January 2017 – Seashell Nell

Small winter poem 1 | Morning whale

I was driving to work this morning Eating oatmeal. I do this all the time, inexplicably, Even if I have enough time to sit at the table and eat. On some unconscious level, I’d rather balance the white corningware In the passenger seat, a partner in the morning’s commute. Today I had filled the bowlContinueContinue reading “Small winter poem 1 | Morning whale”

Worth celebrating

Yesterday I was rubbing my chin, absentmindedly, as I wrote, and I realized that I was growing a singular bristle-hair on the right-hand side, on my jawline, so I got up and walked to the bathroom and plucked it with some pink tweezers I keep on hand for any such occasions. And then I thoughtContinueContinue reading “Worth celebrating”

What the Lord hath done

One time, when I was dressed in a floor-length gown and I was holding flowers, I sat in the front pew of a church and watched my brother marry a good woman. There is a prayer sometimes used in wedding masses, a special prayer for the wife, full of beautiful words and phrases and wishes–thatContinueContinue reading “What the Lord hath done”

mine

These are my people. And that is my river. Actually, that River is Detroit’s. And those people belong to God. But, He shares them with me. Like last week. When we all gathered and walked through the blessed space that is Belle Isle, an island close to the banks of America and Canada both, andContinueContinue reading “mine”

TBH

I’m still learning. And I tell myself that all the time. “You’re still learning, Nell, it’s a learning curve and you’re still on it.” Enter December. So, I have family members who work for industry in general. And I see things wind down for the holidays. Note this: not in church world. NOT. IN. CHURCH.ContinueContinue reading “TBH”

I just bought four and a half yards of material

Because my fam hosts a dance in like a week and a half (link because: you’re invited) and you know what? I’m down for that challenge. Why accomplish anything unless you have tight deadlines, right? Jesus help us. I went to one fabric store earlier this week. The stuff was okay, but not great. SoContinueContinue reading “I just bought four and a half yards of material”

New Year’s Report

Remember when it was a few months ago and I learned that the retreat I go on EVERY New Years for the past LITERALLY SEVEN OR EIGHT New Years was cancelled this year? I probably told you this. What I didn’t tell you is that it threw me into a leetle bit of a tailspinContinueContinue reading “New Year’s Report”