Fullbeard Lit

Stephen Fuller *** Poetry, Essays

A Fine Cider Toast Reflection on the New Normals We Are Determining in These Extraordinary Times

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Today, regular visitor, friend and positive influencer of life at the Go Dog Go Cafe, Sadje posted this about the new normals we are all determining in this extraordinary times. In general, I am always thinking through what to do with this Fullbeard Lit project. With what we are dealing with, the Into My Own project, although an important story to tell young writers/creatives facing their insecurities surrounding the creative life, feels a little too self-indulgent.

Instead, I want to get out in nature to see it transform from winter to spring over the next months, to find inspiration and be reminded of the blessings we have through the lens of this extraordinary time.

An InstaFriend who is a CrossFit enthusiast and promoter and I talked this morning about what we can do. Clearly the gym may not be the best place to hang out, but we still need our exercise. She is thinking through workouts that can be done from home and ways to use her various social media platforms to encourage and promote creativity. For me, I feel this deep gratitude for the walks I can take out my front door and bathe in my beloved trees. Those who have read my poetry and writings for some time know how nature, walks and especially trees inform my creativity.

For instance, I walked almost 12 miles yesterday to process the disappointment and grief I feel because I cannot visit my wonderful 88 year old mother, my sister and her husband visiting from France, and don’t expect to see my kids for the foreseeable future despite plans to do so in April. I was reeling emotionally and needed to just process and sort out each emotional thread so I could function. The length of the walk reflected the difficulty of that processing.

These are photos I took on that walk, the birches that inspired the lines: “I walk among my oldest friends:

Frost’s birches, the tacky white pines, the spruce field

That might be a secret safe haven

For Santa on the stormiest of Christmas Eves” in yesterday’s poem.

(filtered… my brother and sisters are the gifted photographers, especially David)

Over the next… however long this takes, perhaps this is just what I need to do. Get out of the house, be inspired and share with you the little buds of hope and beauty I find in the hopes it brings forth something positive not only in my life but in yours, Reader.

Thank you Sadje for the reminder. 1985 ain’t goin’ anywhere that story can wait. So keep visiting, wash your hands, scroll around a while and always, always, get your coffee at the Cafe or for real coffee try Just Coffee! 😉

33 Responses to “A Fine Cider Toast Reflection on the New Normals We Are Determining in These Extraordinary Times”

  2. Tanya Cliff

    I love this, Stephen! Stay safe and healthy, everyone! Wishing everyone a beautiful sanctuary to wait out this storm. ❤️😷📚🌳🌲☕️📚❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. L. Stevens

    I can relate, my husband and I made the difficult decision to cancel our trip to see his mother, who is a cancer survivor. We have a wonderful nature trail in our neighborhood that we enjoy walking every evening, and I think we’ll appreciate it even more in the coming weeks.

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    Reply
  8. -Eugenia

    How unfortunate you are not able to see your family, Steven! But you have trees for inspiration and nature for strength. This is just another chapter in our lives that won’t last forever.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. saynotoclowns

    These are indeed interesting times. I see so much blessing coming out of it, firstly, appreciating the things we truly take for granted, and how convenient our lives have become, (and kind of ironically, in light of climate change concern, is the significant reduction in pollution right now, as so many factories in China ceased production, lack of travel etc.) It’s also been rather informative, seeing the products that have been effected, how our supply chains work and where they initiate etc.
    But I am also really feeling for you Stephen, that you can’t see your family. 💔

    I’m hoping more people will “see” the “simpler” things in their lives again, in one sense, this might be something the whole world needs. But we are trying to be mindful of the more vulnerable in our midst too. Keeping perspective and staying calm is so important. Some of the sensationalism we have seen, can truly backfire as anxiety has profound affects on our immunity, of course.

    Anyway, I really do hope you will find some peace and solace in your grieving right now. 💚🌼☕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Bette A. Stevens

    A Facetime call from grandson in New Mexico made our day! It was a virtual visit with Ryan, Rosemary and our awesome great granddaughter Olivia. We’d been outdoors walking and soaking up some of that wonderful early spring sun for several days last week. Icy mix and snow cover today, but the sun will shine again and we’re so grateful for a Sunday Session with family. 🙂 Stay safe and have a great week!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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