Hello Spring, Plum Blossoms, Almost There: AWP, Renovations, and Health Challenges

A picture of me with plum blossoms

Hello Spring! Plum Blossoms, and Almost There: AWP, Renovations, and Health Challenges

Well, it’s almost AWP, my bathroom renovations are almost done, and having survived a 24-hour stomach bug AND an emergency vet visit for one of the cats in the same day, it feels like we’re going to make it. Hopefully. (Thunderstorms and hail are predicted for the time of my flight, so think good thoughts!)

Though it’s mostly been a cold, wet, miserable spring so far, the plum blossoms and cherry blossoms and early star magnolias have started blooming, so spring can’t be far behind. I also got my hair to match. Pink for spring!

I hope you are all surviving as well as possible through this period of scary news and economic anxiety, among other things. I hope some sunshine and time with friends will help me shake off some of the low spirits I’ve been experiencing lately, a combination of high anxiety and low-level depression, I think. When your MS acts up (which mine has been lately) it is all you can do to not curse at the pain and non-ability to focus, write, or accomplish even small tasks, and this is all ratcheted up when strange people are in the house at all hours and you can’t get to any of your normal stuff and you and the cats both get sick. So I’m sorry I wasn’t well enough to post yesterday, when I usually do, but I promise an extra exciting post next week, after AWP.

: Plum blossom canopy

: Plum blossom closeup

: New hair for AWP

: early star magnolias

A visit from our bob kitten seems to portend good things ahead, I hope. AWP can be frantic and overwhelming, I know LA has had a lot of hard luck lately, and I expected not to go (so didn’t even apply for talks or readings or anything.

I’m going to try to make it in time for the Moon City Press reading Wednesday night (if my flight, rental car, traffic, etc all make it possible) but otherwise I’ll be seeing friends at the bookfair and by appointment (if you want to see me, send me a message!)

Good luck this week, friends! May your yards be full of bobcats and plum blossoms. May spring come soon and bring better weather, better news and better fortune.