#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Shell

Early up, and cool, almost chilled for the first time in days. The temperature has dropped out of the heat wave. I spend some time working before my walk. A longer walk, exploring. Listening to a wonderful New Yorker podcast interview with the musician Jason Isbell. (I am a big fan.) Then, a dip in the sea. It’s a different sea! Frigid water! My nose numbs and my limbs tingle and my chest burns. I don’t stay in for long. What a dramatic change in temperature! Still, I am very glad I go in. I am all tingly when I get out. A busy, wonderful day, top to bottom. I run my Ukrainian support group, which, as always, is very moving. I run my play lab—coming together so nicely. I read, tonight, in the open mic, my poem Misadventure with peas, published in Bracken. Back now, finishing up prep for tomorrow. I have an e-mail this morning from a journal saying that they had decided not to publish an image of mine that they liked. And asked about my process creating this photo. And said they assumed it wasn’t available any longer. I was kind of bothered, because it seemed strange to me that they were rejecting an image they loved and asking me about it anyway. I decided to just be pleasant and respond by telling them about the image, and saying it was available. So, he wrote right back and said he definitely wants if for their next issue. It’s a favorite of mine. I’m happy it has found this home. I had fun, after lunch, with another walk and finding pictures by the sea.