Ah, September, where have you been?

It's been mighty warm in these here parts for the last several weeks, but finally in the 3rd week of Septmember we're enjoying some cooler temperatures again at night. The feeling of late summer as it manifests in New York and New England isn't quite the same here, but I can still feel the earth beneath my feet settling down, giving up the last of the harvest, preparing to rest for awhile. It was two years ago this month that I came to visit L.A. for the first time and decided I needed to live here. What an amazing life!

School has begun, and I find myself teaching a section of World Literature to high school sophomore girls as well as providing admin. support to the principal. I love working and teaching in a Catholic school for all the reasons you would expect, but I also have to say it has brought to the surface some of my own sensitivities that are being healed in the Light of Christ. In His great economy, nothing is wasted!

I spent last weekend on retreat with the Sisters of Notre Dame at their "mother ship" in Thousand Oaks. The retreat was more of a workshop kind of thing with several sessions, all about apostolic religious life. Examining the aspects of active religious life, I reaffirmed two things: a) I have the utmost respect, admiration and prayerful support for those sisters, and b) I most clearly feel the call to contemplative life. Every step of the way, my vocation is being revealed to me in more clarity, taking deeper root.

Spaz in N.Y., Fall of 2011

In other news, I am sad to report that Spaz the Cat has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart, which
means, essentially, that she will not have as long a life as we would've loved. I give her medicine every day (yay for Pill Pockets!), and I check her respiration every day for any signs of congestive heart failure. So far, she is doing well. However, there is more change coming for Spaz, and for me, when my roommate moves out, which means Elliott will be moving, too.

I am in the process of searching for a new roommate, mainly by word of mouth, so we'll see how things pan out. Once again, I feel and know the hand of God in this process. As my dear roommate Sarah caught me in free fall when I moved to L.A. feeling pretty beat up by life, I hope to provide a safe and nurturing space for someone else who needs it. Our good God always provides!

Oh, lest I forget, a wondrous thing from August - I got to meet Mr. Ted Neeley at the kick-off for the 40th anniversary of Jesus Christ Superstar. It was also my first time at the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (though the event wasn't in the main theatre but rather one of the smaller theaters connected to it). Mr. Neeley was warm and lovely, spending time with every single one of the hundreds of people who attended. A magical night!

Ted Neeley and me after 40th Anniversary Screening of Jesus Christ Superstar in Hollywood

One final note - I have re-established contact with the folks at Powys Media after a very unnerving radio silence. Life being what it is, and those folks doing the work as a passion project, everything had ground to a halt while personal matters took precedence for them. However, Black Doves is still on track in a final editing phase and will hopefully be out by year end. I'm nervous about the "polish edit" because I know sometimes these things come in more heavy-handed than a writer likes, but at this point I'll just be happy to have the thing out there. Whether or not people will enjoy it is another issue, but I'm just going one step at a time...


Images from:

http://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/gardening/jump-ahead-to-aas-names-two-flower-winners-for-late/article_0c08555a-3393-5344-8fe7-26f8441a5b33.html

http://www.buffalo-niagaragardening.com/2013/09/10/cornell-developed-new-varieties-apples/