National Poetry Month, MRIs and Upcoming Birthdays and Publications, and Signs of Spring

Happy goldfinch

Happy Last Week of National Poetry Month

Hope you had a wonderful celebration last weekend – we got to have dinner with two out-of-town nephews plus my little brother and his wife, and we got to take our nephews to wine and whiskey tastings, so it was a lot of fun.

And it’s the last week of National Poetry Month. What are you doing to celebrate? Buying literary magazine subscriptions and poetry books? I’ve been trying – somewhat shakily – to write a poem a day, and catch up on my poetry reading and buying. I attended a virtual reading of Kelli Russell Agodon’s, which was fun. I also have a birthday coming up the last day of April and a publication in Jet Fuel Review (I’ll put a link up when it’s up!)

Me, post-MRI with late cherry blossoms

MRIs and Things

Unfortunately, the Monday after our celebratory Easter weekend, I was due for a long-postponed brain and spine scan. I always feel a little wonky after brain MRIs – sinus infection? magnetic allergies? – and so I was a little down and out this last week. I also found out some good news (no new brain or spine lesions) but also a little bad news – a thyroid node pressing on my jugular vein and carotid artery I need to have an ultrasound on, and terrible degenerative disc disease in the neck, which I guess is why my neck hurts all the time – as well as a pinched nerve. That’s how it always is, right? As we get older – a little good news – my MS hasn’t gotten any worse – with a little bad news – age related arthritis in the neck, something I need further testing on the thyroid (which, let’s face it, my thyroid has been wonky since I was a teen.) The funniest part of the test was the front desk person, as she was handing me my MRI on disc, said to me “Your hair is the same color as the cherry blossoms – you have to take a picture with them!” So I did.

Early Lilacs

Signs of Spring – Finally!

It’s been a very gloomy cold April so far, so having a few nice days here in the last week of so of April has been really nice. We saw some early lilacs, the last cherry blossoms are falling, and the trees are starting to have leaves again. We haven’t seen our baby rabbits or baby geese yet, but we did see our first goldfinch (see above) and another beautiful pair of Wood Ducks! I also took a picture of the fox statue hiding in Redmond with some blooming rhodies.

Anyway, I hope to spend the rest of April doing more cheerful things (in between doctor’s appointments, naturally) like enjoying some poetry (I just got Mary Biddinger’s new book, Department of Elegy, and Lesley Wheeler’s book of essays on poetry, Poetry’s Possible Worlds), getting out in nature when it’s nice. Remember it’s a good time to support poets, publishers, lit mags and indie bookstores that you love – so if you have a little money, maybe put it towards some poetry! I know they could all use it after the past couple of years.

Anyway, happy April and happy rest-of-National Poetry Month to you!