Comments on: contagion

By: olive & hope

olive & hope — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:33:44 +0000

Jeanne you are the best! xo I just adore you. Even more so after reading your comment re: your weekend with your teen girls on Julie’s last post.

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:15:39 +0000

i know that hole you’re stuck in, and i know what you mean when yous ay that it’s worse saying nothing. i find that the pressure, the expectation that you always have to say something nice – something that will be judged and deemed nice by anybody and everybody’s definition – is especially stifling. that’s why i love bonnie’s post so much. i love your trees/women/beauty post, and listen, sugar: just turn your fingers loose and see where they take you. that’s my vote. and if you need shoring up or encouragement or a set of friendly eyes to read it before you hit publish, you know where to find me.
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..haiti: ways to help

By: emma

emma — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:19:42 +0000

Autumn in your neck of the woods sounds intriguing. We’ll continue discussing. In the meantime, sending you frequent virtual hugs for whenever you need them, or just want them. xo
emma´s last blog ..Pleasure Finds Friday: Panda Love

By: olive & hope

olive & hope — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:27:53 +0000

Jeanne I love this poem – I did read it aloud and I will continue to read it. I feel like you are shining a light on me with your words. I have been a little quiet lately, because I have been stuck in an if-you-don’t-have-something-nice-to-say hole. I am feeling frustrated because I’ve been having a hard time expressing myself in a way that feels authentic. So I haven’t been expressing myself. And honestly that feels worse. I still have yet to express myself – even by collage! I find myself in awe of you amazing women that I’ve come to know in the last few weeks, in awe of your courage and honesty, and how that comes through in your writing. Thank you for being wholly you!
olive & hope´s last blog ..Trees. Women. Beauty. And BS.

By: bwlight

bwlight — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:34:34 +0000

Thank you as am I! (fortified!) I was beginning to think I was the only one who didn’t stay on the “Happiness Bandwagon.” Oh, I tried it & it just took me for a ride and bounced me back off in the mud! I’m with you on those sentiments and others telling you what they’re telling me. “Do this,” “Just be happy,” “dance, skip through it” – oh boy! I understand the value of a positive attitude and fully appreciation “you manifest what you think about it” but I also know a child doesn’t manifest some of what she had to experience. You know what I’m saying, I think…

In any event, THIS is the good stuff ~ connecting through it and finding the places it takes us. I think it takes us deep into ourselves and then to others who uplift us.

And though I love Neruda (and I thought you were perfectly justified working with those pronouns!), I’d love to see another post from you! License plate or not!
bwlight´s last blog ..Mud-Happy-Writing

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:48:30 +0000

kate!!! i’ve missed you – so glad you’re back. yeah, some high school english teachers really did a number on my poetry self, convincing me there’s only ONE interpretation of any poem and that it’s never MY interpretation. and write poetry? oh, just typing those words makes me want to take to bed. so i just enjoy the work of other poets . . . of which you are one . . . creating poetry with more than mere words over there at amusingfire. (i mean, that name conjures all on its own.) oh yes, kate, i am so glad to see you again.
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..contagion

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:43:32 +0000

sugar, writing about the value of mud is huge for me. i am surrounded by too many people who flat-out refuse to deal with the mud – which is their choice and fine by me – but, geez, the constant pollyanna noise can really wear a girl down sometimes. and then to (try to) tell me that there’s something wrong with me, to (try to) make me feel that i’m less of a person because i am not in constant sunglasses-required happy mode 24/7, well that gets real old real fast. shoot. i need another neruda poem to say what i’m trying to say. or maybe i’ll just write my own damn post about it soon, now that i’m encourage and fortified by you and your words.

(but ii don’t think i am ready to write it in license platese. not just yet.)
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..contagion

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:31:45 +0000

julie, what a wonderful day – the opening pages to a new chapter for both you and katherine. may her time at smith be a continuation of the rich, fertile soil you’ve provided her. lucky her. lucky you. lucky smith. lucky us.
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..contagion

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:28:30 +0000

marjory, you’re right: there’s a power when women come together – a palpable power. we all see far too much of woman’s inhumanity to woman. too often, sabotaging and sniping are the only ways females know how to feel better about themselves. i am dedicated to seeing that we reach that tipping point, to teaching females of all ages positive, healthy ways to feel good about themselves. to know and own their own power. (note to self: find a better word, though. “power” has too much baggage – more than i can schlep).

thank you for your beautiful posts, too, and for doing your part to support females and the feminine – which, as our julie daley says, are two separate things.
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..contagion

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:23:01 +0000

emma, your posts usually touch something in me, open something up, gird me and guide me, but the post i refer to here, well, how do i count the ways? the event changed your life, obviously. i’m hoping writing and publishing the post imprinted your life, too – in a positive way. i know it will have a lasting, positive effect on me and others who read it. i tell you what: it’s on my required reading list. you are a treasure – as a person and as a writer. thank you again for being willing to press the send button on this one.

and hey, let’s arrange that in-person hug soon, shall we?
whollyjeanne´s last blog ..contagion