Among the world's chaos, I invite you to celebrate two commitments

-

Amanda across the ages: about four; in my early 20s (hair!);
and now, in my mid-sixties.

During my university days, a roommate and I planned a party. We invited people to come over on a Friday evening to celebrate our new apartment. The time came, the place was ready, and we waited. And waited. No one showed up. No one. Not one person. While this hardly counts as trauma, it was disappointing and it scarred the party-planner in me. I’ve never wanted to repeat the experience of all that buildup and expectation followed by all that letdown. I have hosted the odd large-group gathering since then, but I have never been able to shake the spectre of that no-show Friday evening from so long ago.

February is my birthday month, so that spectre is particularly vivid as I consider how to mark my birthday. Short story: There will be no party. The longer story is more complex.

Living in this world, I am part of what goes on in it, however minuscule my impact on it, or contribution to it, might be. These days, our world is turning ever more chaotic, as we see long-standing geopolitical relationships being disrupted in real time. I, therefore, cannot in good conscience pull the spotlight towards me and say, “Here I am! Over here! Celebrate that I was born!” No. Not that.

How about this, instead.

I invite you to celebrate with me two commitments I am making in honour of my February birthday —

Commitment One: I will take up space in this chaotic world with my voice and my words. I focus on a wide range of topics, including life & love; politics & action; friends and fun; and, also, on the craft of writing. 

  • I would love it if you were to read my latest words on writing, published recently on Brevity Blog here 
Commitment Two: I will use my creative energy for good in my local community. So much wide-ranging artistic talent exists in my community and so many artists of every stripe want to share that talent — but where to share? where to perform? The Valiant Theatre! This reclaimed church will be Winnipeg's newest community-level performance space, and I am a volunteer with the fundraising and cheerleading committee. One day, I want to host an event at The Valiant for writers to take their words "From Page to Stage".  

  • Read about why I am excited about The Valiant here and here and here 
  • Buy tickets to attend our fundraising evening of entertainment this weekend, on Saturday February 8 here
  • Donate to our fundraising campaign by e-transfer to kelly at thevaliant dot ca
  • Thank you to those who have already made a contribution; you are awesome!  

A birthday is one day, one date only. I am disruPting that. I am declaring the entire month of February as my time to celebrate these commitments I make.

I invite you to join me. Attendance is optional, but your love and encouragement is vital. 

..............................................................................................................

To receive my weekly blogpost in your inbox, use the SUBSCRIBE feature (above, in the left-hand column), or email fiveyearsawriter at gmail dot com. Put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. 

Land acknowledgement: I respectfully recognize that I live on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Comments

  1. Ann no rFebruary 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM

    Picture me, a reader, as a clockwork mouse. I must be wound up by writers writing. This is, other than friends and loved ones and two little dogs and one cat, the most important thing in my life. Thank you for keeping me stoked!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pamela Kat JohnsonFebruary 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM

    Amanda, I am joining your two commitments with similar versions of my own projects. We can also do mutual love and encouragement!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated. Please be respectful.

Popular posts from this blog

Anniversary post: This year marks 31 together

-
Image
Amanda and Val: many years ago and today.  Man, look how young we were. Sheesh. Thirty-one years and counting certainly shows. But who in their right mind would care about wrinkles or grey hair when it is a good and generous love that has propelled us through the years together.  Every good story is told through both summary and scenes. Val & Amanda’s story: The summary A generous love that has withstood the challenges of two bouts of cancer and multiple joint replacements, of job changes and career disappointments, of cats found and cats lost, of parents living and parents dying. Two women, together, building a good life. Amanda: Three scenes April 1997: Val and I are driving from Winnipeg  down through the Dakotas and Wyoming and Utah to Arizona, camping in a tent along the way and marvelling at what we can do together, still, after Val’s cancer diagnosis earlier that year. At a roadside cafe somewhere in Utah, a woman asks me if we are sisters. Without skipping a b...
Read more

Listening for the piano / Thinking about grief

-
Image
Grief is not a land in which I have travelled much, though I routinely explore it via others’ experience. I am drawn to do this as a student is drawn to the masters: To observe, to sit with, to wonder if those others’ experiences might help prepare me for my own when I find myself in that place. Will it? Sara Paretsky, author of the V.I. Warshawski mystery series, says that the grief over her long-time husband’s death hit her like a grand piano falling out of the sky onto her head. There is no pre-mourning, she says. Nonetheless, I persist in my studies: Memoirs of loss. Stories of grief. Tales of survival. I sit with those experiences. The words, the feelings, the anguish wash over me. And I ask myself: Will the sun rise tomorrow? Will I see it when it does?  Should I worry about this? Should I just expect, presume that what has always been will always be? Absurd. It will not always be. The loves of my life are all older, are all old. 95, my mother. Almost 80, my p...
Read more

Anne Le Rougetel: my splendid mother

-
Image
April 2024: Anne and Amanda -- mother & daughter with but one nose between us (as it were) Formal notice Anne Le Rougetel died peacefully at home on Friday, April 26, 2024, with her daughters at her side. Born in 1928, Anne was a remarkable woman; a talented writer; an eclectic reader; well versed in world affairs; loving beyond measure to her children; kind and generous to friends; compassionate to those in need. She enjoyed reading a good book and engaging in interesting conversation. Due to failed vision and failing hearing, both these pursuits disappeared from her life in the final year or so. Please remember Anne by taking a friend to coffee and enjoying a delicious pastry. Anne was predeceased by her husband Colin. She is survived by her three children and their families: Katy (Guy). Amanda (Val). Charles (Lisa, Max and Sam). Special mention must be made of Barbara Chan, who was a generous friend and caring companion to Anne, and of Edna Abel, who was a loving friend and inte...
Read more