Wed. April 1, 2026: Literal and Metaphorical Stormy Weather
image courtesy of Ingo Jakubke from Pixabay Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Full Moon
April Fool’s Day
Rainy and warm
New month midweek. That always feels weird to me.
I would prefer our April Fools to be like the Tarot Fool, not the ones currently in power.
Yesterday did not begin the way I hoped. My mom felt terrible. I managed to get her an appointment in the health practice, but with a different doctor, and right up the street at the hospital, so off we went right away. The doctor was so kind, and did the most thorough exam my mom has had since we moved here. He really spent time with her. We ruled out lots of bad things, but aren’t sure what’s left, so we’re monitoring. She felt much better by the time we left. But most of the day was elder care, although she improved steadily all day, thank goodness.
On the way back, I picked up her prescription at the pharmacy and then nipped into Big Y to pick up a few things.
By the time we got home and up the stairs, it was time for brunch (since we left before breakfast). I scrambled some eggs and made toast, and that was that.
A submission call landed on my desk for a short story due that day. I looked through what I had to see if anything fit the guidelines, and I had something. Yay, me. All I had to do was write the cover letter and pop it out. Because I was in no shape to start work on something new after the stressful morning.
I also closed out one of the contest categories, submitting my winner/finalist list and the winner’s review. I’m close to closing out the second category. I should be able to do it this weekend. The third category is much bigger, and will take me longer to finish, but I have until early May, so I’m okay.
I plowed through a couple of hundred emails, and set up April’s content calendar.
I was delighted to learn that my short comedy, “Dawn and Dorothy in the Afterlife” about Dawn Powell and Dorothy Parker stuck together for eternity in drunken luncheons, will get a staged reading at the LAVA Center in Greenfield in June. This is my second play with them, and I had such a wonderful experience last year. It will be such fun!
That was a nice uplift to the day.
I cooked a nice chicken and vegetable stew. I tossed a handful of currants in near the end, and that was an excellent choice. After the meal, I sat out on the porch reading WRITERS ON WRITING VOL. II, essays that originally appeared in the New York Times. My copies of both volumes are in storage, and I wanted to re-read them, so I ordered them from the library.
Diane Ackerman’s essay particularly delighted me, the way she uses language so beautifully. I ordered both of her books mentioned in the essay, one prose, one poetry.
I enjoyed the other essays I’ve read (re-read) so far, too, but that, in particular, stayed with me the most.
Synchronicity –there’s an essay from Michael Holyrod in there, and his huge Shaw biography is on my reading list (re-read, I’ve read it before) as background for the May Morris play.
We had a cracking good thunderstorm at night, with lightning. We turned out the lamps and watched it roll past through the windows. The lightning looked like serpents snaking across the sky.
The cats weren’t bothered at all, although Tessa was fascinated.
Slept okay. My mom seems a little better this morning. I have to get back on track with the work today, since yesterday was somewhat derailed. Tessa and Bea are scampering around, playing and having fun, which is great.
Have a good one!
#books #essays #family #freelance #health #medical #playwrighting #poetry #writing