Good Things in Texas

First, there's Lioness, who is forever teaching me gentleness. And there is Princess, who is forever teaching me grace. And there is Karen, who teaches me to be calm. It seems that while these women wanted me in Texas to console, vivify, or anchor them in the midst of some troubles, I needed them as much. The whole visit was rejuvenating. Sure, it's a fair question: PRSC, my dear, you have been on a sabbatical for almost a year, in a sanctuary of lush and familial goodness, how could you need rejuvenation? Well, it turns out that in my sanctuary I've been working very hard and on myself as well, so a little trip to see women who hold my tiger when I need to get off (even by holding their tigers) was just the ticket. Plus, Austin is one big celebration forever of how laid back and self-made and generally colorful the world could be, who'd pass it up?

Cool things I discovered on this trip: Project Linus supplies blankets and quilts to kids suffering various kinds of trauma who don't have blankets. Being a Linus type as a child, I heartily endorse this project. Also Luna Pads, which Lioness recommended as your one-stop-shop for organic, reusable, super-comfy feminine products. Because, frankly the less I have petroleum byproducts next my pink parts, the happier I am.

There was the invention of the phrase "bugger off bad juju," which is ticklish. Some inspiration as well. I mean, if you leave Lioness and I alone for a little while with a lap top, we will start a revolution, and we did. Small scale. One shift was that I told L about this conference, Challenging Cultures of Death, at Trinity College in Dublin in early November. Now, I said that I planned to revise the conclusion of my book in these terms and also see if I couldn't sweet talk JP over at CK to publish it:-- because I could not go to the conference, it being in Dublin and on my birthday and me being not-so-flush with cash at this juncture. To which L said, "It's in DUBlin, on your BIRTHday, and you can't go?!" In that astonished tone one uses with people who are speaking against their nature. Right. Right on. Who was I? She pointed out that if I designed a conference for myself I couldn't have done it better. Ten minutes later, we had a plan for L's paper and mine and a conspiracy to spend a week in Dublin. See? I needed this trip my horoscope told me was coming and that I had not at all planned. So, I'll be starting that project now. Sweet. Then, we had a couple of hours to kill, had been talking around politics and cultures of life, our other usual subjects, and designed a group blog (we hope it grows into an online mag), the three departments we'll cover, a posting schedule, and a logo. In 90 minutes. On the plane on the way back to Goshen, I started to realized that I know a whole bushel of people I could ask to guest blog for us on various subjects. We're calling it Renaissance 2.0, yes, that phrase of mine finally found a purpose. I'll let you know when we get going.

And then, because perfect bliss is impermanent, I left my Murdoch essay, with three months of handwritten notes for its expansion, ON THE PLANE!!!! So, today I'm calling the airline to get the phone numbers to the Lost and Founds in each airport where that flight stops. Also, I posted it on Craig's List. So, if you were on SW Flight 125 on or around Friday the 13th of July and found an orange folder in the pouch of your seat, do please get in touch. There's a hefty reward for it.

Then, home, and lots flopping on the floor with Hi-Jack, the new dog, and Foxy who just Can't Stand not being the center of love. Some editing on the anthology, and now on to syllabi, maybe some lunch. --- OK, time to pay bills and make phone calls.