It took me about a week to pull the trigger. All week, I have wanted to eat at the Pizza Hut lunch buffet. Not because I particularly like it, in all of its greasy, over-salted glory; but because I remembered being a kid and thinking it was the greatest treat on earth. I was feeling nostalgic. Read more…
131 posts by deb
Growing up, the maternal side of my family was evangelical, fundamental Baptist and the paternal side of my family was Roman Catholic. So, to say I have guilt and debt embedded in my DNA is an understatement.
My parents, who were very young, were doing their best to protect their daughters from evil: namely, sex, drugs, rock and roll and, you know, the fiery burning pits of hell. I don’t blame them for having our butts in the church seats 4 times a week. Organized religion is a terrifying, responsibility-laden way to bring up children.
In a moment of frustration, she smiles a winning smile and puts her arms around a teen with Down’s Syndrome.
He cheerfully discusses rodeo days with a 90 year old man with Alzheimer’s.
She shows up every day to teach the kindergarteners in one of the poorest school districts in New Mexico.
He grins and says he can’t believe he gets paid to drive a fire engine.
She rescues and trains donkeys, sacrificing her own personal financial comfort.
He risks his life multiple times a week on the night shift as a cop in the war zone in Albuquerque.
She works on Sundays to help victims of sexual abuse or kids who have lost a parent.
He works countless hours to take care of his extended family’s financial needs.
She believes art heals and and makes you grow and commutes to Wyoming to make sure kids believe the same.
She inspires thousands to get off the couch, pick up a barbell and win at life with her writing.
In just 5 minutes, I thought of 10 heroes of whom I have mad respect; heroes who will never get any press because it’s only sexy to report what’s bad, what’s wrong. I could probably think of a hundred more without much effort.
Who is your hero? Do they know you think so?
Dear Facebook friends ~
Do you want to know how I feel about your posts?
They make me seethingly jealous.
They lift my spirits.
They infuriate me. Read more…
I call myself a Teacher
but today,
the horse called me
Observer.
~~
It said, stand back.
Watch how I gather
unruly energy
and place it,
quiet, but white hot
in their bellies.
~~
Watch how I pluck
unintelligible words from the air
and make them clear.
~~
Opaque hearts,
now transparent.
Inscrutable eyes,
open.
~~
Observe, teacher,
how I take the shy
the loner
the heartbroken
the sad
and lean into them –
filling the dark holes,
demanding presence.
~~
Making them forget for a moment
their cuts
their violence
their hunger.
~~
And so, today, I am not a teacher.
Like Amos,
“I am not a prophet,
nor am I the son of a prophet,
but I am a herdsman,
plucking wild figs.”
~~
I’m gathering their stories.
Hold out your hand -
I’m giving them to you.
Hard lines, curves.
Circles bringing you
back around,
spiraling in and out
of the heart.
Broken pieces
hidden under strength,
color peeking from
behind black and white
and black oozing
from the inner sanctuary.
And abstraction,
An Actuality –
housed in the same body.
Mindful
distracted
Holding on
looking away.
Shapes and dribbles
held up by borders
of another’s design
struggling to break
Free.
Voice lodged in the throat
head down
bent low
walking forward
Bridges in and out of
the heart
Leading to here
and to heaven
and to hell.
________________________________________
**inspired by the abstract expressionist painting “Woman” by Judith Godwin – 1954.
I’m going to say something distinctly un-American here.
I don’t think we always have to do our best.
Now, before you ship me off to live with the French, let me explain.
When you pick up a sword; I will pick up a plowshare.
When you speak with a bullhorn; I will speak with a whisper.
When you express yourself with a gun; I will express myself with my words.
When you bully; I will protect.
When you intimidate; I will stand with the strength of gentleness and resist you.
When you seek power; I will seek service.
When you breed intolerance; I will create unity.
When you feed on fear; I will provide assurance.
Where you sow suspicion; I will grow trust.
You can raise your voice; I will raise my argument.
How do you know Jennifer Woodmansee?
I met her at Crossfit and decided on the day I met her that she was going to be my friend. It took some convincing and stalking, but she finally agreed to give me a trial run. That was 4 years ago. As long as I don’t violate the restraining order, we can remain friends.
What are her best qualities?
Her warmth,
Her eye color,
Her stubborn insistence on showing up on one’s doorstep when they’re sad and have told they don’t want her there,
Her ability to be in the moment,
Her laughter that sounds kind of like drunk bubbles,
Her hugs,
Her science…ness…ity,
Her ability to forgive,
and of course we can all agree, her butt, which is fantastic.
What are her biggest accomplishments?
Easy. Caden and Blaine.
What is your fondest memory of her?
Spending a few days together on a road trip to Minnesota in which Dr. Ackerman (<3) was finally going to cure her of her annoying habit of dying. My favorite parts were sitting around in comfortable, companionable silence and the side road trips in which we ate ungodly amounts of candy corn.
If Jen were an animal, what would it be?
A cat. Snuggly one minute, swishing her tail and scratching your eyes out the next. Hard to catch and even harder to get rid of once you feed it.
If she were a mythical creature?
Mermaid.
If she were an Olympic sport?
Curling. Cool, in an awkward, awkward way.
If she were a superhero?
She-Hulk
Team role in a zombie apocalypse?
Food supplies coordinator and bossing everyone around.
What’s her secret superpower?
Mind reading; it’s actually creepy. She also makes a mean elk boti-saag.
Favorite funny quote that reminds you of Jen?
“I love you like I love the smell of horse sweat. Just the thought calms me and makes me happy. Which most people find weird and repulsive but I think it’s the greatest thing on Earth.” – jaydubb
Favorite sappy quote that reminds you of Jen?
“So everyday I was surrounded by the beautiful calling forth the ideas of God, one of which was you.” – Mary Oliver
