Today’s blog title comes from a story told by Robert Fulghum, the author of “Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten”, and I think a lot of us may identify with it. It seems Mr. Fulghum and some assistants were casting a Christmas pageant, the Nativity, to be exact. The children participating were small, but eager. For the sake of order, it was announced that all the shepherds should stand together in one place, and all the angels in another. Wise men over here, Mary and Joseph,there. Most of the children scrambled to join their little groups, probably giggling and jostling each other as they did so, but one little girl raised her hand and, when called upon, asked perplexedly, “Where to the mermaids stand?” The child’s innocent trust that there must be a place in the pageant for mermaids as well as shepherds and angels and wise men touches my heart. She never doubted that it was okay to be different; she simply wanted to know where she ought to stand while the parts were decided.
I love it.
I’ve been away from this blog for days, and I apologize for that. I went to Point Roberts and spent a wonderful interlude with my dear friend, Jean Barrington, and her lovely husband, Curt. Jean and I spent much of the time relaxing beside a fire in the downstairs stove, making art. We worked in our journals, chatted, or just kept silent–whichever seemed right at the time. I took a nap every day, admired Curt’s garden and the splendid view of the water from their front window, and the whole experience was downright restorative. On Saturday, I did the benefit workshop at the Point Roberts library, and I had a grand time. I always learn I teach–probably more than my students do.
I came home rested and, conversely, exhausted. There were more plumbing problems waiting to greet me. 
Although I had the best of intentions, I am only now getting back on track, so I apologize if you’ve been worried.
There ARE some weird spam things getting through–more than usual, methinks. I try to delete them, but can’t seem to keep up, so I will ask Jenni to patrol the comment section and get rid of the junk.
My tulips and daffodils are blooming—hallelujah–and the lawn has been mowed for the first time this season, too. The woodpecker is back–come mid-summer, when the protected species has finished building nests and hatching chicks, a special paint will be applied to the outside of the house to keep them away. They peck big holes into the outside walls, and the noise tests my patience AND my nerves! Usually, if I go out onto the deck and clap my hands loudly, Woodie flies off, but he (or she?) soon returns. Alas, the woodpecker is as much God’s creature as I am. I don’t want to hurt them, I just want them to stop trying to make the outside of my house look like Swiss cheese.
I have a book to recommend: “Writing Down Your Soul”, by Janet Connor. This is a wonderful resource for personal growth, and I’m so impressed, in fact, that I’m going to give away at least one copy on the blog. Stay tuned!
Once more, I apologize for my long absence. I was really feeling rundown for a while there, but I’m getting better.
“Big Sky Secrets”, my newest book, awaits.
Be kind, be blessed, and be yourself. As the old joke goes, everybody else is taken.
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So glad you’re back, I’ve missed you
Also glad you took time to take care of you. Love.
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Welcome back, Linda. It sounds like you had a wonderful time and balanced out “relaxing” with “doing stuff.” Don’t we all need that! YOur comment about mowing the lawn made me think, I have today off and it’s supposed to almost get up to 70, so I’m going to tackle my jungle (read: lawn) this afternoon. It’s so dang long, I’m not sure it will get dry all the way down but I’ve got to do something. Don’t you get antsy when your yard makes the house look like nobody lives there!?
I am so ready for your next book – is it June that we can start getting excited?
Have a wonderful day and smell those flowers!
Hilda
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Oh thankgoodness you’re back, lady! I was becoming concerned, but didn’t want to pry. When I don’t hear from friends I become concerned, & you are a dear friend :). What is this special paint that can be used to keep woodpeckers away? Don’t have that problem here, but I’m curious. Looking forward to Big Sky Secrets. When will it be released, or can you tell yet since you haven’t even finished it? Of course we’ll have Big Sky Wedding first, & can’t wait for that one! So happy you are refreshed & back to all of us
Blessings,
SherryNan
PS – what’s the latest contest?
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I am glad you had a nice time with your good friends. It sounds like just what I need right now…So happy to have you back and am looking forward to your next book..
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Dear Linda, I’m happy to hear that you’ve taken a little breather. Some folks might wonder how you can get worn out writing a book. You are constantly thinking of ideas I’m sure even when you are not ” officially working.”
I’m a poet. Not a famous poet, nor do I pen sagas such as ” Hiawatha.” My poetry is inspired by God and is usually written for a special ocassion such as a birth a wedding.
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Oops, I hit the send button. To continue, a graduation, a birthday or an ode to someone dear who has passed away. As the inspiration strikes me, I begin to write so that the ideas don’t escape. Sometimes it’s just a line or a phrase, and it can be a verse or the whole poem. When I finish even the rough draft, which by the way is written by hand as all my poems are, I am amazed by the gift that God has given me. I enjoy sharing my poems and they are all personalized for whomever they are written. Eveeyone that I have wrutten
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Oh dear, not again. Now you see why I do rough drafts. I can spell very well, but my fingers can’t, especially when I am using my smartphone, which is the only computer I own. Anyway, I was trying to say that the recipient’s of my poems graciously accept them and love that I wrote them out of love.
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Welcome back, Linda! Going to be in the islands the end of May and can’t wait! Love it up there!
And speaking of May…don’t forget the particulars about your signing in Ellensburg!!!! So wishing B.S. Summer would have been out in time.
Good luck with the spammers. They are certainly out in force. Seems I’m fighting them eery day.
Anxiously awaiting that next book!
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Glad you got to take a little detour from the ordinary. I too would be interested in what type of paint repels woodpeckers. I do have woodpeckers out in the yard, but so far they have not bothered the house. My problem is bumblebees. They chew right into the wood. Oh well, such is life in the country and there’s no other place that I would rather be. Hope you will be blessed with a relaxing and beautiful Spring.
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Glad you’re back, I missed you.
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Hope you are feeling better and recovering. Take care and may many blessings also come your way.
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Hi Linda, glad you are back you were missed, but i new you said you were going to be gone for a week so i didn’t worry about you like i did the time you were so sick and we didn’t hear from you.. I am glad you got a good rest, sorry you came home to some more plumbing problems, and Woodie. Hope you soon get those problems taken care of. Writing Down Your Soul sounds like it would be a pretty good book. God bless each and everyone of you.
As always your friend
Norma S.
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Glad to hear all is well with you. Everyone needs time to decompress. I like the story about the mermaid. It is still a little cool where I live but hopefully it will get warmer. Take care and hope your renovations is going well.
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Welcome back! So glad you had a lovely trip!
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LOVE your books..glad you take time off for just YOU,and you can write us more,great books…so we can chill out..