INTRODUCING.... preciousqueentheodora III

Dandelion Serotonin

A few days ago I read  some research reporting that for women, having girlfriends was as good for their health, as not smoking, apparently the positive relationships with other women help us create more serotonin. Interesting thought. I'm a little taken a-back by learning these things, that are "good for us". A bit concerned that while it is comforting to know this, if one were to pursue friendships because they are "good for our health" it would somehow pollute the concept of friendship. Be that as it may, recently I had another interesting experience.

Feeling a bit down in the dumps, I was walking in the neighborhood. Dandelion season is just beginning here. Suddenly I beheld a most glorious site, a whole lawn full of amazing golden dandelion blossoms. They were in clusters, covering most of the lawn with vibrant energy.   I felt comforted, felt more at ease, almost happy. Was that dandelion serotonin? 

I looked at these profoundly beautiful and persistent plants.  Admired their proliferation in spite of years, decades of persecution. Yes, these spring time miracles of life, I think have survived at least half a century of intense persecution. Poisons and mechanical means have been used to root them out, to no avail. And now, that people are becoming more and more aware of the dangers of using toxic substances on their lawns, and no one has the time to sit for hours on their lawn with a sharp pointed digging instrument to root them out, at least not in our neighborhood, they are boldly and beautifully proliferating.

And I take great comfort in this apparent acceptance of the victory of the dandelion. I used to feel guilty for their May blooming time on my lawn and back yard, the boulevard as well. But no more! Victory has placed the dandelion on almost every lawn, the school yard, park lands, by highways. Their generous dispersion of serotonin into air around me, fills me with joy, comfort,  and a centerdness I am thankful of.

--BY  preciousqueentheodoraIII

4.22.12

BUNNIES

TODAY'S PROMPT WAS TO GRAB AN IMAGE FROM A HUGE PILE OFF THE TABLE AND JUST GO GO GO... WHATEVER COMES TO MIND...THIS IS WHAT AMBER CAME UP WITH

BUNNIES

It’s a bunny wearing a bunny suit. Maybe it’s her green footie pajamas. Those 3 baby bunnies are lucky to have a mommy who wears green footie pj’s and leads them in hopping. The edges are torn. I like that look. Free, intuitive, frayed paper fibers emerging from the whole. There was more here, but I just need this part of it. What was beyond the bunnies? Where are they hopping? Ove spring-green grassy fields. Maybe Mama Bunny is trying to tucker her little bunnies out before bed time. At least they aren’t hopping on her. Boing, boing, boing! Go bunnies Go! This would be a fun card to give to somebody. Maybe someone who was going to have triplets. Hehehe Little bunny smiles. Do rabbits really smile? I saw a bunny outside a window last week. She was stretched out under a pine tree, kicking the dirt around. We thought she might be giving birth. Or not. Maybe just a dirt bath. Beautiful brown bunny-so long and lean and soft. Would like to pet her. My mom had rabbits when I was in high school. One was Siamese Lee, aka Simmy Lee because she looked like a Siamese cat. I don’t remember the other’s name, but Toni certainly would. I liked feeding them clover and dandelion leaves. Nibbling the leaf as it disappeared past their wiggly lips. Munch, munch, munch. Sometimes I eat a piece of lettuce like those bunnies. You can keep a bunny in the house as a pet. Trainable like a cat. Do they shed? Cindy had a bunny as a pet. Hop, hop, hop. I think the bunnies in this picture are names Skippy, Hop, John and Amelia Mama. I wonder if Patty will let me keep this picture. I would post it in my loft. Where did Patty get all these? How long has she been collecting them? Inspirational scraps. So enthralled with the bunnies, I didn’t get to the gorgeous snowflake images. I could look at our snowflake book at home. That would be fun. Try writing around a snowflake. —Amber, WEDNESDAY   May 9, 2012

In Spring of 2008 I taught a class at the Loft Literary Center in Downtown Minneapolis called Life Writing from ten to noon on Wednesday mornings. The class only ran about six weeks, but there was enough enthusiasm and connection among members to keep the class going. At the time I was fortunate to receive an anonymous grant from a student who wanted to make sure I kept doing what I was doing out there in the world, which generously allowed me to continue writing with this group throughout the summer.

We are now in our fourth year.

What did we write about? Well... at first it was short writing exercises about "life," working from childhood on up: Where did we grow up? What was our neighborhood like? Family? What was inside our junk drawer? Who was our first crush? First kiss? First job? Lots of "firsts." You'd think such common small-talk conversation starters would yield tons of boredom, which may be the case in real talking life, but on the page, au contraire. Beneath the surface of  simple everyday questions lie an entire universe of living, breathing halls of memory alive with story-upon-story. Writing takes the ordinary and turns it into the extraordinary. Thick with riches, laden with walls of feeling, depth of scenery, dialogue, humor, and human experience, each uniquely adorned, yet universally felt story simply blossoms on the page, bearing wisdom, truth, and connection to all that partake.

A lot has happened in our little group since 2008. We've added and lost members, naturally, as the stories shared among the Wednesday Writers have included losses and gains of our own.  There's been some mystery to our story. Occasionally the ghosts of long gone members will appear on the page and reawaken some old bittersweet sadness, happiness, memories of the Loft or the Linden Hills Library on 43rd and Xerxes, a mere seven blocks from the "Beach," where we meet at my loft condo, where all things Writing with Rox take place.

This blog is a celebration of the history and ongoing story of the Wednesday Writers. Here you will find raw writings past and present, and perhaps, over time, a bit of insight into our own little story.

Thanks for reading and hope to write with you soon!  Rox