Loose Leaf Notes

1. We don’t have any political ads in our yard because no one would see them. But we do have a crying baby mask in our kitchen with a caption that reads ‘I want a new president!’  See HERE. 

2. Cult happens when culture goes wrong.

3. ‘As far as I can recall, men knelt when they wanted to ask a woman “Will you take my name and be true to me?” Kneeling was a sign of love. I sincerely dislike that man who occupies the White House trying to take the love and faith of our athletes, who are kneeling and asking the Constitution: “Will you be mine?”’ Nikki G

4. My poem Counterpoint is featured as a poem of the week at Poets United. See HERE. 

5. Every memory must play out / Must be squeezed to render what was good/ Must be seen as a part of the whole/ I want her arms of my body/ to be welcoming and embracing/ I want to hold and keep/ what’s left of her in me… Read the poem “Remembering” in its entirety HERE. 

6. “Perhaps it is that prose is earned and poetry is given… poetry is for me the soul making tool…” – May Sarton

7. Red Ride in the Hood:  It’s a fairy tale of carousels / spells and confetti / Impressionistic valleys and Van Gogh gold/ It’s a Seurat painted scene/ of once upon a time/ with a hip hop drop/ from a mountain climb/ where the red trees flame/ to light the traveler’s view / All the better to see you with / My dears.

8. Speaking of Red Riding Hood, THIS picture I took of Senator Tim Kaine when he was in Floyd a week ago makes me do a double take.

9. As part of a ‘Barnstorm the Commonwealth,’ just over a week out from Election Day, Senator Tim Kaine and candidate (at the time) for Governor Ralph Northam visited Floyd on October 28th. They stopped at The Floyd Country Store and Dogtown Roadhouse where Halloween parties were taking place.  Kaine joined band members on stage playing harmonica at both venues. Northam spoke briefly to the crowd, revealing that his VMI college roommate was from Floyd.  More HERE.

10. Rise Together Kingsport is a public art, social practice, community engagement project by Floyd Countian Charlie Brouwer and the community of Kingsport, TN. Individuals, families, businesses, schools, churches, and organizations of all kinds & from all parts of the city were encouraged to lend ladders (any kind or size, real or creatively made) to symbolize their hopes & dreams to be connected to each other in a temporary sculpture – leaning on & supporting each other. All ladders were returned after a one-month exhibition. See the final results HERE.

11. And THIS unlikely and impromptu public art project was named one of the top 5 germiest tourist attractions in 2009, second to the Blarney Stone.

12. “Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry… In Virginia, it is going to take a doctor to heal our differences. I’m here to let you know the doctor is in. And this doctor will be on call the next four years…  We live in a very diverse society — it is getting more diverse every day. It is that diverse society that makes this country great.  And as long as I’m governor, I will make sure that we’re inclusive, that we welcome people to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our lights will be on. Our doors will be open.” – excerpt from our new Governor Ralph Northam’s victory speech

13. That’s all she wrote.

_________________Thirteen Thursday