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Thinking about it, writing a column started out as a fluke. You remember the early days of social media when we were prompted daily to post birthday wishes to the timeline of friends. Personalizing messages turned into a fun start each day. Add to that the overused reply of ‘amazing’ on social media was more bothersome than it probably should be, but you begin describing the what and how of the senses for yourself that make amazing, amazing.
A most common theme of instruction to writers is to write what you know. Personally searching for calm, quiet, be still getaways where one can slow down time and allow the spirit of Comfort to be upon you became as much the experience as knowing.
Simple social media updates turned into mini-exercises of writing and expression. Joyce from The Country Connection encouraged me, nudged me (and she would have twisted my arm if she wasn’t so nice) to write more. My first submission was sharing a late night of illegal stargazing at a lake (who knew?) on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge with my Grandson Jordan. Under the night sky the stars popped and sharing that in words hooked me.
In the movie Apocalypse Now the spelling bee word dilettante was introduced to me as a kid. The cinematic depiction of war, dialog narrated and enormity of the film as a project was epic. I was and still very much feel the dilettante label, hopefully learning every week.
Weekly columns range from regular mountain trail hikes to growing up, baseball, family and friends. Naming the column came quick. A play on the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series turned into My Family, My Friends, My Posole. Posole from the Zuni Pueblo, a a hominy, pork or beef stew meat and red chile staple all across New Mexico.
Ms. Joyce only encouraged. No pressure. Write whatever you want. She’d thank me, hit me with a timely bless you! or a thank you in Kiowa. Joyce was always complimentary, passed along nice words from others and was the biggest fan of her contributors. She cultivated and shared with the world writers. Today feels like you’re still the new kid on the block with so many others from before sharing their thoughts and love.
Giving so much of herself in giving us all the world around us in print was Joyce. Opening the pages of a paper can still be a cozy, familiar source of comfort for longtime subscribers. At the same time Joyce shared our corner of the world WITH the world. I’m thankful for her life, all that she was to so many and all that she will continue to be through the lives she touched, guided and mentored. Joyce lived a life worth living. A giving life. Just writing what I know, Aho.
