-Sunflowers, July 2007, growers market, Albuquerque, NM, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
ybonesy: What is it about being able to hang out in person with someone who you normally do so much with — write, start a blog, plan and produce — via telephone and email?
QuoinMonkey: Oh, it was such a relief to be able to just sit and have a cup of Joe on the patio in the morning, instead of having to plan for different schedules and time zones. I also got to see your expressions and your smile. And the space where you live. It was so relaxed.
yb: Yeah, I felt the same way! We never seem to have time to just hang out, get to know each other better. Although, after writing with you for how many years now, I feel I know a lot *about* you. Is that the same as knowing you, though?
QM: That’s the question of the century. I used to think you could know someone through writing practice. But all you really know is the inner workings of their mind. Not who they are day-to-day. That’s what made it so great to be able to hang out together in the same town. And to do day-to-day things, as well as planning for the future of red Ravine.
yb: I’m glad you met my family and vice versa. They liked you a lot. The candy surprises you left the girls helped ;-). Really, though, Jim doesn’t get to talk motorcycles with any of my other friends. I’m curious, after “hearing” about them all these years through my writing, are they what you expected?
QM: LOL. That Liz, she was so thoughtful to remind me to bring a little something for the girls. I loved talking motorcycles with Jim. He’s so knowledgeable and hands-on. If we lived in the same town, I’d sure love to take the bikes out sometime. I know from experience that my Honda Rebel can even keep up with a Harley!
Your family is a delight – even better than the way I pictured them from your writing. Honestly, I had a pretty good idea about each one of them from the details of your writing practices over the years. But now the visual is grounded in something solid. A whole new realm.
yb: It was good for them to get to know you, too. I just wish you could have stayed longer. I would have liked to do some writing practice with you. This is the first time we’ve been together in person where we didn’t do writing practice, right?
QM: Right, I kept thinking we’d have time to practice. But it took us quite a while just to catch up on my week in Taos and your week at Ghost Ranch. I think we were both so excited about our work. And then there was the need to do some planning for the blog. Next time, I’d make it a 3-day weekend, if you could stand me that long. 8)
yb: Absolutely!! Hey, I realized when I dropped you off at the airport that you were going to be starved by the time you boarded your plane. I should have sent you with plums from the grower’s market, at least. Did you get to eat at the airport?
QM: Ah, the grower’s market was great. Everything went like clockwork that day, didn’t it? I checked my baggage and went straight to the gate. There was a Quiznos right there. But after I stood in line, I realized the heat had shrunk my appetite and I wasn’t hungry enough for a sub. So I grabbed a bag of Sun Chips and a chocolate chip cookie which I only ate half of because I’d forgotten that Liz had arranged a bump up to First Class (for the same price). They fed me a full meal half way into the flight.
All this to say, not to worry! I came home quite satisfied. Oh, BTW, what was it you made Saturday night? Homemade enchiladas? They were so good. Where did you say you learned to cook?
yb: Oh yeah, those were enchiladas. With an egg on top. (The way the locals eat ’em.) My mom taught me how to make the red chile from pods. Everything I make that’s any good, it’s because my mom taught me. Next time you come, bring Liz. We like having visitors.
QM: I will be back to New Mexico in the not too distant future. Of that I am sure. Liz and I have been wanting to get away together for some time. With her in school and me traveling as much as I have for my writing, it’s been about 3 years since we took a week off together. So maybe next time we’ll come through New Mexico!
You know, I was thinking this morning that in 2008, I want to take a writer’s retreat in northern Minnesota. Or maybe a few hours north in Duluth. Then my mind extrapolated and thought, why not invite ybonesy? We could have shared time together and then separate time to write alone.
Or you could paint the North Shore, which is stunning. It’s all about the water here in Minnesota. What do you think?
Hey, I was also wondering, now that you’ve had time to sit with your week at Ghost Ranch, how do you think it changed your painting and writing? Or even your idea of the direction you want to head on red Ravine. What do you think was the biggest thing to come out of our meeting?
yb: I love that idea! I’d like to do a retreat somewhere outside NM, and I want to see your part of the world, too.
Let’s see, on your two questions, Ghost Ranch gave me the opportunity to dedicate an entire week to my painting and to see that yes, I am an artist. I have all the experiences inside me. I rarely devote that much time all at once to producing, so the gift was having the time, the materials, inspired teachers and students, and a beautiful setting. It all came together.
And our meeting, well, I think I realized how much I gain from having creative people in my life who I can talk to about writing and art. Our conversation generated good ideas for my own work as well as for the work we’re doing together. That’s huge. Inspiration is huge. How about you? What do think was the biggest thing?
QM: Hmmm. I felt really comfortable in Taos this time. I was tired from the work I was doing, but the experience and learnings were deep. On the Twin Hearts shuttle between Taos and Albuquerque, I realized I need to do a writing retreat in 2008. Give myself time to go somewhere alone or with a few trusted writing friends. It was the first time I had that feeling so strongly.
(BTW, there were only two of us on the 11a.m. shuttle from Mabel’s in Taos, and I was the only person after we passed Santa Fe! It felt like a limo!)
About our meeting, the biggest thing was to bounce creative ideas and projects off a trusted writer, artist, and friend. The road is a hard one. And it’s difficult to find a person who not only shares a mutal vision and is willing to do the work, but supports me in my individual projects and dreams. I’m so awake to that kind of listening. And you want to know the biggest and most simple thing? I ask questions about your life and you ask questions about mine. It’s an equal exchange. Refreshing!
-Shadow Shifting, July 2007, Albuquerque, NM, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
I’ve read through your conversation twice, looked at the beautiful photos more than once. I feel like I’m there in Albuquerque with you. It seems like you just got to be together…no pressure to produce, produce, produce. Just love, friendship, and becoming better acquainted with each other’s lives. Nice. Gentle. Slow.
LikeLike
Sinclair, thanks so much for your comment. It was exactly as you describe, so good to sit with nice, gentle, and slow. When I was in Taos, too, I immediately slowed down. And took in everything around me, spent next to no time on the computer or cell phone. The visit in Albuquerque was at the tail end of Taos and a nice extension of that. I appreciate your witnessing.
By the way, how is your summer going? Are you taking it gentle and slow?
LikeLike
My summer is going really well, all-in-all. I finished my 14th book today from Mr. Schminda’s list. This fills me with such a sense of quiet gratitude to at last be able to read these. I read House of the Seven Gables and The Crucible back-to-back, and am now thinking about a trip to Salem, Massachusetts. Oh, my next two titles are two penned by your dear Willa Cather, QM.
It is, however, not the easiest path…this one we all seem determined to have. A life awake and living. I read in an old writing practice notebook yesterday, “It takes everything I have to get my life back. To have my life.” I wouldn’t have it any other way, of course. And yet, to live a slow, gentle life flies in the face of what is expected of us. And I do grow weary at times of being a salmon.
LikeLike
Once again, I am so impressed that you have read 14 classics this summer. What did you think of The Crucible? I remember seeing in my parent’s books when I was younger. I picked it up and looked at the jacket, but never read it.
You are right – slow and gentle flies in the face of what is expected of us. Yet, we get to choose it anyway. Good for us! I’m thinking 14 classics read makes you more of a big tuna. 8)
LikeLike
Hmmm…I like the idea of being a big tuna. I am no salmon, I am a big tuna! Is this anything like being the big fish in a small pond?
The Crucible was well-written and interesting, also a lesson in hysteria. The hysteria that grows in a crowd introduced to fear. The book I checked out from the library had an interesting postlude. The families of those tried and executed for witchcraft were rewarded a financial settlement by the government. The surprise to me was how quickly that happened. I no longer have the book, but I believe it was within a year or two. It became obvious that quickly that it had been a big mistake. We’ll see if ybonesy can find a link about it. She is the master of links.
LikeLike
ybonesy IS the master of links! I went to Salem, MA in the early 1980’s. It’s an interesting place. There are all kinds of little museums devoted to the witch burning era. You can feel the energy of the place carries that history. It’s a cool place to visit. Hope you get to go sometime. Have you ever been to Massachusetts?
LikeLike
Lots of links out there about the play and the real events, but I sort of liked this perspective, which was from a historian separating out fact from fiction (and in the real sense, as in reality versus what was characterized in the book/play):
http://www.17thc.us/docs/fact-fiction.shtml
Sinclair, I just want to say, I like your idea of being a tuna, big fish in a small pond, and even the salmon analogy seems solid. You’re right — there is such a pressure, where from I can only think is from inside ourselves, to be hyperproductive and fast. I even see it in my girls, who ask me most days, What’s planned for today, Mom? Today I told them, Rest is what’s planned. Last night we did “the Harry Potter thing.” Today Dee is reading, Em is going to play on my computer, and I’m going to take a nap.
LikeLike
Ah, yes, the Harry Potter thing. It’s all over the news. Did you get the 7th book? I heard a great bit on Public Radio today. A young girl was talking about reading four chapters last night, and that when she finishes the Harry Potter series, she will keep reading. Thanks, JK Rowling.
I did go to Massachusetts once, Salem included. It was years and years ago. My friend & I were doing a whirlwind tour of the East Coast, staying in youth hostels. In Salem we went on a bus tour, and the guide would turn the speaker to “vibrate” to make her voice sound scary when she spoke about the witch hunt. Very cheesy. I’d like to go again, skipping the bus tour. I also remember going into Nathaniel Hawthorne’s home. The guide showed us the table where he wrote House of the Seven Gables (supposedly), and I was sure I’d run right home and read it. Well, it took me 20 years, but I did it. Nice work on the link, ybonesy. My faith in you didn’t falter for an instant.
And busyness? I think my least favorite question any longer is, “Ya keepin’ busy?” Ugh.
LikeLike
LOL on the cheesy vibrating voice thing. I can picture it.
Ya, my mom says the older you get the more this need to stay busy gets. (At least in her case.) Mean while, I couldn’t pull myself out of my two-hour nap.
LikeLike
I don’t remember the vibrating cheese. Don’t think I did the bus tour. Just remember this museum that did some acting as part of the storytelling. It was a little strange.
My turn for some….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 8)
LikeLike
I looked at these pictures again, there was something so familiar about them but I couldn’t place it. When I saw the photos today, it dawned on me.
There are two scenes from Fried Green Tomatoes with food/food & table shots. One is the wedding spread at the beginning, the other right before the food fight between Ruth and Idgie in their restaurant’s kitchen. These photos remind me of that–a table with a homey covering, outdoors, food and flowers in baskets, looking natural, looking homegrown, and on and on I could go.
LikeLike
Ah, that was a great movie! Yes, these photos are evocative. I’m overusing that word these days, it seems, being as how I am viewing more and more of QM’s photos and of others’ photos on Flickr. But it’s so true.
LikeLike
Sinclair, thanks so much for the compliment on the photos. You know, Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my favorite movies. I remember the food fight but can’t remember the details on the tables. It makes me want to go back and see it again!
LikeLike
[…] and I worked surprisingly well together. We were both committed to the idea of a creating a space where we would each be inspired and […]
LikeLike