A Good Day to Read a Poem

 This scroll of ages paper tied with black yard and labeled "cursive" patiently waited to be read until this morning.

Joliet's first poet laureate Uxmar Torres distributed these poems during the tear down of the 2024 Ye Olde Mayfest at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet.

For the last several years, my family and I have battled one emergency after another. So I set the poem aside for a day where I could calm my mind and read with clarity.

I've finally had some pockets of time that felt "normal." So today, I untied the poem and read the words.

It was worth the wait.

May you discover good poetry today, in writings and in your life.

Happy Tuesday!

To Uplift and Entertain You

Good morning!

Chasing after myself a little bit this morning - and that was after waking up at 2:30 a.m. with a GREAT line I couldn't wait to use in a story.

Except I couldn't wake up enough to write it down. So I just kept repeating it to myself until I was certain I had it. And then I woke up a couple more times, still repeating it, to make sure I didn't forget it.

That led into a very interesting and creepy dream about a movie I was semi-watching/ semi living ('cuz that's how dream work) about a husband and wife who think the other is trying to kill them.

It did star Bruce Willis.

Bits of the dream remain. The great line however, is long gone.

Today I'm sharing some of the positive, non-covid news happening around my community, along with some of the blogs (not mine) that I've recently read and enjoyed.

Hope you enjoy them, too.

Stay safe, stay well, be blessed.


POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS


D. 202 in Plainfield supports class of 202 with yard signs 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/17/d-202-in-plainfield-supports-class-of-202-with-yard-signs/dcq0vm3/



Crest Hill teacher receives national educator award

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/12/crest-hill-teacher-receives-national-educator-award/a4ngmq9/


D. 202 students earn top prizes in Plainfield library short story contest 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/12/d-202-students-earn-top-prizes-in-plainfield-library-short-story-contest/am4bxmj/


Pets of the Week: May 18

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/17/pets-of-the-week-may-18/dkmo21k/


Bolingbrook church opens micro food pantry

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/12/bolingbrook-church-opens-micro-food-pantry/a1auqqu/


Will County announces first two Earth Day Passport winners

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/12/will-county-announces-first-two-earth-day-passport-winners/a7aw40o/


Romeoville HS senior named National Merit Scholarship Winner

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/15/romeoville-hs-senior-named-national-merit-scholarship-winner/aj81ryr/


Funds available to help income-eligible households with utility bills 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/13/funds-available-to-help-income-eligible-households-with-utility-bills/ahuxalq/


JCHS Alumni Spotlight: Guadalupe Medina, class of 2019 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/13/jchs-alumni-spotlight-guadalupe-medina-class-of-2019/aj2981h/


Teachers at D. 202 in Plainfield show support for graduating senior

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/17/teachers-at-d-202-in-plainfield-show-support-for-graduating-seniors/d4ael36/


BLOGS


WRITERS ARE READERS: "The Romance Writer's Phrase Book" 

https://www.writeonjoliet.com/post/writers-are-readers-the-romance-writer-s-phrase-book


"Whatever It May Be" by R. Michael Markley 

https://rmichaelmarkley.com/2020/04/28/whatever-it-may-be/?fbclid=IwAR1w6DFNs7rst5RWe04cQqUqjX0XVR_9Vy2aohbCIQAntgApmVqS3cQfWbg


"Thank You, Dr. Whoever You Are" by Kenneth Lee McGee

https://kennethleemcgee.com/thank-you-dr-whoever-you-are/


"Positively Sunrise" by Mauverneen Blevins

http://maureenblevins.blogspot.com/2020/04/positively-sunrise.html


"What A Publisher Can Offer (And What They Shouldn't Offer)" by James Pressler

http://www.writingandtheprocess.com/2020/05/what-publisher-can-offer-and-what-they.html?fbclid=IwAR3KKL9yPDS3QySHW_CDg-RceXLT-yctIaDEGFcrtCGm6jDMAVHYx6EI1es


"Placing Yourself In Your Story" by James Pressler

http://www.writingandtheprocess.com/2020/05/placing-yourself-in-your-story.html?fbclid=IwAR3IYYDgmn0YDejPGFDDDBol_T_4x_f_5b1Y7zTj5iReujgxpvMSCM2N_no


“I Don’t Want a Dead Bird!” By Ken McGee

https://kennethleemcgee.com/i-dont-want-a-dead-bird/


"Just because something happened doesn't mean it is automatically believed. Non-fiction isn't a stamp of approval."

http://www.writingandtheprocess.com/2020/05/amazing-stories-maybe-too-amazing.html?fbclid=IwAR01n9mbXXQTLX9zt3xDNcEn3oQlV9mdCBCteLITzW8MZXbHlmVEkmosYfo


"Positively Routine" by Mauverneen Blevins

http://maureenblevins.blogspot.com/2020/05/positively-routine.html

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Good Things Happening in the Community

First of all, I hope everyone is healthy and safe.

Second, I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Mine was a mixture of work, some editing projects, and a few hours on both Saturday and Sunday to work on fiction: The Phoenix on Saturday and Lycanthropic Summer on Sunday.

I'm waiting on one graphic to finish Phyllis' memoir and send a final proof copy to her family. I'm also editing a novel for a client and will begin editing a non-fiction book for a second client later this week.

Although it's important to keep up on the ever-changing pandemic (with two more notices way at the bottom of this post), it's also healthy and smart to step back from it, from time to time, too. So I do.

And even in the middle of a pandemic, great things are still happening in the community. Here are some of them from the last week.

I hope even one of them lifts up your day. Be blessed.



Free meals available in New Lenox for students, 1st responders, health care workers

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/03/free-meals-available-in-new-lenox-for-students-1st-responders-health-care-workers/alcn8dq/


Troy Cronin Elementary students delight in principal's continued morning announcements

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/03/troy-cronin-elementary-students-delight-in-principals-continued-morning-announcements/axfpn14/


Pets of the Week: April 6

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2020/04/02/74ffd672bd7c470ea27105e5b8d32132/index.xml


Pets of the Week: March 23

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/21/pets-of-the-week-march-23/dwla8f5/


Pets of the Week: March 30

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/23/pets-of-the-week-march-30/dhyy9wi/



Government officials hosted 'Manhattan Strong' parade

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/01/government-officials-hosted-manhattan-strong-parade/dcwh3rn/


Plainfield South HS teacher making masks for health care facilities 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/01/plainfield-south-hs-teacher-making-masks-for-health-care-facilities/azcctgi/


Plainfield East, South HS students take part in #accounting competition

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/27/plainfield-east-south-hs-students-take-part-in-accounting-competition/a4k6pi0/


Troy mathletes bring home gold

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/27/troy-mathletes-bring-home-gold/a5h5ep7/


Joliet students take home 2nd place at math competition 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/27/joliet-students-take-home-2nd-place-at-math-competition/a4by7tx/


D. 202 students received remote learning packets on Monday in Plainfield

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/30/d-202-students-received-remote-learning-packets-on-monday-in-plainfield/axzup4r/


Plainfield Fire Protection District receives grant

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/27/plainfield-fire-protection-district-receives-grant/afryvpk/


Manhattan resident’s snake photo snatches top prize in Forest Preserve District photo contest

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/21/manhattan-residents-snake-photo-snatches-top-prize-in-forest-preserve-district-photo-contest/aawtgqr/


Lights, sound and touch engage senses in Snoezelen room sensory room

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/19/lights-sound-and-touch-engage-senses-in-snoezelen-room/ae96gxl/


Plainfield students learn about complimentary colors

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/18/plainfield-students-learn-about-complimentary-colors/a4fo77u/

D. 202 in #Plainfield delivers meals to students' homes #studentmeals #foodprogram #coronavirus @d202schools @Dist202_Supt @PSD202CAPE
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/20/d-202-in-plainfield-delivers-meals-to-students-homes/atuants/


#Joliet West senior starts own business @JTHS_204
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/27/joliet-west-senior-starts-own-business/a7iqfbw/


Police dogs visit Frankfort school
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/02/19/police-dogs-visit-frankfort-school/atdeyjr/

2 #WillCounty nonprofts need your help @CathCharJoliet @TrinitySvcs https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/30/2-will-county-nonprofts-need-your-help/ajxusw/


DollarGeneral announces discount to medical, guardsmen and first responder communities 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/30/dollar-general-announces-discount-to-medical-guardsmen-and-first-responder-communities/ansmw6d/


Plainfield teacher supports homeless shelter through unique photography project

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/02/plainfield-teacher-supports-homeless-shelter-through-unique-photography-project/az46ljw/


Silver Cross Hospital in #NewLenox implements universal masking for all staff 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/02/silver-cross-hospital-in-new-lenox-implements-universal-masking-for-all-staff/az4cpwm/


Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox sees dramatic increase in COVID-19 patients 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/01/silver-cross-hospital-in-new-lenox-sees-dramatic-increase-in-covid-19-patients/az1wdrs/


Edward Cancer Center – Plainfield temporary closure 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/02/edward-cancer-center-plainfield-temporary-closure/ai16ciz/



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Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.