The Mint Patch Monologue

Tag: writing

  • Late Blueberries, cupcakes, and Frankenstein

    I’m settling into the pace of October, finally. Picture me- arms outstretched, flat on my back under the peach tree, leaves slowly trickling down through the 3pm sunlight, nothing to do but eat blueberries and savor the season. That’s an altered truth, I have lots to do. The grass is cold, a nice contrast to the hot, illuminating sun. The fireball in the sky is such a mystery, how fortunate we are on planet Earth for its warmth, its light, and its perfect distance. An afternoon spent thinking about the universe is enough to occupy a busy mind. I imagine floating in space and feeling weightless, held gently in peaceful wisdom among ancient stardust; sounds delightful when the common noise of life gets too loud. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love reminds us that silent stillness is the true religion. How could anyone hear that guiding voice over the chaos and chatter of daily life? Are you familiar with this voice? The one that whispers, “You’re alright, keep trying.” The one that steadies you. Sometimes I hear it when I’m weaving through the trees on a woods trail, sometimes it rings me like bell when I’m least expecting it, reminding me to listen more often. I finished off the whole pint of blueberries, staring high into the sky while daydreaming of Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons. Our own moon, Luna, seems like it might be a nice place to visit. She is always watching us, her patterns are curious, and when I see her silver face among the blue sky in the afternoon I think… well hello there. She says to me “don’t forget, we are all stardust, and you are on a planet speeding though outer space- no need to sweat the small things.” She certainly brings to mind the big picture, the miracle that we are alive, and suggests simple pleasures like eating all of the blueberries and sometimes chocolate cupcakes too!

    A birthday calls for a homemade treat, and this month our nephew celebrated his 23rd lap around the sun. There is no such thing as making the right amount of cupcakes, and Chris followed that rule this week, too many is just enough. The other rules: butter instead of oil, milk instead of water, and always add an extra egg. He is a wizard at satisfying a sweet tooth, never skimps, always adds a thoughtful touch and takes his time to make things special. After the first frost of the season I’ll make my first request for his homemade hot chocolate; if there were a contest for best hot chocolate I would enter him in, with all my money down.  According to Chris there is only one way to eat a cupcake, you must first rip the cake in two and move the bottom half to the top, creating a cupcake sandwich. Smooth. I, on the other hand, prefer to make the big-bite-face, to risk icing up the nose… to make that mess. The universe says “don’t take life too seriously.”
     

    Onto my book of the month, a clever choice (or so I thought) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Another classic from the list, intended to enhance my ability to enjoy the long unfolding of an intricate story. I’m  3 quarters of the way through and nearly  heartbroken. What I thought would be a spooky thriller turned out to be one of the saddest tales I’ve ever known. Shame on that Frankenstein for letting his selfish experiment outweigh his humanity. I’m hoping for a justified ending; anyone caught this Halloween dressed in a green mask with neck bolts might just get a mouthful from me on the harshness of isolation and judgement, bless that monster’s heart.

    “The wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrod-den brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die- was but a type of me.”

    Humanity comes to mind as I reflect on the situation in this novel. The monster spent such time alone, in silent stillness that even a beast brought to life from madness without nurturing, without meaningful and mutual connection, still felt empathy and even wept for others’ misfortunes. None of us should ever take for granted a friendly ear, a neighborly gesture, or a warm invitation for conversation. And if you are missing those in your own life, I am here for you through this grand advance called the internet. I hope these posts keep you company during your harsh times and your cold nights, I hope you get a cupcake soon too. I do read my messages often, and will delightfully respond to you. Until next time, thank you for reading!

    Don’t forget to drop a line, I DO love to chat!

    justicesarah67@yahoo.com

  • Pinched about the Past

    Lately I’ve been nursing the sting of nostalgia. My mind wanders back to a classroom that doesn’t exist anymore, one with crayons and glue, shapes and colors. I wish to belly up against a glossy desk with curiosity for the day; to have no say in what I eat or where I go, to just be along for the ride. I want my imagination back, not the dreams of world peace but of dragons, ferries, caves. My ignorance bliss is forever gone as long as there are screens around. Going far away was easy because it was only to the end of the street, just out of view for a second. I miss the weightlessness of the past because in the present even the problems that aren’t mine still feel like mine. I wish to believe in everything again, how easy it was. The condition of being a grown up- that everything feels like waiting, but not for anything good. And because these are all acute injuries to the spirit, I’ve chosen to do nothing but embrace what is true about my life now. What you resist will always persist, and so I’m giving myself a dose of acceptance this week and raising a toast to time and change. It is a comfort to know that Gladys would have been so understanding, in Stillmeadow Calendar she writes… “One morning I go out to pick wild asters and suddenly it is September at Stillmeadow. I think it is the smell of the air, like the wild grapes and windfall apples. I know fall is here, although the world is still green with summer. …I feel an urgency to gather in all the loveliness of the past blazing days and star-cool nights and keep them forever.” If only I would have known about growing up then, I would have gathered up so much to bring along for the life ride. I know now there lives a moment in time that I kicked my green soccer ball into the invisible goal against the neighbor’s fence for the very last time.

    If you read my past posts you would know about the pencil season and my habit for picking up pencils around the school grounds on my walks. This is been a slow year, and I grew fearful that perhaps kids gave up pencils all together for digital scribbles. My walk on Thursday proved otherwise because not only did I find 3 pencils, but two of them were colored pencils -one orange and one purple. Secondary colors. It occurred to me that these little hints were there for me on purpose, to remind me that I am on the secondary season of my life. Where I had intended on making a left, seeing the pencils lead me to walking in the direction of a little neighborhood pond, and so I took heed to what the universe was telling me. As I walked and reflected on taking life a little too serious sometimes, I was reminded that in spite of how short our lives are, I still have so much ahead of me.

    Decades from now I may feel the same sting of nostalgia, but for my little house on Blackburn Avenue, taking walks around the middle school, making soups and spending time with my little angel poodle. Maybe to treat my current aches I will gather up some loveliness from these days to carry with me forever.

    Alongside of my toast to time and change, I also say cheers to the last calendar day of summer. It was 88 degrees here today, we had a very hot and bright weekend, perhaps one of the last hot weekends of the year.

    If you find your heart pierced with nostalgia I suggest you take yourself out for ice cream, it might be your last until the warm days return.

    Thank you for reading and as always, drop me a line because I DO LOVE to chat!

    justicesarah67@yahoo.com