Posts tagged 2023
Rain, unreal and biblical

written by Gabriela Lena Frank

Yesterday, after almost a month of rain and floods here in California -- unreal and biblical -- Jeremy and I enjoyed several hours of very welcome sunshine. What struck us was how much life there was everywhere, a testament to how the earth wants to grow, to exist in health, to be a paradise even after the stresses humans have imposed on it.

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A Maxwell Tape

written by Gabriela Lena Frank

I hope everyone is doing well. I confess I have no great revelations today, so I thought I would share with you a discovery from a few months ago.  

Last Christmas, I received a beautiful gift from my parents. They were up in Boonville from Berkeley, enjoying our (long-labored) remodel of our central room that all of you know. Christmas was already a day or two past, and I didn't immediately follow when Mom gave me an old shoebox, nonchalant-like. The contents rattling around inside turned out to be Maxwell cassette tapes, the kind from the 70s with the extra boxy cases and orange stripes. When I opened the cases, my editor Dad's handwriting, familiar and precise, electrified me.

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Is it alright to make joyful art while the world burns?

written by Nicolàs Lell Benavides

As the parent of a toddler, I love watching him learn about the world. He seems to be happiest when he’s outside. He runs his hands through soil, holds up leaves to the sky, rolls in grass, and loves to eat fruit straight off the tree. He loves silly music, and finds trash and street cleaning days thrilling, running to the window to watch the trucks. He can’t speak in full sentences yet, but we understand that he has lots of questions, and the list of things he wants to know about is only growing. He loves to help and be helped, and he doesn’t have a concept for what it means to be talented, accomplished, or even proficient. He just asks, then tries.

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To lay down in a bed of yesteryear

written by Gabriela Lena Frank

Before all else, I want to thank you all for the wonderful meetings and Weekly Musings from the past few months. When I first started scheming up Composing Earth here at GLFCAM, I knew that its success would depend on the willingness of participants to engage personally and intellectually. Truthfully, the sum of all of your thoughts and sharing has far exceeded my hopes, and I’ve learned so much. Thank you for your commitment especially considering your busy lives.  

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