Happy New Year! A Poem in the Final Issue of The Pedestal, New Year’s Celebrations but I Guess We’re in a War Now?

Happy New Year! New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Unlike our Christmas, our New Year’s was happily uneventful and actually fun. No medical crises or anything. We celebrated together at the Willows Lodge, where we had cocktails and wore silly hats and rang in the New Year. We went home and tried to watch our local fireworks (socked in the fog, invisible with very unsteady camera work) so we switched and watched the Paris New Year’s celebration at the Arc du Triomphe, where I was amused they included KPop Demon Hunter’s “Golden” in the musical mix. People were in a festive mood, and when we got home we got in our pajamas and watched Sleepless in Seattle. For New Year’s Day we had the traditional (and delicious) hopping john and cornbread (my Southern heritage hasn’t been completely erased, you see) and had TMC’s The Thin Man marathon on all day while we slept in and did leisure things. I worked a little on my book, and tried to get outside although it was very cold unpleasant (you don’t move to Seattle for the January weather, that’s for sure.

Things I was delighted by on New Year’s Eve: Willows Lodge had its art glass fish wearing tiny holiday hats, and we enjoyed wearing silly hats ourselves.

A Poem, “Revontulet,” in the final issue of The Pedestal

I was very happy to have a poem in the final issue of The Pedestal, along with many friends like Connie Post and Heidi Seaborn, although I am sorry the lit mag is coming to an end. You can see my poem and the whole issue here.

Trying to Focus on Writing But I Guess We’re in a War Now?

I did not vote for the current President, so I can’t be accused of ever believing any of his many, many lies, but I’m pretty sure one of them was he wasn’t going to get us involved in foreign wars (along with cheaper eggs.) So last night he bombed the capital of Venezuela and kidnapped the President and First Lady without notifying or seeking the approval of congress, which seems shockingly illegal but it seems other Presidents have done it so…I guess, we’re in a war now against an impoverished country? All I ever knew about Venezuela was that their economy has been mismanaged and the people have suffered, their food was excellent, and every Venezuelan I’ve ever met has been extremely nice and very good looking. I knew from this MST3K short that the US had once had a partnership with Venezuela involved with oil, so I’m guessing that’s the reason behind this mysterious country-grabbing that this terrible egomaniac who runs our country (not with my blessing) mystifying actions.

In non-war news, I’m trying to figure out if I need to revamp my current manuscript with the new bunch of submissions. Does it need to be re-written? I am suffering, if I’m honest, with self-doubt and self-criticism. I thought this was a really good book, but have rejections hurt my confidence? For sure. It’s also a book that’s squarely about disability, feminism, and survival. That may not be what all editors are looking for.  Urgh. I hate the part of writing – and it’s a large part – that is rejection, doubt, insecurity, poverty, obscurity. The waiting. The thinking “Maybe I should quit. Maybe I should write detective novels or advertising copy.” One of my goals for 2026 is to find the right publisher for this book, along with maybe a little more travel and (hopefully) better health. Think good thoughts for me!

And as we enter this 2026, on the night of a Supermoon, I wish you a gentler year, at the same time acknowledging that it’s been a hard last few years and we have to be kind to ourselves. It’s hard to be in this country right now for me, and maybe for you, and feeling things happening that are out of your control. It’s especially hard in the arts, at a time when the world literally needs art more than ever. So be creative, even if it’s just in little ways. Sketch a bird or write a poem or make a craft for someone you love. Play the guitar. I feel somehow art in its subversive way may be the way through this year. So, welcome new year!