thedamari

Little Solo Literary Adventure: Galesburg, Illinois

Up until this month, I had never taken a solo trip except to visit someone, usually a relative. I had developed a burning desire for a little adventure of my own, so I started looking around for something I could afford and do easily in a weekend. I did an internet search for literary landmarks in the Midwest because that’s how I roll. This is how I came to know about the Carl Sandburg Historic Site in Galesburg, Illinois, along with the Songbag Concerts they hold every month. One of my favorite poets! Perfect!

Small white clapboard house with wooden walkway in front and white picket fence. — Carl Sandburg birthplace. Humble beginnings.

Historic marker: "United for Libraries Literary Landmarks Register...Carl Sandburg Historic Site" — Carl Sandburg birthplace. Humble beginnings.

Musicians Sunshine Regiacorte and Casey Foubert performed the weekend I was there, sharing a mix of original pieces and covers of some folksy tunes. As a bonus, Regiacorte has a series of songs based on Emily Dickinson poems. Sandburg-Dickinson was the literary experience mashup I didn’t know I needed.

I recommend the experience even without the Emily part. Many of the exhibits have as much to do with Sandburg’s political activism as his writing accomplishments. In school, I was taught about the fog coming in on little cat feet. But he had fire in his belly to right the wrongs of worker exploitation and racial injustice.

See this example of a poem about child labor:

They Will Say

Of my city the worst that men will ever say is this:
You took little children away from the sun and the dew,
And the glimmers that played in the grass under the great sky,
And the reckless rain; you put them between walls
To work, broken and smothered, for bread and wages,
To eat dust in their throats and die empty-hearted
For a little handful of pay on a few Saturday nights.

And then of course, there are his poems about nature and songs in eggs, etc. So his work is multi-layered.

Other delights I found in Galesburg:

A brand spanking new public library building! I respect a community that supports its library.

Spiffy building with the words Galesburg Public Library on the outer wall. — Brand spankin’ new.

The Galesburg Railroad Museum, where I took a tour of restored rail cars led by a retired third-generation railroad worker. This man knew everything but everything about the history of railroads and how to present it in an engaging way.

An arboretum with a story walk.

Park with large sign reading Standish Park Arboretum — Gingko tree

Branches and leaves of a gingko tree — Gingko tree

For a town of about 30,000, there was a surprising amount to do. A good time was had by all one of me in the travel contingent.

My Favorite Olympics Event So Far

Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery on Pexels.com

I signed up for a TV subscription just to be able to watch Olympic events as they are happening rather than already-spoiled clips later on. I’ve enjoyed many of the big, highly-covered competitions. Simone Biles!

But I’ve had the most fun watching some of the action happening in sports that are a little more out on the edges of the limelight. Last Sunday, I managed to catch women’s street skateboarding. I was captivated, folks. Maybe because I dreamed of skateboarding as a teen, but never had a means of acquisition. Maybe because the young champions were so relatable to me. They were dressed for comfort and practicality. There was no focus on their hair or makeup. They were free to pursue the sport they love without the worry of losing points based on such non-athletic components, a path not always as open to women and girls as it should be.

Oh, and the amazing moves and courage. When they fell, it wasn’t onto padding. Watching someone jump and roll down a stair railing on a little wheeled board with no available handholds is a real edge-of-the-seat experience. These athletes were defying gravity. Equally thrilling was seeing a gold medal awarded to 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa of Japan, knowing I was seeing someone at the beginning of what is sure to be an amazing athletic career.

Seriously, watch these women go!

https://youtu.be/hk3cIXWGnmc?si=k5KbeiwW9mIKNfIX

Big props to the Olympics for expanding inclusion and opportunity.

Happenlance for Switch

My son is at it again. He released his game, Happenlance for PC a couple of years ago. I’m happy to report he’s working on a paying contract for someone else right now, and has also adapted his own game for Nintendo Switch, with updates and new features. I’m especially proud because I watched as he went through all of the steps to be approved by Nintendo, which is not easy, it turns out.

Anyway, the game is available now!

Of course, there’s a trailer:

On Today’s Walk: More Like a Rabbit Than a Squirrel

Brown cottontail rabbit holding very still in a yard.

I took a short walk around the neighborhood this morning before it got too hot. A number of rabbits were out tending to breakfast, as were many squirrels. Neither animal wants a human to get too close, but they behave in very different ways.

Rabbits tend to freeze in place. Squirrels, on the other hand, turn into frenzied random gymnastics generators in their efforts to escape. Maybe if I run this way! No, wait, turn around! Climb that! No wait, jump to the other thing. Don’t we all know people who act like one or the other?

I’m a rabbit. I can see the thought bubble above this bunny’s head: If I hold completely still and blend into the background maybe the human won’t see me and will leave me alone.

I feel you, little critter. I have been known to do the same thing. “She’s a shy one,” my mother would explain, as I once again hid behind her legs when and adult tried to interact. I don’t dislike other people, just feel overwhelmed by personal interactions sometimes. I guess I need to keep in mind that when people are acting out–like a squirrel–they might have the same feeling but express it differently.

Anyway, it was a pleasant and quiet outing with no human interaction on my part.

Hello Again / 32-year Dream Fulfilled

32 years ago, I was floundering for a career/life path. After a great deal of self-assessment, I came to an important insight. The public library helped raise me.

Sorry I was gone from blogging for so long. I was busy building a better working world and chasing my dreams. My workplace unionized in May, 2022. Bargaining of our first contract began in October of that year and didn’t conclude until 14 months later, this past December.

Almost to my own surprise, I ended up on the bargaining team. When you’re negotiating a first contract from scratch, that’s the equivalent of working a second job. And I already had a second job! In addition to the at-the-table negotiations, several hours every week were devoted to research and meetings and collaboration on the crafting of articles. All of this part was done outside of paid work time.

But I’m happy to report that our collective bargaining agreement, which took effect January 1, has made life a bunch better in many ways — money, safety, and fairness, among them. For the first time in decades, I’m earning a living wage. I have even been able to quit the side hustle I was working to make ends meet. Wowza! I went from the equivalent of three jobs to one.

But the dream I referenced in my heading isn’t about becoming a union thug. (Ha, ha. I’m one of the least intimidating people you’ll ever meet.) This achievement is a whole other thing, and I’ll drop a hint with some photos.

Stack of ten library and information science textbooks on a table. — A representative sample of some of the textbooks I read.

Several textbooks lying flat on a table, all related to library and information science — A representative sample of some of the textbooks I read.

Those who have been following me for a while might remember this post from late 2019, in which I shared details of my long journey finishing up my bachelor’s studies through self-directed learning. In one paragraph, I shared my ultimate goal:

“When my youngest was in kindergarten, I got a shelving job at the public library. Things were falling into place. This was the first step toward my new career. I would have an advantage when I got to library school, after finishing my four-year degree.“

Of course, it didn’t quite work out like that, and I had to create my own unique educational path. Once I finished my undergrad at “Nomadic Noesis University,” I had a new plan. I’d promised to help my oldest kid with his move from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, scheduled for the end of March, 2020. I began studying for the GRE, with the idea I would take the test after fulfilling those obligations to Firstborn. I knew it was a longish shot, but I hoped if I managed a stellar GRE score, I could present that along with my bachelor’s transcript when applying to library school and maybe have at least a prayer of a chance for admittance.

I sincerely apologize to the world’s population for jinxing everything and causing a global pandemic with my “plans.” GRE testing sites became an un-thing pretty quickly. Due to my age, my window for action had shrunk significantly. I realized my dream was over. Or was it?

Hadn’t I just finished homeschooling myself through the final part of an undergrad by finding online syllabi? After a brief period of moping, I put on my big girl britches and decided to do the same for my MLIS.

Here I am, four and 1/2 years on from my last graduation to announce that I did it. I am finished. 32 years ago, I was floundering for a career/life path. After a great deal of self-assessment, I came to an important insight. The public library helped raise me. It was my safe space where I learned essential lessons about the world. I am deeply in love with literature and equally so research. I believe in empowering people and leveling the playing field. What better fits these core principles than library work? I knew my calling.

I followed a long, uphill, circuitous path to get here, but I made it. I lack the symbols — the institution-bestowed degree and the official job title of “librarian.” But I have the real things – the librarian education and the librarian work as an outreach associate (official job title.) I’m even earning a living wage doing it.

Living the dream over here!

Thanksgiving Poem: I Made You a Plate

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com

“

Here’s a poem I wrote around three years ago, around Thanksgiving time. I hope everyone is having a day full of blessings.

I Made You a Plate

I made you a plate.
So much better than vibrating the air
With the voice sounds of
“I love you.”

I made you a plate.
I thought of you, specifically you.
I think of you even when
You are not in the room.

I made you a plate.
I saw you hungry and fed you.
I saw you unable to join and wanted
You not to be lonely.

I made you a plate.
Even if you can’t participate at the
Specified place and time
You are still in community.

I made you a plate.
I do not take you for granted
Nor the task you are doing
That keeps you from the feast.

I made you a plate.
In assembling the food, I recalled
Noticing your likes and dislikes.
I care for your comfort, your happiness.

I made you a plate.
I brought you a piece of love
From each person who cooked and shared.
You are not abandoned.

What greater love is there than this?
I had your back.
I made you a plate.

On Today’s Walk: More Neighborhood Art

Hey, look! I’m back. Soon, I’ll post about what has consumed my time the past several months, but today I want to show everyone some more little art around my neighborhood. I live in such a creative community, I find new pieces around the area all the time in my perambulations.

Old wooden cabinet, blue and green, with two plants, a fake skull topped by a fake spider, some pick-up sticks, and miniature people. — This is very near my house. The display changes occasionally.

hexagonal stepping stone with purple iris — Purple iris are in the running for my favorite flower, maybe because my mother loved them. Naturally, I like this stepping stone.

Water pipe sticking up from ground, painted like a lighthouse with blue and black stripes. — If you must have a pipe sticking up in your yard, might as well turn it into art.

Get outside for a while if you can. It’s a good place to be.

On Today’s Bike Ride: Achievement Unlocked

I finally did it.

Bicycle leaning against a massive bur oak tree. Blue sky. — Freida (my bike) at the Big Tree

I achieved my bicycling goal of making it all the way to the nearly 400-year-old bur oak, the one my husband visits every weekend. That’s about a 22-mile round trip. I’ve been working on building my cycling stamina, riding a little farther each outing. Today, I just kept going until I was there. The hubs was kind enough to slow his pace so I could keep up. Then I left for home earlier than he did.

I will admit the last three to four miles of the return trip were a struggle. I imagined myself the subject of one of those old times folk ballads about a person on an arduous journey who makes it through all sorts of hazards, only to drop dead within sight of their destination. But instead, I’m here at my keyboard, writing my own story.

A couple more photos:

Look up into the canopy of bur oak tree.

Sign about Williamson Bur Oak: Nearly 400 years old.

Happy trails!

Independence Poem and Playlist

I celebrate Independence Day complete with watching fireworks. Despite the major flaws of many of the country’s founders in overlooking the equality of certain races and genders, I believe in the core idea of people forming the government and everyone having a say. But I’m troubled by what passes for patriotism in some circles these days as well as the backward movement on human rights. Anyway, here’s a poem I wrote and a playlist I curated for the day.

Allegiance

The city filled with flags proclaims
its puffed up patriotism
the billowed colors clamoring
for adoration, for awe.

The crest of a cardinal catches
my eye instead, my loyalty pledged
to saving it, to a future of
scarlet feathers brightening trees.

A constellation of white wood
anemones on the creek’s bank
garners my allegiance, my hope
for beauty in the years to come.

The first blueberries of the year
bring with them a taste of wonder
and a wish for a republic
filled with enough fruit for all.

Tomatoes, roses, rainbow stripe,
great whales, clean snow, and polar bears,
blue morpho butterflies, clear skies –
all things for which I take a stand.

**
And my playlist, in large part celebrating those who have been historically excluded.

Happy Independence Day!

On Today’s Walk: A Cacophony of Birds

I was walking home from work this evening when I heard a cacophony, a racket, an avian hullabaloo. I tried not to think Hitchockian thoughts as I wondered what was up with those birds. So what is up with those birds?

“The Birds” or just some birds?