A Change in the Air, Lavender Festivals, and Melancholy
- At July 27, 2025
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
0
A Change in the Air
I know it’s only late July, but I can feel a change in the air already, as days get slowly shorter, and the garden, still in bloom, somehow seems to be nearing its end. We still have another whole month of summer, but the sunflowers coming up remind me not to wait or postpone, because change is already here. I spent most of the week sick, but am getting better, and it allowed me to get some reading done, and some thinking about the upcoming season: Fall.
My parents are coming out for a visit in two weeks, and after that, I’m going to a short residency to work on my manuscript, and maybe on some more essays. I’m trying to be more deliberate with the time that I spend and still put time aside for joy, relaxation, and all that stuff we type-A folks are bad at. If I don’t put time aside for rest, I won’t do it. I’ve been writing essays for five weeks, and enjoying it, and even sending some out. I’m waiting to hear back from publishers on my latest poetry manuscript, but I’m wondering if putting together a book of essays might be a smarter way to spend my time. It seems urgent to get voices out about disability, and while both books deal with that subject matter, the essays might be a better choice for a wider audience. We’ll see.
Lavender Festivals and Melancholy
This weekend was the lavender festival at our local lavender garden (JB Family Growers Lavender Farm), and we went both days and had fun, and the weather blessedly cooperated (no rain, but also not crazy hot). I also noted that a lot of my friends and family members are experiencing a melancholy that isn’t specific to one bad thing, but rather a pervasive mood. Maybe that makes sense, politics and plagues and wars are bound to make a dent in our souls, and if they don’t, maybe something’s wrong with us. Walking at sunset in a field of lavender does something good to our nervous systems, or spending time picking blueberries or watching birds and going to the forest. We need to remind ourselves of the good things still in the world, of the possibilities. We need to give ourselves something to fight for.
- At the lavender festival, sunmy
- Glenn and I in the lavender
- Glenn and I spend sunset in the lavender
Ha! If all you saw were my smiling photos, you wouldn’t think I had a thing to worry about, right? But you and I know better. We know the happy times are fleeting, and the hard times long, worries and sadness and even disabilities sometimes invisible. (I learned a lot this week researching an essay about Elizabeth Taylor’s myriad health problems related to the same genetic mutation that gave her double eyelashes, and how they related to her death and multiple hospitalizations.) We have to appreciate the good days and cope with the bad and stay open to what life is still teaching us. Anyway, if you are struggling right now, you are not alone, and the bad times don’t last forever (though they can feel that way). Another day when the sun rises, or the moon rises, and you feel alive and yourself again, inspired—I wish this for all of us.
New Nature Writing Conference in La Grande, Oregon, Ecology and Hope, and Grateful for Home
- At July 21, 2025
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
1
New Nature Writing Conference in La Grande, Oregon: Ecology and Hope
Well, we drove through multiple mountain ranges and wildfire smoke both ways in the five-hour drive to and from La Grande, Oregon. Average temperature? 92°F—with red flag-level winds. I’d never seen how empty most of the states of Oregon and Washington are east of the Cascade mountains. Lots of twisty mountain passes, then miles of semiarid scrub, barely a McDonalds or Starbucks to be found. La Grande, almost at the very Eastern end of Oregon, is a little mountainside oasis—a drive-thru Starbucks, little Eastern Oregon University, where the low-res MFA program held its New Nature Writing Conference. We made it there the first day and we were pretty exhausted, the heat and smoke were hard on my MS symptoms, so I barely had any sleep before I had to get up, dress, teach a class on Solarpunk poetry, and then get ready for a reading and Q&A. Immediately after, we turned around and made the five-hour drive home, barely getting through the mountains before the dark settled in, and once again chased by wildfire smoke. The faculty, staff, and students at EOU were warm and friendly, and I felt very welcomed and thankful to be invited to speak—especially on nature and ecology, which are definitely subjects I’m very interested in, but man, physically this trip was hard. (Pics below include Glenn and I in the hot wind of the hotel parking lot, me with the director of the MFA program, and a pic from last week’s birthday celebration.)
- Glenn and I in La Grande hotel parking lot
- Nick Neely and I at EOU
- Glenn’s bday pic with little brother Mike
One question I was asked during my class was “how do you keep your optimism with things like these wildfire evacuations?” (One of my friends texted me during the class she was evacuating her nearby small town.) How do I keep optimism? I wish I could remember how exactly I answered. There are always reasons to hope, however slight, and though I consider myself a realistic optimist—or an optimistic pessimist—it is hard, though imperative, to keep a view of the light, however dim. Hayao Miyazaki—along with Octavia Butler—sort of the godfather and godmother of Solarpunk—have visions of the future that, although dark, contain seeds (Parable of the Sower puns here) of how it is possible to have a more equitable, balanced world where technology, humanity, plants and animals co-exist in peace—usually after an apocalypse. So, maybe it’s around the corner any day now? During the class we discussed the Foxfire Books—rural surroundings mean someone in the class HAD heard of them.
We got home, showered, fell asleep exhausted, and today was mostly recovery (my body definitely showed me it was not happy with me with various symptoms) and unpacking and deciding if such a trip might be doable again. Next time, maybe not in the desert in the middle of July surrounded by wildfires?
Grateful for Home
Grateful to be home with my cats, my own bed, my own (allergy-safe) food, I considered how lucky we were to live in a place with such a moderate climate—today in Woodinville the high was 73°—and to live next to a beautiful lavender farm and have just enough land around my house to have a little garden. Pics here are from this evening, the last legs of the weekend’s Lavender Festival—so we mostly missed it but got there before closing to celebrate.
- Glenn and I in lavender field
- Me with lavender
- with wildflowers
On the journey, I saw a LOT of closed hotels, motels, gas stations, and restaurants—and a LOT of wide-open nothing—no hospitals, no hotels, no restaurants at all. There were no Barnes & Nobles to drop into, no chain restaurants at all along the whole drive. The last place I’d seen with so many closed businesses was Akron on my visit to the University there almost twenty years ago, when the oatmeal-themed cookie shop was the only open store in the entire mall, and the hotel we stayed at was being run by one already-laid-off elderly employee and was being closed after we left. In Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky—places I’d lived in—there was a lot of poverty, and where my relatives lived in Missouri as well—but I guess I had not really seen it here in the Pacific Northwest (beyond getting lost in a particularly meth-riddled row of closed gas stations and restaurants in Eugene OR on the drive from California back here on one of our moves). Class inequity was really brought home for me on this drive—along with viewing a lot of Trump signs, which you don’t see in and around my home much. Seems like the billionaires in our state could be doing more to help out the rest of the area, but it seems like that isn’t happening. If the farms in Eastern WA and OR are growing our food, but have no restaurants to sell it to—or hospitals to go to if they get sick—or hell, even a rundown mall to see a movie and get a pizza—what is happening to those farmers and the farm workers? I even passed, strangely, a couple of wine tasting rooms tucked into the middle of what seemed to be wasteland, and a few vineyards on sunny hills that were otherwise barren. Woodinville’s wine country never looked so good to me. This is truly my happy place—away from the severe weather of the desert (or even the Midwest) most of the time, green year-round, cloudy enough to keep me safe with my sun allergy, blessed with good hospitals and libraries and bookstores and indie coffee shops and yes, chain restaurants.
Anniversaries, Birthdays, Best of the Net Nominations, Essays, and Where I’ll Be: Nature Writing Conferences in Oregon
- At July 14, 2025
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
0
Celebrating: Anniversaries, Birthdays, and Best of the Net Nominations
This past week was Glenn and my 31st anniversary, pretty low-key, and today is Glenn’s birthday, which means two celebrations in one week. One thing I love about Glenn is for his birthday he made chocolate chip cookies that he took to the neighbors and the workers at the lavender farm. He just spreads joy 😉
I am also happy to say I was nominated for a Best of the Net by Flare Magazine, for a poem “There’s Something Wrong with Me, I Said” which I posted about a few weeks ago there. Thank you, Flare Magazine!
- Glenn and I at sunset
- Pink roses
- Mt Rainier with lavender
Where I’ll Be Next Weekend, July 19: La Grande, Oregon’s Nature Writing Conference
You guys know I don’t travel a ton, so note: I’ll be on the road next weekend to do a workshop on Solarpunk poetry and a reading of eco-poetry from my books at a Nature Writing Conference from Eastern Oregon University’s low-res MFA program in La Grande, Oregon. I have never been to Eastern Oregon and I look forward to meeting new people and seeing new desert landscapes. If you’re in the area, come out and see me—here’s the schedule!
Essays – and Poetry?
I’ve mentioned last week that I’m taking an essay class and enjoying trying out a different genre. It exercises part of my writing skills that I’m not used to using, and it occurs to me that poets could benefit from trying other genres. I know poets who’ve written fiction and excelled at both. I’m not sure yet that I’m excelling, but I’m glad to be challenging myself. I want to take risks, be more vulnerable, and sometimes it helps to feel like a beginner again. I am also starting to think about the difference between what poetry and essays can do, and the differences in what makes a good one. Essays definitely require more narrative and can’t rely quite as much on lyric language.
Anyway, next time I post I’ll be able to tell you more about Eastern Oregon! Hope you have a wondrful summer week – try to get outside and eat some popsicles, no matter the weather (we’re under a heat advisory here, so I will be staying indoors in the air conditioner til after 8 PM!)
Disability Awareness Month, the Big Bill Spells Disaster, and Essay Writing, Plus a New Poem in Cave Wall Review
- At July 07, 2025
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
1
A Tough Week: Disability Awareness Month, the Big Bill, Essay Writing
Did you know this is Disability Awareness Month? I’ve been spending a lot of time deep breathing and walking in the lavender field to take my mind off the stress of this week’s passing of the “Big Bill” that will end up taking away money from disabled people, hospitals, nursing homes, and of course, hungry children. I didn’t celebrate July 4th at all—no fireworks, except Glenn made a cake to share with neighbors, which feels appropriate. I guess after cutting SNAP we better up our donations to food banks too. Not feeling very fond of my country, and especially its leadership, right now.
So, my anger and the urgency of the issues made me turn to an unfamiliar genre—essays, which will be read by more people and faster than poetry. So, I sent out two essays and one of them was already accepted (to be published in September). Luckily, the timing of my essay writing class could not be better—prompts and workshops every week and I’m already feeling more confident. I feel like the abled world does not understand the thin thread that disabled/chronically ill people walk between dying and not dying all the time—based on insurance, availability of drugs and doctors and hospitals, and oh yeah, a caretaker because you can’t do everything anymore.
This “big beautiful bill” puts everything on that thin line in jeopardy, and Republicans that signed it have signed the literal death warrant for disabled people, people in poverty, and some of those poor and disabled will be children. I hope the tax cut for billionaires will be worth it for them. I hope they all lose their seats in congress when people figure out what they’ve done. I cannot wait for Trump and the GOP to be out of power. It cannot happen soon enough—and literally, if it doesn’t, I will be forced to reconsider leaving the country. Did I mention Microsoft has laid off 15,000 in two months? (That’s where my insurance comes from, from Glenn’s job.) So that isn’t helping my anxiety at all. I am looking at viable options for both school and work out of the country at this point, just in case. A place with free health care and free school would be amazing. Why don’t we have those things in this country? Why don’t we start demanding them? One of the themes of this year’s Pride parade was “loud” and I feel like that applies to Disability Awareness Month as well. Keeping quiet will not protect us and it won’t protect others.
New Poem in Cave Wall
But I would be amiss if I didn’t say I was thankful to receive my contributor’s copy of Cave Wall, where I had a poem, “Self-Portrait as Wisteria on a May Night.” There were lots of friends in the TOC too. Here’s a sneak peek at the poem, but check out the whole issue too.
Next Week: Anniversaries, Birthdays, and Guest Teaching in Eastern Oregon
So next week is eventful—Glenn and my anniversary, Glenn’s birthday, and me getting prepared for the trip to Eastern Oregon for a teaching/reading opportunity at the low-res MFA program’s New Nature Writing Conference. I’ve never been and I’m looking forward to meeting the people and the students and seeing what Eastern Oregon looks like. I’m just trying to juggle a lot right now, plus the stresses mentioned at the beginning of this post. Thank goodness for hummingbirds and gardening and writing. I hope you are all taking good care of yourselves—and check this space for more info on essays soon!
New poems in Flare, Upcoming Appearances: Nature Writing Conference, Not Being Fearful, More Lavender and Hummingbirds
- At June 29, 2025
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
1
End of June: New Poems in Flare, Upcoming Appearances, Lavender and Hummingbirds
Hello! It is nearly July and it is finally acting like summer here after a prolonged gray and rainy period. I’m happy to share a couple of pieces of poetry related news in this update—new poems in a literary magazine called Flare, and an upcoming appearance in Eastern Oregon.
On top of that, talking about fear and more lavender and hummingbirds because that is what I think might make the world a better place. The lavender garden is J.B. Family Grower’s in Woodinville, and the hummingbird perched on penstemon is from my back porch. Tonight when we visited at sunset, Mount Rainier was out, and the garden smelled amazing. I’m trying to sneak in as many visits as possible into our busy schedules.
- lavender fields at sunset
- Young Anna’s hummingbird, perched
- Glenn and I, lavender, susnhine
New Poems in Flare
I’m happy to share three poems that are up in this new issue of Flare Magazine, a newish online journal dedicated to chronic illness. The three poems are: “There’s Something Wrong with Me, She Said,” “Before the Infusion Center,” and “After an Appointment with a Disability Therapist,” all based on a true story 😉 I am actually proud of myself for writing these poems because they are much less guarded than I usually am about my disability/chronic illness. The truth may scare some people. But I am trying to push past my fear and write more authentically about my experiences in the hopes it will help others do the same, or at least feel more comfortable talking about their experiences.
Check them out at the link below.
Upcoming Appearance at a new Nature Writing Conference in Eastern Oregon
And I’m going to visit a new Nature and Ecology Writer’s Conference out of Eastern Oregon University in just two weeks. I’ll be doing a reading and a workshop on solarpunk poetry on July 19th. What? Never thought you’d see my name and “nature writing” linked online? Thought I’d be more likely to be talking at a sci-fi conference? Usually you’re right! But I’m really trying to push the envelope on my own writing in terms of writing truthfully about the environment but also finding hope when talking about the future.
Here’s more about the conference, in La Grande, Oregon:
When Am I Letting Fear Take the Lead?
And I’m trying out my boundaries and saying yes to more opportunities. Who knows, maybe I’ll even teach again? I don’t want to live my life in fear anymore, especially when the world is so uncertain around us. I can’t wave a magic wand and make everything better, but I can stop letting fear make my decisions.
So, I am starting a new class on essay writing, and I may try to put together a manuscript of essays. I may even try my hand at YA fiction after many years of avoiding it.
It starts inside us. If we are afraid of everything, we will not act in the way that’s probably the best for our lives. And our lives are so short! If you follow this blog, you may have noticed that I’ve been talking about the deaths of two friends in the last year. It made me realize that no matter how safe, how good, how many right things you do, you really can’t protect yourself, and in that case, why not: write the authentic truth about your life? Venture further out into areas that might not be exactly the best for your disability or food allergies but might be an excellent way to connect with a new community of writers? Why not try walking a little further every day in the lavender farm (or your local trail), because maybe right now is the best my body will ever be? Why not stand up to bullies in politics, or befriend someone who is a little different form you, or read whatever books you like no matter who says they’re okay/appropriate? If I am a poet, why can’t I also write essays or fiction? Lots of my writer friends do this already. This made me think about the cages we put ourselves into, the prisons that are our routines or relationships that hurt us or a country that doesn’t value us, or people that don’t treat us with respect. Why not reach farther, try a little bit harder, face more risk? I don’t think that my basic personality has changed, but perhaps I’ve started to think harder about my decision making, my day to day life, what really brings joy or makes me feel like I can make a difference in the world? Courage interests me. I want to try to be braver in a world that is pushing us to conform and obey. Once again thinking of writers and artists in the French resistance during WWII—they may not have been perfect, but they tried to make a difference when a lot of people kept quiet…and didn’t. What about you? What would you do if you felt a little more daring, a little less trapped? And scientists that won’t shut up when the population doesn’t feel like scientific thought is worthwhile, or maybe it’ s inconvenient for them to think about what the scientists are saying.
Wishing you all a joyful and authentic summer in a time where joy and authenticity feel like rebellion.