Go, Erin!

And yeah, Gar, the letter with Deb's fix reads very well.

poetry is

poetry is
the curve of your shoulder as you
sleeping
reach for me

it is the way
you speak to a child
who drops his gaze under the
crushing
unbearable weight he carries
silently
until he can finally
give it to you

poetry
is your voice
on the telephone
because i am too terrified
to speak
for myself

it is
the way you relax
into me in the morning
at peace and
content
before the day
comes rushing to break
us

i know no better
poem
than that which we write
stanza after stanza
with the pen
of our life

I feel all empowered. I replied online to the biggest local tv news station's editorial supporting the constitutional amendment on marriage. I got a reply back from the head of editorial (or at least his address) saying that while they disagreed with me they appreciated the reasoned tone of my response, and they might consider using some of my response if I'd give them my number and address for their records. The protective private person in me said, "That station's owned by the LDS church, you'd be on record, think twice," but then then the Last Man at the Barricades in me said, "Do you stand by your words? Yes? Then prove it."

I sent them the info. We'll see if I get mentioned and if anyone I know watches editorials. I'm kind of a-twitter. KSL may be a mouthpiece of the church, but their news staff is very well respected.

go you. very intrepid.

Hubby won't be pleased, he's of the "we're out-numbered, keep low and try to blend in" school of thought. But I'm prepared to defend my position. Besides, I'm a piss poor liar.

Liese, I loved that. It's very lovely.

A full flesh out of your Escape to L.A.?

Because I've found myself wondering about that. It shows up in drips and dabs in other essays, but I still want to know how you did it.

I think maybe there's not much to say about it. I made the decision very suddenly, packed, hired a mover, and went. Seriously, that's all there was to it. I couldn't even put together a drabble, because there's so little to say.

And you're a damned good writer. Your work is compelling, funny, wry and personal. It's a topic that's not covered well already, and you have a unique take on it. You already know that you've got a distinctive and entertaining voice. Your introspection and observation make this topic and your book both intensely personal and absolutely universal.

I marked this so I can go read it when I'm curled in a ball on couch beating the shit out of myself for being such a woeful hack. Imposter Syndrome, you know.

Thanks for this.

I think maybe there's not much to say about it. I made the decision very suddenly, packed, hired a mover, and went. Seriously, that's all there was to it. I couldn't even put together a drabble, because there's so little to say.

What was your last straw that made you decide to move? Why L.A.?

And how did your family and your non-Bronzer friends react?