Long Story
Ive had quite the unusual weeek. Well, I could hazard to say that Ive had quite the unusual life, but there are many who could as well. Last week though, was one of those weeks were when you finally do meet up with someone, a friend, your mother, whatever, you dont even know if you could actually tell them "whats up" and convey everything. And do it justice.
I spent most of the week hanging out with the kids from the English Department, and it was really fun. What drew us together was the English Department got a grant to fly in a writer who could speak to us. They flew in a woman named Diane Di Prima and she was a beatnick, revolutionary poet and author. She is like 70 now and I got to spend the week with her, sit by her, have coffee with the woman, and all the time I felt like I was in the presence of a guru. Like I needed to bring her lotus petals and cleanse my mind before I approached her. It wasnt, at all, because she had some sort of pretentious, famous vibe. It was because she seemed so wise. She had an aura and I felt really blessed to have spent time with her. So that was an incredible experience, and I felt a connection. She spoke against the war and the american media conception of terrorism, she leaned toward the supernatural (mentioning sylphs in her poetry) and spent time with several native american tribes. I could go on and I probably will again, as I shuffle through my Diane impressions.
The next incredible experience was that I won two scholarships through the English Department. One of them is for creative writing and the other is and academic scholarship that I can renew every year. This is fucking sweet. I feel validated in a way, like finally a sign that Im on the right path. How ever tortuos it has been to get here. There is an award ceremony on the 9th and my whole family wants to go of course, and why not right?
The last thing, but really the first thing is that I have become involved in a Womens Activism group on campus. The funny thing is that this is like the third time that I have been aproached by a student on campus, to start a womens rights group and this is the first time that someone has gotten it right. Before it was always, that would be good, you should do that. And anyone who knows me at all, knows that I am not the one who needs to be wholly responsible for some sort of group activity. I mean, I have leadership qualities, sure, but I also have many other quaities that dont really mesh with large amounts of responibility and punctuality. So, this one freind of mine in my writing group started it on her own and is the pres. or whatever and she kinda lit a fire under my ass to get involved, which I need at times. So, I am more of a behind the scenes support character, which is nice. Right now, I have organized members of our group to go on the MARAL buses to the March in Washington D.C., which will happen on April 25th. It is the biggest march in the history of womens rights activism in the United States. So, yeah, Im going and so are many of the people in the group and one of my closest friends, who though it sounded like a fantasic idea also. Which, I respect and was plesantly suprised.
So, yeah, this is alot and its great. As opposed to, its allot and Im drownding.Im really excited about going and actually doing something for a cause I believe in, you know, be a part of history. I said before that it was a long story and this is the breifest of versions. Ill have to unpack it later, when the details surface.
Oh, yeah. and I found a fantastic place to live. Im moving in with one of my friends, who already has a place and needs a roommate, which is a big help towards my peace of mind. I think that it will be a good halfway point towards getting my own palce and I feel really good about it.
I spent most of the week hanging out with the kids from the English Department, and it was really fun. What drew us together was the English Department got a grant to fly in a writer who could speak to us. They flew in a woman named Diane Di Prima and she was a beatnick, revolutionary poet and author. She is like 70 now and I got to spend the week with her, sit by her, have coffee with the woman, and all the time I felt like I was in the presence of a guru. Like I needed to bring her lotus petals and cleanse my mind before I approached her. It wasnt, at all, because she had some sort of pretentious, famous vibe. It was because she seemed so wise. She had an aura and I felt really blessed to have spent time with her. So that was an incredible experience, and I felt a connection. She spoke against the war and the american media conception of terrorism, she leaned toward the supernatural (mentioning sylphs in her poetry) and spent time with several native american tribes. I could go on and I probably will again, as I shuffle through my Diane impressions.
The next incredible experience was that I won two scholarships through the English Department. One of them is for creative writing and the other is and academic scholarship that I can renew every year. This is fucking sweet. I feel validated in a way, like finally a sign that Im on the right path. How ever tortuos it has been to get here. There is an award ceremony on the 9th and my whole family wants to go of course, and why not right?
The last thing, but really the first thing is that I have become involved in a Womens Activism group on campus. The funny thing is that this is like the third time that I have been aproached by a student on campus, to start a womens rights group and this is the first time that someone has gotten it right. Before it was always, that would be good, you should do that. And anyone who knows me at all, knows that I am not the one who needs to be wholly responsible for some sort of group activity. I mean, I have leadership qualities, sure, but I also have many other quaities that dont really mesh with large amounts of responibility and punctuality. So, this one freind of mine in my writing group started it on her own and is the pres. or whatever and she kinda lit a fire under my ass to get involved, which I need at times. So, I am more of a behind the scenes support character, which is nice. Right now, I have organized members of our group to go on the MARAL buses to the March in Washington D.C., which will happen on April 25th. It is the biggest march in the history of womens rights activism in the United States. So, yeah, Im going and so are many of the people in the group and one of my closest friends, who though it sounded like a fantasic idea also. Which, I respect and was plesantly suprised.
So, yeah, this is alot and its great. As opposed to, its allot and Im drownding.Im really excited about going and actually doing something for a cause I believe in, you know, be a part of history. I said before that it was a long story and this is the breifest of versions. Ill have to unpack it later, when the details surface.
Oh, yeah. and I found a fantastic place to live. Im moving in with one of my friends, who already has a place and needs a roommate, which is a big help towards my peace of mind. I think that it will be a good halfway point towards getting my own palce and I feel really good about it.