Sat 23 May, 2009
My office chair, kindly holding a few things for me
Okay, so I’ve had four readings, and all of them were wonderful. The Tattered Cover/Colfax one was extremely well-attended, which i attribute to the fact that my sister and mother collectively know every living being in East Denver, and they were all there. But, gosh. My senior prom date was there (that’d be you, Steve Epstein), the parents of all three of my high school best girlfriends were there, my very own dear sister Greta flew in from San Francisco. It was fantastic! It was pretty much standing-room only, and I found to my extreme happiness that I LIKED answering questions about race, power, class — all things I thought I’d sprint away from as fast as my little pink feet could carry me.
After this incredible high came the days after — my sister flew back to SFO, the house looked like its been hit by a bomb (see picture), our beloved cat of 15 years died. God. That was so hard. He’s still laid out in state on our (secondary) kitchen table, on dry ice, surrounded by candles and flowers. This is what happens when you’re married to a Tibetan Buddhist, who believe it takes three days for the soul to get its bearings, pack up, and actually leave the body. It’s actually really nice to have Sandy around for a few more days. He was a sweet, courtly, adorable cat — definitely the most mellow member of our household — and I cry about him pretty much every other hour.
Then, two days ago, Stanford’s sister Arilda called to tell me Stan’s back in the hospital. He went on Tuesday, in an ambulance, with bad stomach pain. This dealt a death blow to any lingering exuberance I might have had about the early readings, and the fact that our book is being carried by COSTCO! and all the great feedback we’ve both gotten…
Gain and loss, the Buddhists say. The wheel never stops turning. And, as Stan so gently told the mare in his corral the first day I knew him: “I can’t save you.”
So I’m balanced, if walking around the house between my getting-all-gorgeous garden and exploded office and dead cat is balance, if hearing good news about the book and bad news about Stanford’s pain level is balance.
David Berman says:
Way 2 blog. Looking forward to reading more soon.
Evelyn says:
My friend, Edith, is going to try to zip up to Ft. Collins today to attend your reading. I’m so jealous! If I still lived in CO, I’d be there. Your book looks fascinating and I can hardly wait to receive my copy from Amazon.com.Edith got me hooked on the Wind River Res; I toured the Catholic mission there one summer and still send a little donation now and again as I can. Good luck with the book!
Melanie Mulhall says:
Lisa,
I haven’t made it to a reading yet, but I have read your book and it is a beauty in every way. As a professional editor and author, I love the beauty with which you have crafted it. As someone who navigates through the shamanic world and has spent a fair amount of time in sweat lodge, I love the beauty and impeccability with which you have represented these sacred practices. As someone a bit new to work with horses (but learning, thanks to Melisa Pearce at Touched by a Horse and some of the work we have done together, including a workshop on shamanic writing I cofacilitated with her), I love the beauty with which you have described the magical interaciton between humans and horses.
I recall a conversation with you at Gail Storey’s house last summer (or maybe even the summer before) and how keen I was to see the book you were describing. Yours is one book that has not simply lived up to the anticipation, it has exceeded it. Congratulations!
Melanie Mulhall
KrisBelucci says:
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
CrisBetewsky says:
Hello! Thanks for the post. It is really amazing! I will definitely share it with my friends.