This feels like an arrival to your voice. There's an ease and comfort in the space you've made here. I don't mean that it was easy to write. Clearly you worked hard. Thanks.
Phil, that means a great deal especially since you've been reading since the beginning. I had more science in the piece. A good friend nicely told me that a lot of good stuff lands on the cutting room floor. So I'm sharing credit for the arrival to my voice. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for the recognition. my best, katharine
Katherine - this is so eloquent. This is poetry. The sensual rendering of memories; the connection between what we have and love with what we have taken (trees). It is just all wonderful - the whole piece.
I love so many things about this essay. Your grandmother, the way your senses responded to those early stories, and that your voice will now take up WNC as a focus. I look forward to all to come. I'm sure you know the song Tall Trees in Georgia (one of my deep favorites); in case not, here 'tis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMIbgyi00iA
Beautifully written. The memories of being in the library brought forth many memories for me as well. And that is so true about the power of scent memories. I love how you are claiming your truth and who you are as a writer and allowing yourself that transition space.
Susannah, thank you for your kind words. This exchange feels like the magic of Substack: we don’t know each but we read each other. Just such an honor to be in this space. So glad that you found me.🌱
Katherine, I stumbled upon your writing just a few weeks ago. This letter is beautiful and I can only share what it made me feel. Peace and conviction. I especially enjoyed listening to you read it. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you Brian. I wondered how you found my writing. Then I noticed your Substack 'reads'. We have so much overlap: Elena, Yung, David, Sulkeika, and always Padraig!
So evocative of so much. I experienced a delightful journey through the four levels of Jean Houston's social artistry: the sensory - the smells, the sights; the psychological - the memories, the feelings; the mythic - the story emergent of crisis and responsibility; and the unitive - kinship with the natural world in the here and in the now. Gratitude for the sharing of your beautiful gifts.
Robertson, thank you so much. Yes, the story emergent of crisis and responsibility. I am grateful to live in this place where we are all doing our part. We are fortunate.🌱
How blessed you are to live in WNC. I have been there enough times to know the beauty you speak of. I have a memory of staying in a B&B across the street from a coffee house and being a short walk to downtown Black Mountain. Loved every minute of it.
I am blessed. Seventeen years ago we sold our house in Rhode Island, put everything in storage, got a 21' camper trailer, and headed south, with four Dachshunds, thinking we would land outside Wilmington. But Black Mountain stole my heart.🩷
I’m so grateful I stumbled upon your Substack. This is beautifully written, and the description of smell and how powerful it really is, probably one of the most powerful of all our senses. And a beautiful picture of the billion year old mountains. I hope the Bears don’t eat too much human garbage. They are much better than that.
I've found this piece late, but I am so glad I did--this is nature and sensory writing at its best. As a parent, I was struck by this: "They teach me to be polite, pay attention, make an effort, and look things up." Such a simple, direct reminder of how to raise solid people. I'm so glad I'm here.
My mother is in her 90's and very much in a stage of reviewing her life. Thank you for your comment which I sent on to her. Your recognition of that sentence was a lovely gift to give her. She wrote back asking, "who is this woman?"
That was my first book, 2012. I'm still proud of it for all that it represents even though I'd revise almost all those poems, now! Are you following @SarahFay, Writers at Work? So much to learn about Substack, but we're in it together.
Even our drought-tolerant trees out west are heat stressed, as are the people. It's a challenge to remain in relationship with the ecosystem and with each other. Thank you for the gentle reminder to go outside...to call on lived experience.
Holly, that's what I finally came to realize...I could write about places all around the world, but here is where the practice, the lessons, and the teachers are. Bears, copperheads, rabbits, mountain laurel, pine trees, kudzu...all included! See you soon.🤍
YES. An arrival of your voice, an intimate invitation into your childhood, your memory bank, your treasure chest, your inspiration. Thank you.
Kin!! There are many reasons I listed your collection of poems ~ Softening Time in the Source Notes. Two that float to the top::
The last line of your Introduction, "May these pieces inspire your own Softening Time.".
AND your poem "library" which cracked me open and asked for my voice. The sisterhood of writing and reading and practicing. Thank you.
Katherine,
This feels like an arrival to your voice. There's an ease and comfort in the space you've made here. I don't mean that it was easy to write. Clearly you worked hard. Thanks.
Phil
Phil, that means a great deal especially since you've been reading since the beginning. I had more science in the piece. A good friend nicely told me that a lot of good stuff lands on the cutting room floor. So I'm sharing credit for the arrival to my voice. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for the recognition. my best, katharine
Katherine - this is so eloquent. This is poetry. The sensual rendering of memories; the connection between what we have and love with what we have taken (trees). It is just all wonderful - the whole piece.
Thank you!
Carol
Carol, I'm putting this over my writing desk. Any time I get discouraged, your words will bring me back to the practice. So many thank yous! ❤️
I love so many things about this essay. Your grandmother, the way your senses responded to those early stories, and that your voice will now take up WNC as a focus. I look forward to all to come. I'm sure you know the song Tall Trees in Georgia (one of my deep favorites); in case not, here 'tis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMIbgyi00iA
Gosh, your first line is what every writer hopes for! Thank you. Truly.
I only wish I was able to get the four photos up. Will try with a better wi-fi connection.
I did not know that Eva Cassidy played/recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. Thank you for introducing me!
I look forward to your Substack.🌱
Thank you!
Beautifully written. The memories of being in the library brought forth many memories for me as well. And that is so true about the power of scent memories. I love how you are claiming your truth and who you are as a writer and allowing yourself that transition space.
Susannah, thank you for your kind words. This exchange feels like the magic of Substack: we don’t know each but we read each other. Just such an honor to be in this space. So glad that you found me.🌱
Thank you, Katherine. Yes, Substack is one of those places where we find those who resonate with our voice. And thank you for subscribing.
Katherine, I stumbled upon your writing just a few weeks ago. This letter is beautiful and I can only share what it made me feel. Peace and conviction. I especially enjoyed listening to you read it. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you Brian. I wondered how you found my writing. Then I noticed your Substack 'reads'. We have so much overlap: Elena, Yung, David, Sulkeika, and always Padraig!
I'm so glad you are here. 🌱
So evocative of so much. I experienced a delightful journey through the four levels of Jean Houston's social artistry: the sensory - the smells, the sights; the psychological - the memories, the feelings; the mythic - the story emergent of crisis and responsibility; and the unitive - kinship with the natural world in the here and in the now. Gratitude for the sharing of your beautiful gifts.
Robertson, thank you so much. Yes, the story emergent of crisis and responsibility. I am grateful to live in this place where we are all doing our part. We are fortunate.🌱
Yrs. As others have noted - an arrival to your voice! 🙏
You helped.
Big time.🌱
Looking forward to this new phase of your writing.
Love hearing from you, Jack.
Thanks, always.
How blessed you are to live in WNC. I have been there enough times to know the beauty you speak of. I have a memory of staying in a B&B across the street from a coffee house and being a short walk to downtown Black Mountain. Loved every minute of it.
Linda, I can picture where you were.
I am blessed. Seventeen years ago we sold our house in Rhode Island, put everything in storage, got a 21' camper trailer, and headed south, with four Dachshunds, thinking we would land outside Wilmington. But Black Mountain stole my heart.🩷
Thank you for sharing this!! You landed well!
I’m so grateful I stumbled upon your Substack. This is beautifully written, and the description of smell and how powerful it really is, probably one of the most powerful of all our senses. And a beautiful picture of the billion year old mountains. I hope the Bears don’t eat too much human garbage. They are much better than that.
Thank you, Lara.
Wishing you well with your great Substack!!🌱
I've found this piece late, but I am so glad I did--this is nature and sensory writing at its best. As a parent, I was struck by this: "They teach me to be polite, pay attention, make an effort, and look things up." Such a simple, direct reminder of how to raise solid people. I'm so glad I'm here.
Isabel, thank you. I'm so glad you are here!
My mother is in her 90's and very much in a stage of reviewing her life. Thank you for your comment which I sent on to her. Your recognition of that sentence was a lovely gift to give her. She wrote back asking, "who is this woman?"
"A great writer on Substack" was my reply.
Katherine: I'm looking forward to your next post, especially now that I've read a bit more of previous newsletters. See you here, soon!
And I've been enjoying your posts. As I keep saying, you teach me through your work and your actions.
Your book, When East Was North, just arrived!
And thank you for mentioning Marion Roach Smith regarding your memoir writing. I'm listening to her Memoir Project.🌱
That was my first book, 2012. I'm still proud of it for all that it represents even though I'd revise almost all those poems, now! Are you following @SarahFay, Writers at Work? So much to learn about Substack, but we're in it together.
Even our drought-tolerant trees out west are heat stressed, as are the people. It's a challenge to remain in relationship with the ecosystem and with each other. Thank you for the gentle reminder to go outside...to call on lived experience.
Thank you, Andi. 🌱
Seconding the arrival of a voice as the summation on this great post, Katharine
Thanks, Kevin. Big thanks for the suggestion that made the essay become something. 🌱
I could smell the trees and the scents of the WNC mountains as I read your words! Such a remarkable place to call home!!
Holly, that's what I finally came to realize...I could write about places all around the world, but here is where the practice, the lessons, and the teachers are. Bears, copperheads, rabbits, mountain laurel, pine trees, kudzu...all included! See you soon.🤍