Reclaiming Myself

I've felt a strong pull lately in getting back to old interests. I've checked out several books about writing poetry. I want to start writing "morning pages" again. I was lamenting that I hadn't checked out Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg, when I looked at the bookshelf in my office and found them. (Most of my books are still in boxes, so that amazed me.)

I have wanted to get into photography for a long time. I'd like a DSLR, but that will take a significant amount of money to get one that's decent. However, I can still practice composition with my point-and-shoot camera. (For that matter, I do have a film SLR. If I can figure out where to get film, I could work with shutter speeds and such.)

I'm hoping that I can take classes in music history and group piano lessons at the college, but I haven't asked yet. I'd really like to take voice lessons again, but there's that money thing.

And I want to travel...but yes, money. (I really need to bust my butt so that I can afford these things.)

I am feeling a sense of urgency in that if I want to do certain things, I need to start them now. I hope that will keep me motivated.

First Writing Exercise

I've done better, but not too bad for a first draft when I haven't written in years.

Rain

Rain, running down my hair
Down my back
Under my skin
Flowing through my veins
Cold, damp, soggy
Circling around
I shiver.

It glosses over
The stubborn stains.
But removes a layer
Of film. I want to see
Everything magnified
Through a raindrop,
Prisms of light
Surrounding me.
I want to melt
Into primary colors
And paint my life
Into flowers.

DSLR Camera

I found a used Pentax DSLR that's weather-resistant for $129 (including a lens). it occurred to me that I never sold my old wedding ring and some gold earrings (I had a chain too, but I don't know what happened to it), so I'm going to sell them and buy a camera. Seems like a good exchange....