Revelry Reverie

Has a book changed your life? Don’t ask me who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of all the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life. Giorgos Seferis Quite seriously, when I re-read books I read years ago, I see how I’ve pulled phrased, changed my thinking, or seen new things…

What is the most memorable gift you have received? This is a loaded question! I’m going to answer in generalities. One of my love languages is gifts, but really only if they’re thoughtful. I can buy myself stuff, but to have someone put a bit of thought into something they think I’ll enjoy – however…

How far back in your family tree can you go? Oh my dad has spent literal years on this. Here’s a text from dad from 2020 (reproduced without permission): Henry, Eleanor, and Grant are 28th cousins to Prince William & Prince Harry’s kids. Common ancestors are Henry II Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. My dad…

Write a short story or poem about rain. I’m not much of a creative writer, so here’s a poem about rain by Philip Everwine. Toward evening, as the light failed and the pear tree at my window darkened, I put down my book and stood at the open door, the first raindrops gusting in the…

Why do you write? Writing is probably my primary form of communication now. I write more than I talk. At work, we communicate thoroughly, and a lot of that is written – either on internal P2s (blogs), or Slack, or Google docs, sheets, etc. At work, I write to communicate and to be transparent. We…

What brings you joy in life?

What is a treasure that’s been lost? I worry about skilled trades going away. Maybe some have been lost already (probably, right?) but there are a lot of culturally important skills that really only can be learned and understood by doing them, and if there’s no one left who knows how to do them, they…

What is the earliest memory you have? Walking on a wet day down the pavement near our house in Hale, running my hand along the brick wall, and stopping touching the wall when the holly bushes appear, because they’re prickly. I can remember going to school, and sitting on the floor of a classroom cross-legged.…

How are you brave? I don’t like this prompt – it’s begging the question. I have no idea if this is a true story, but I don’t think that matters. I think what does matter is the idea of being a kind person. Being kind when it’s free and easy for you to do, and…