For Keith (I can't believe that is my blog title).

A few weeks ago (on his birthday, in fact), Keith told me that I needed to "simplify, simplify, simplify," though he didn't exactly quote Thoreau verbatim. He suggested that perhaps my posts were too long, too much for my devoted readers (...I don't really think I have any of those...). So because I am tired, and because so many things have happened in the last few weeks and I'm not sure I can put them into words at this exact moment when I really just feel like writing, this blog entry will appease Keith. Something that we all aspire to do in our lives, even though it's not very hard. I can't believe I just wrote an almost full paragraph about Keith. Sara, are you laughing? Someone? I hope someone is laughing.

A series of haiku in preparation for presenting prose.


1) "If music is good,
color is not a border,"
proclaims B.B. King.

2) smores, fire pit, friends,
country on the radio-
baseball. USA.

3) Prestwick Chase playlist
getting a lot of mileage
missing the singers (and storytellers).

4) fireworks, balloons
"my favorite food is friend food,"
the little girl laughed.

5) did you fight the fight?
activists in line for lunch
presence of the past.

6) this is not textbook
Mississippi. It's a place
still processing. Pause.

7) holding Sara's hand
America, a question:
who is Ali's man?

8) Sometimes I feel far
from you, my collective pasts.
But it will be fine.

9) Thank you for asking,
Alice is adjusting fine.
She likes the weather.

10) As I Lay Dying
waiting patiently, hoping
I will pick it up.

11) (Faulkner, forgive me
my beginnings and endings
interrupt yours).

12) Oh, also ps-
last week we had our conference.
it was exhausting...

12.5) ...it was exhausting,
but also wonderful. Dad,
communities.

12.75) That was a bad one,
Sorry, Keith. The conference can't
become a haiku.

Love for now and for always,
Claire




A painting I missed / The second visit was great / Artist: Carroll Cloar. (Most "Claireously known" / like famous, but almost there / as "the painting that (hangs in the livingroom of my grandparents).



Helena was everywhere.




Hey, B.B. Wise Words.




B.B. Enough Said.



Many more are on facebook. Many more of any and all of the above. You should look at them, they are sort of great. Sara and Michelle are excellent documenting partners.




Fireworks over the ballpark. The. End.