About Time

Thanks to a reminder from Natalie Sypolt (read her The Sound of Holding Your Breath) I attended Silas House’s reading at West Virginia University on a recent warm October evening. I don’t spend much time with other writers and I miss that camaraderie. The evening reminded me that some of my favorite experiences at The New School were the readings and workshops. Talented writers presenting to a usually appreciative (if critical) audience. When a Morgantown poet sat next to me at House’s reading and asked whether I was working on another book, I gave him my usual answer:

“Sort of.”

My memoir, The Climb from Salt Lick, has been out for a year and a half. The response from readers has made my heart soar. But more than a few readers have requested that I continue the story. At a book group for senior citizens, one woman asked when the sequel was coming out.

“2028,” I answered. My explanation: I got married in 1978, divorced in 1988, married again in 1998, graduated from an MFA program in 2008, and had my first book published in 2018. So it follows that my next book should be in 2028.

“But I’m 84!” the woman protested.

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Photography and writing have always vied for my attention. They can’t be done simultaneously. So I have kicked writing to the back of the line for now. My creative efforts also are in conflict with my civic duties. I support candidates who share my values. I do my best to be an informed citizen. I will do whatever I can to get out the vote and reclaim our democracy in 2020. But I have a needy family. There aren’t enough hours to do everything I want to do.

I’m probably not even halfway done archiving my photographic work, including tens of thousands of negatives and slides (I’ve never done an accurate count). I’ve been working sporadically on the project for nearly 20 years. I still have boxes stuffed with glassine envelopes—rolls and rolls and rolls of film—that need to be slid into plastic sleeves and examined. My goal is to create a portfolio of photographs. My wildest dream is to find images worthy of an art book. My aspiration is fueled by Keith Bringe at Rare Nest Gallery in Chicago. He has brought a curator’s eye to my photos. A number of images printed for my solo show at Rare Nest in May 2018 were his discoveries in my archives.

I’ve found a few myself. At present I’m filing work from my first year as a staff photographer for Morgantown’s daily newspaper. That’s where I found the photo of Sam at the top of this post. He turned 40 this year!

In the lovely Milano Reading Room at WVU’s Wise Library Silas House clicked on a photograph of a river near his home in Appalachia and told the audience that his work was often inspired by images. Me too.  This image tells me that time is whooshing by.