and Hobbs kind of way. "Baby - where are u???" over and over until she is found. THEN she says in her own lit  tle two year old voice and language - "Where were you? I missed you? I love you baby. " Oh, glory, glory in love that is so - not based on looks. I mean look at that doll. It is adored and it only has three barely there hairs left. I guess we should all be just like that. Loving so deeply without that love being based upon or affected by looks. Faith like a child. Love like a child. I can see how it all works to the good.
After packing and wondering if I had left out anything very important like clean underwear we set off for me to deliver the Adorables to Mom and Dad at their mountain hideaway along with big brother who is a strapping teenager so calling him an adorable would make him cringe - and then I took off for few days retreat. And retreat I did.
I had promised to rest and touch the mystery. So a little time spent by a babbling brook contemplating how hard it is to unplug, to slow down, and how much we all so desperately need it, I need it, to even hear myself think clearly. I met a delightful group of women on retreat and was invited to join them for communion on Sunday and joined in. The words from the service echoed - 'thank you that we partake of this divine mystery' and I thought - Ain't that the truth. Touching the mystery indeed. And all of life is a divine mystery and I guess waking up in the morning and remembering that is a better way to start the day, then oh me, oh my, what fresh hell is this that they day will bring? Maybe it's a better way to end the day as well. To lay down peacefully and close our eyes and be thankful that in this great big, mysterious divine plan, we get to be a part of it. And to embrace that part with all our might.
Drove home over the gorge and through the pass with a snow storm circling me but made it on back to Nashville in time to settle down by the fire with husband, snuggle in, and watch IGOR in which I delighted and husband kept saying you are a strange woman. I said, Yep. But then, I do believe that's all part of the Divine Mystery as well. We all have our part to play. Being strange is part of mine. Labels: Communion, Pinkalicious, Reading, Retreats, ZAZA
posted by River Jordan at 8:44 AM
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TIDE and the Terrible Two's.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
First - no such thing as terrible two's. Right? They are all grand years - Yes? Well, of course they are but there are some things that come with the two year old territory. Like that FABULOUS word, no, no, no, no. As in - What are you saying? No. Is this what you want? No. Didn't you ask for chicken fingers? No, No, No! Also - I did not have girls - I had boys. I did not realize that changing a toddlers pants while not automatically changing the top to MATCH with the new set of pants might cause a nuclear explosion. Which is by the way quickly turned around when said top also has a pink flower embroidered on it. Is this what you want? Through sniffles - uh, huhhhhhh. Okay. Now, does this top go in the worn two and half minute pile or the dirty clothes pile? Oh what the heck - let's toss it over here with the last twelve outfits form the past two hours and just wash them again whether they need it or not because we are keeping Tide in business. Because we really ARE keeping Tide in business. I have washed more laundry in four or five days of being here that I feel like I did in all my years of raising sons. Said sons wore jeans. And t-shirts. Sometimes sweatshirts. That was it. They didn't change clothes. If we were traveling they wore them for oh - 18 days in a row and washed them on rocks in the Rio Grande and laid them out to dry in the sun while they swam to take a bath. Ok. That is near 'bout a lie but when I look back on it all - they didn't change clothes at the drop of the hat or even if they were DIRTY. They carried rocks and crawled through mud. But for no apparent reason today the ADORABLES decided that they needed to get dressed up to go out into the BACK YARD. In dresses I tell you. But the wind was a little chilly so they had to add the appropriate sweaters that went with the dresses. And shoes. And purses. God love'em. Now you know they were just as pretty as a picture so I grabbed my camera and took some which you shall not see posted here all over creation for aforementioned reasons. Tide. A ton of it. I've washed till I am pooped. But proud.
Tonight's reading selections included, The Foot Book by Dr. Suess and Ilama Ilama red pajama. Excellent choices I must say.
Now, if I can crack one eye and hold out- I'll turn a few more pages in The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
For those of you who would like to check it out I was featured in an interview today at Words to Go with Patricia Hickman. The subject was on faith and the influence in growing up in the south. And for those who would like to comment there is a huge book giveaway drawing on Friday from the names.
Tomorrow I hit the road again and have booked myself a few hours stay at a retreat center on the way home. I kid you not. It is so long overdue for this woman. I may write my little heart out on a new project in the quiet surroundings. Or I may just sit quietly and stare out the window and count my blessings. Ahhhh sounds good. I'm there already. And if I go missing - you know my few hours turned into a few days carved out of this busy life to slow down, reach out, and touch the mystery. Labels: and words, peace, Tide, two years olds
posted by River Jordan at 10:14 PM
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Motherhood, Schoolbuses and RULES!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I am pleased to announce that I am now friends with Forest Gump on Facebook and that the Dali Lama is following me on Twitter. My world is expanding.
And you just wouldn't know that up close and in person if you saw me because I have been surrounded by diapers and baby dolls and homework and school buses as I am in ZaZa land hanging out with the adorables while my son has some well deserved R&R with his beloved wife. Funny thing to me is - he is a man of order and rules. I have always thought that a large part of this is due to the fact that his gypsy=writer Mom relocated him as often as the seasons changed. Or maybe it is just part of the character that came with him as a kid package. Nevertheless, he has entrusted me with kids, house, dog, and kitten. Now this is really NOT so hard for him during the Summertime when the living is easy. But it is school year time and this means schedules, homework, and catching the bus on time. He told me a gazillion times before he left that adorable number one could not miss ANY MORE SCHOOL AT ALL because she has been out sick too much this year. He says this like I am going to say - Don't worry, never fear, ZaZa is here and you don't have to go to school this week! He also says, there is a trail of coffee on the floor and the trail is leading to you. Geez. Like that is evidence or something. And then he rolls his eyes around the house like he will never, never, never see it again. Like it won't be standing in the wake of ZaZa hanging out a few days. He calls and asks if everything is okay and I can tell from the tone in his voice that he doesn't think so. Catching the bus okay? Is that going alright? Umhumm. He asks me if the kids are bathing. Bathing? Why no honey, I am letting them run loose and wild, hair in eyes, no school, no homework. We are eating nothing but chips and cookies and watching movies all night long. Wait a minute. That sounds like the way he grew up. Okay. No wonder he has questions. The fact of the matter is, we did have a little incident. We got to the bus stop in the car toooo early. And as it was dark and there were no cars around. Adorable number one said - Oh no. We must have missed the bus. Since I am new to this and didn't remember the exact time window of said bus pick up I go - Okay, I'll drive you. Which way to the school? Ummm, that away. Are you sure? Uh, huh. I'm sure. Okay - which way here at the red light. Uh left. No straight. No right. This way? Yes, yes, this way for sure we always pass that building over there. How far do we go. We go for awhile and then we turn and turn again and there is the school Okay, how far now? Oh, about 4 days. Hmmm. At this point, ZaZa uses the trusty cell phone to get the number to the school and google maps that baby on the blackberry and a little while later there is the school. Yay for technology! Okay - so there are no cars in the parking lot. None. Then the adorable says - There is the principal going inside. Okay. No worries. No kids. No school opened yet. We'll just go to McDonalds and wait. But then I reach for my wallet and it's back at the house. You know, this is bringing back a lot of memories for me. Memories of not being a perfect Mom. Of kinda chasing down the school bus in my car trying to catch it at the NEXT STOP. But the amazing thing is, I have these great sons that turned into great men. And the adorables don't really get the parts of me that are not all together. And it might help that I keep pointing to new book covers and say - see that, ZaZa wrote that and it will be out THIS SPRING. Really? Really. You betcha and that makes me look cool instead of kooky. And in the meantime, I'm working real hard not to miss buses or overshoot them, to not leave coffee trails everywhere I walk. To read lots of stories and make lots of memories. And to keep most of the rules but not all of them. Case in point, I'm signing off now to go bake brownies. Because there really is no such thing as too much chocolate. Silly son. Labels: motherhood, school buses and rules.
posted by River Jordan at 2:18 PM
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Hanging out in ZAZA Land
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Lately people have been asking me - What's a ZAZA? Like when I say I can't join your saucy, sexy group cause I'm a ZAZA. And the answer would be - well, that's what the sacred grandchild dubbed me when she showed up. She called me Zaza and it stuck. So now when she tells her teacher excitedly - Zaza's coming - The teacher says - What's a Zaza? It's a me. It's a River Jordan probably being the very best of anything she was ever, ever going to be created to be. So I'm Zaza to these two gorgeous grandbaby girls that I have promised my son not to plaster pictures of for different reasons on the web or you would see them more than anyone ever dreamed of seeing those Bradgelina kids I assure you. So one is six and the next one is two and they have allowed me to evolve into a much better person than I ever was as a gypsy Mom. Now, I'm still the gypsy soul that will hit the road in a New York minute to visit with the girls or to take them on the road for a great road trip like the one that the oldest and I took last summer hitting the backwoods of the deep South (See Miles and Memories in The Deep, Down, & Dirty South) but I have a more stable core now. It's the kind of core that realizes that there is a lot of ministry in tying on an apron and throwing some flour around in a kitchen. Not that I've become a good cook overnight - I haven't. And My Grandmothers, God rest their souls, were dynamite cooks and don't even get me started on my Late Great (as in terrific) Aunt Kate (see that magic Biscuit maker in The Messenger of Magnolia Street). But what I have learned is that the ritual of showing up with bake goods and tying a big apron on my granddaughter, heating up the oven, stirring and licking spoons and waiting and then pulling things OUT OF THE OVEN that smell divine - there's old history there and new history in the making. I've learned to pause a little, to pay closer attention to the details, to realize that the days of stringy headed baby-dolls is indeed a season. The hours of them shadowing my every step and thinking I walk on water - it's passing before me as I live it. But for now - I'm hitting the road to walk in Zaza land in all it's best good days. And aren't they all good days? But for now, these are the baking and cuddle days. The days of stories, and movies and popcorn and whispers and giggles and kittens. Of someone with big eyes and small voices telling big, wild stories and having a Zaza that says - Really? Tell me all about it, as I lean back and smile and wait for this child to spin me a tale. And then I tell her Hollywood- beautiful, wise and wonderful parents - those aren't fibs and lies. That's just a storyteller you have there. That's a writer in the making. I should know.
Now, granted - I didn't tell my stories to people. I sat on them. For years. Carried them around without telling anyone anything. Except for the time I told my little sister I was not her sister but an alien. She slapped the alien right out of me. She's always been such a literalist. Geez. No wonder she because a detective.
For those of you asking about the new novel - yes, yes, Saints In Limbo is approaching the debut May 19th. Please keep checking back for updates on signings, readings and appearences.
And speaking of updates - TADA! The new WEBSITE is underway - Yay!!! - Hats off to Holden Richards of Kitchen Media for updating the site to coincide with the release of the Saints and a new spring Season. It's still in progress so check back daily and watch for updates and new additions!
And as usual, when I hit the road and cut out for a long, road journey - the characters and plot for a new novel began all falling into place like nebulous overdue puzzle pieces. Oh how I love the mystery of life in all its wonder - from the stages of the moon to mysteries of our faith. And oh how I love, love, love mysterious way that characters walk into a writers life and carve out a place of their own. To demand that a writer make the time to get their stories down on paper. To value their nuance and symbolism and importance to the world of eternal truths. And now, as my writing mentor Dr. Yolanda Reed of the Loblolly Theatre told me so long, long ago. I can't talk it. Not a word, your hear? Not a smidgen, not a whisper. Because I must write down the story that is asking to be told. And I have to be busy listening. Labels: Writers -
posted by River Jordan at 8:04 PM
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Fevers and Marital Bliss
Thursday, February 12, 2009
It's finally happened. Mr. Wonderful and I have reached an agreement on the temperature of our common communal air. It's about 70 degrees in our homestead at the moment. Why have we suddenly reached this blissful state of agreement? Because he is sick in bed with a really nasty stomach virus and fever that has him freezing like crazy. Now, I don't want him sick, really I don't - but I will not lie and tell you that I am not enjoying the extra benefits of well, how can I say it, this silver lining in a dark cloud. Normally he thinks it is JUST DANDY to have the house at 48 degrees. No, I am not kidding. He could live under a tree in Alaska and be happy, happy, happy. Catch fish with his raw hands and all that. Tom Hanks stranded on that island in that movie trying to fight for fish and survival - husband would call that a vacation. So normally when I say look, I can't live outside in a tent and this house is freezing, he starts hacking and making noises like Old Man Moses the cat with a fur ball stuck in his throat while grasping at this neck and saying I can't breathe. It's so hot in here I can't breathe! This mind you also when the thingy on the wall says it's oh about 59. Now add on top of that that I have been diagnosed with that freezy disease thing that starts with an R that make people freeze so that their hands and feet are literally colder than ice cubes and you have a volatile situation in a marriage that otherwise just takes it's normal lumps in the road like any other married couple. BUT at least now I can point to the medical journals on line and say - SEE, it says the air around me is never supposed to be below 70 degrees! Then I snap the laptop shut while he says - WAIT , but what happens if it's colder. "My hands and feet just fall right off and where is that going to leave you????" I think he believed me because he started sliding the temperature up to 65. But now he's freezing like crazy - poor sweet baby - and I'm so toasty. We haven't gotten along this good since last summer.
posted by River Jordan at 9:08 PM
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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
It's a very windy, cloudy, blustery day in Nashville. But still - warm air. For which I am thankful.
Bill from Jefferson, Tx. reports on Facebook this am that the dog that has been visiting him in his dreams from Kaya Mclaren's book has now manifested in the flesh and bone by showing up in his front yard, crawled across his front yard on his belly to the door and then yes, over the threshold and is now sleeping soundly from a rough, and stormy night in Bill's laundry room and he promises to update us and post a photo soon. What I want to really know is when the dog has gotten a bath and is lying on the sofa.
Speaking of dogs - somehow I posted a LOST note on a website when Titan when visiting some cows a few hills away. Now that I can't remember any passwords or the site I continue to get updates from great souls that are trying to help Titan find his way home again. Look - he's home again. Yep. And is guarding the leather couch beast with all his might.
Early beautiful words continue to pour in for Saints In Limbo so I'm so excited and so thankful that in a few days Saints will arrive with Spring to bookstores everywhere but don't forget you can preorder now. For those of you who have hooked up with the All Things River Jordan site on Facebook then you are more in the know of what I'm doing than I am! Thanks Barbara for creating a place to keep me all together. There are great festival things underway for Nashville but just keep your ear to the ground and eyes glued on this site - we'll give you the first inside scoop to the doings going on for literacy. Now go check that What People Are Reading blog to see the most amazing thing - people reading everywhere from every walk of life and ever genre. Does this Writers Girl's heart good!
posted by River Jordan at 10:41 AM
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Springtime In Nashville
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Okay, so maybe it isn't really, really, here yet but you couldn't tell that to all us Nashvillian's. We are porch rocking, park walking, and humming fishing songs. Sister has been planting flowers and throwing out grass seed just like she thinks she is Momma! I really hate the fact that sometimes they are so green in the thumb which makes me just green in the eyeballs but I do so appreciate their hard work - now if I can only get them to come work in my yard!
I was officially stalked by the cutest deer yesterday in Percy Warner Park. They followed me and everytime I turned to look at them they hid their eyeballs behind a tree and peeked at me. Like I couldn't see their whole bodies!
The beautiful writer Denise Hildreth has updated her blog 'flyingsolo' and just in time for anyone that might be alone and getting the feeling that they are - broken maybe. I highly encourage you to check out the blog but also if you are married because marriage isn't easy or perfect and we can still put tooooooo much emphasis on Lord help us- somebody doing, saying, and buying the right thing to make us happy. All the time! So give that him/her a break this year and buy yourself some chocolate, take yourself to the movies and know that you are both loved and that you have people in your life who need you to love them.
If you haven't noticed yet . . . drum roll please . . . River Jordan site has suddenly had it's own spring popping up. Can't see it yet? Well, if not, it's right behind the page you are looking at so check back daily.
Did you catch Kayla Mclaren on River Jordan Radio this Saturday? If not, you missed a great show and good time. But don't fear, it's slated for a reair this week while I'm out of town and on the road.
Saints In Limbo draws closer and closer to the debut day of May 19, and some of the most amazing words and comments are pouring in from early readers. Am I a proud Momma? You bet I am and also very, very thankful!!!! Writing in the Cave is very lonely indeed and your not really sure until you bring the baby out for everyone to see and go ----ooooohhhhh a baby!!!
And yes, for all of you who keep asking, and nudging - The Deep, Down, & Dirty South is in reprint and will be posted soonest with emails going out to let you know that you can now order the top secret little collection from Hummingbird Hill Press.
posted by River Jordan at 2:51 PM
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Stories, Music, Readings, and News on Literary Happenings Around the World.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Today's word is evolve because aren't we all moving from one stage of something into another? Nothing to do with creation - just to do with living and learning and growing in the spaces we have to do such things. And just in the same way - be on the look out for new things happening on our radio show and scene. New things - good times - noodle salad.Our apologies to those of you who missed Shellie's interview because of technical problems at the station. Tech stuff happens. And ours due to actually upgrading the system but no worries - people are on it! The latest update says - all bugs have been slung into the outer reaches of the universe to here we go . . .In the meantime, we'll relax with some great music, share some current events and happenings in the literary world and offer up some sage advice on living and writing. That is - we just had some sage advice around here somewhere.Kudo's went out this week to The Library Fairy for snagging those great people at the National Storytelling Network organization for sponsoring her passionate work in spreading the love of reading to children.This week's program featured a reading from Janis Owen's new book Cracker Kitchen - and we selected her Armadillo Recipe to share with listeners. Janis will be in Nashville at Davis-Kidd on February 18 and you DO NOT WANT TO MISS this wild storyteller! It's free. It's fun. It's on your calendar right? Also read a little bit of Shellie's book over the air, Suck In Your Stomach and Put on Some Color. And we did a hat's off tribute and history lesson on that late, great Dashiell Hammett.So if you weren't tuned in this week to River Jordan Radio - you missed a good time. Now, stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring the latest from authors like Silas House, and many more.Stay tuned for full Spring Calendar of appearing guests.
River Jordan - on the radio near you at 98.9lpfm and on the world wide web at http://www.radiofreenashville.org/
posted by River Jordan at 1:18 PM
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