Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Eat them in joy


Dandelion Greens

They will be bitter but rich in iron--
your spring tonic, your antidote to sleep.
Eat them because they are good for you.
Eat them in joy, for the earth revives.
Eat them in remembrance of your grandmother,
who raised ten children on them. Think
of all the dandelions they picked for her,
the countless downy seeds their laughter spread.

This is the life we believe in--
the saw-toothed blades, the lavish, common flowers.

-Jane Flanders



I'm going to be very busy for the next few weeks. My time as an MFA student (Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing) is coming to an end. I graduate December 19th! Woo hoo! I will spend the time until then going to lectures, reading beautiful things, writing beautiful things in the company of beautiful, beautiful people. I deliver my senior lecture this Saturday morning bright and early. My topic is Anorexia in Poetry. I have a lot to say, a lot of great poems to analyze and dissect. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

With all of this going on, I probably won't be lurking around the blogosphere as often as usual. I'm hoping that my eating disorder does not make an appearance. She is not invited to my senior lecture, my senior reading, the graduation ceremony. I don't want to see her at all during this happy time. I should be proud of myself. I have worked hard and accomplished a lot in spite of her. She will not take that away from me.

The night before I graduate, my boyfriend booked a dinner reservation at my second favorite restaurant in Los Angeles-- Rustic Canyon. Mmm. Did I mention my eating disorder is not invited to that either? This is a time to celebrate, not a time to count calories. I'm having a glass of wine. I'm not worrying about anything. I'm going to breathe and relax.

I just hope I remember that when the time comes.

On a side note, I bought a little tiny miniature Christmas tree yesterday. It's alive! I grew up in a house that only had synthetic trees, so this is my first time ever having a real, live, sap covered Christmas tree. It isn't decorated yet, and it looks a little Charlie Brown, but I like the little guy. My cat likes it too.

Photobucket


Merry Christmas!

7 comments:

  1. CONGRATS ON GRADUATION!!!!!

    happy holidays as well.
    :)

    xoxo
    -Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations!! How exciting!

    NO, Ed is def. NOT invited! I hope you have a lot of fun - you deserve it.

    Merry Christmas! <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations! I graduate with my master's next year, and I'm already feeling like it is unreal.

    No, ED is definitely not welcome. Give him a big kick in the butt out the door.

    Enjoy this - it is once in a lifetime and deserve all the celebration possible.

    Merry Christmas!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congratulations!!! I'm glad that you are proud of yourself, that is an amazing accomplishment! If you feel your ED trying to make an appearance, re-read this post for inspiration. :-) Merry Christmas!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love greens.
    No, I LOVE greens. (0:

    Best of luck to you and your upcoming graduation...
    I'll pray for God to throw down some "bouncer" angels.
    You now, to keep out any uninvited guests.

    ~Missy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good luck and congratulations on your graduation!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on your MFA! What a great accomplishment. I love the fact that the ED is not invited. Way to take the reigns.

    Btw, love the cute little tree. I've been looking for one similar to this and have yet to find one.

    ReplyDelete