A New Chapter

                  As a bright, open-minded, open-hearted woman of the Deep South, I've long accepted that mine may

                  always prove to be blackberry dreams: Those wonderful plans, rising from the pits of personal chaos, that create

                  multitudes of dainty, faintly fragrant blooms tempered by that final bitter-cold cold-snap that turns on a dime into the

                  unrelenting months of blistering heat, which may, in fact, provide a bumper crop of the biggest, plumpest fruit, but more

                  often as not, no matter how black the berry or sweet the juice, leave those damn seeds between my teeth for days that

                  make me wonder more than once, "Was it really worth it?"

                  And so begins the somewhat autobiographical novel (there’s still more fiction than truth in it) I’m slowly working on. Because all of you know me, and have been a part of at least one of the above-mentioned blackberry dreams, I don’t really have to explain what I mean, do I? But, for that same reason, I thought I would write and let you know the new chapter that begins unfolding today. So many of you have been my teachers and mentors, job references and resources, spirit-builders and financial saints over the last hard months (which relentlessly turned into years, despite all my efforts to stop that forced march dead in its tracks). You have been dear friends over the years or new acquaintances in the becoming stage, all with welcoming ears and open hearts, sage advice, friendly warnings, and laughter to share… along with the occasional hot cup of strong black coffee, cup of fragrant tea, just the lingering over an occasional glass of red wine with good conversation, or sometimes, setting an opened fifth of bourbon between the two of us… all depending on the depth of discussion. (I was quite pleased when Rosemary assured me that there would be plenty of wild turkeys on her farm and Wild Turkey in the bottle when I finally get to visit her!)

            Today I begin a stint as an Americorps volunteer within the Birmingham City Schools with a program serving homeless students called Birmingham READS. I’m looking forward to the challenge: I haven’t been a part of formal education in over twenty years… I’m sure a lot has changed since my tenure as a teacher in the Dallas Independent School District! “Why this, instead of a real job?” some of you may ask. “Why, after working so hard to complete her dissertation and her degree, isn’t she looking for real work?” Many, many reasons, with these being just a few:

·      I have been unsuccessful in finding a job here in the Huntsville area. As I’ve said many times: Huntsville is home, but Huntsville has never proven kind when looking for a job.

·      I have been unsuccessful in finding an online position, whether in education or any other field.

·      I believe I need to remain in this area to continue to live with Mamma. (Even if it means staying in Birmingham some nights and driving to and from Hazel Green other times… and then there’s always my friends in Tuscaloosa if the weather forces me to head a bit southwest, right Randy? I know you will at least put me in touch with someone to spend the night with… And staying with Sarah occasionally will cut off about forty-five minutes of the drive: So I’ll just embrace the gypsy in my soul and be open to any and all possibilities!)

·      I’ve always wanted to join Americorps (or VISTA in the olden days) AND/OR the Peace Corps as a volunteer: I will finally get to check this off as having completed another lifelong goal.

·      Any ‘job’ that combines service to others and reading has to be well worth the effort, don’t y’all think?

            Mamma is fine and healthy, but I don’t think she needs to live alone. She is becoming more forgetful and often has to be prodded to eat. She still takes care of herself, takes her medicine as prescribed, pays her bills, enjoys going to church and eating out with her friends, but needs reminders sometimes. She is about ready to give up driving… although some of this may all have to do with it being cold and staying dark so long during the winter months: We will see just what Spring may bring!

            I got to use the end of my frequent flyer miles to visit Allie for Christmas, spending two weeks in New York with her and her dog, Cohen, and finally on my last day there, meeting her roommate, Liz. The best part of the trip was seeing the professional she has become in her chosen field: After an undergrad degree from UA and a master’s from New College in International Affairs, she finished her second master’s in Creative/Entertainment Writing and has started her own production company, Olive Juice Films. She shares time at her office in Manhattan and at home, working from a corner in the living room. I’m excited because she has put in a proposal to do a series of short films on current Alabama social justice issues that is a part of the volunteer work I do with the Interfaith Mission Service through the church, Trinity UMC. She and her friend and cinematographer, Mike, would spend two weeks in Alabama in late March crisscrossing the state interviewing and filming experts on the different issues, then return home to Brooklyn with the footage for editing. This would be a good opportunity for both Olive Juice Films staff to work on a project near and dear to their hearts, as well as IMS to get a quality product that will aid them in spreading their messages: Now we just have to find the bare-bones funding of $10,000 to complete the project!

Besides the work I’m doing mentioned above, I am also involved in JustFaith: a thirty-week course in discovering justice for the poor, neglected, and ignored people of our own country and throughout the world. I participated last year in a group sponsored by Latham UMC and this year in the one at Trinity UMC. I highly recommend this course to all: It a good way to learn more about yourself, the needs of others, and how best you might help meet other peoples’ needs. It encourages all of us to take steps past charity, which is needed and helpful, to begin initiating the changes required to alleviate the problems that create those needs salved by charity… It is sobering to realize just how blessed each of us are and humbling to take to heart that we are all God’s children and we should love each other as true brothers and sisters.

I also had the chance to do a run-through of the curriculum on Encouraging Women’s Creative Confidence that I produced as part of my paper: I appreciate the participation of all the women that were a part of the sessions. This has allowed me to evaluate and tighten the curriculum, with the hopes that I will be able to present it as a workshop again sometimes soon. This helped jumpstart my own personal creativity a bit, I think: I am writing more now, with several different projects started and well on their way, and some others that are just glimmers of hope at present. My research encouraged me to try a couple of new creative outlets, which I have enjoyed: However, I have also learned that collaborating with someone on a creative project doesn’t always go as smoothly… and surely not as quickly… as I once thought: Someday my collaboration will be complete and all of you that participated in any way in my project will receive physical proof that encouraging women to be creative can actually result in a completed project; however, until then, you’ll just have to wait, believing me that the process of completion requires quite a lot of creativity in itself!

Besides the above, life has been a bit boring… especially for a body whose soul longs for adventure! But, as I said… I’m beginning a new chapter of my life: We’ll see what escapades and opportunities are waiting for me just around the corner, or at least those I’ll find heading south on I65!

Wishing each of you the best in health and happiness,

Debbie