It has been a week! In a good way. Wednesday, our little restaurant was on a local TV segment and today, we will be on another channel for another segment. I am truly beside myself. So proud of my husband, daughters, and our lone employee who is like another daughter now. In between, I've been doing the usual. Trying to keep house, work my evening job. Edit/write. I am on what I am declaring the LAST round of edits and have 6 out of 17 pieces that I have deemed fit to rule the page and "Not be tampered with by my fidgety fingers or ever-doubting eye again!" It feels good. It feels small but it is progress and there are another 6 that I am sure will need only a quick look-over because of the aforementioned ever-doubting eye. I am still not really submitting anywhere because I want to finish this project. Something thicker than a chapbook, but a completed work and I am ok if it is the only thing I ever put out as a whole because it is a reflection of me. Every cut, every scar. I have this running Google Doc, The Things Left Behind. Which are discards from other pieces. A place at first, for lines that I felt were too strong to just be deleted and forgotten but now also a spot to somewhat memorialize my editing process. Because not all lines are great and it is interesting to see how my head works. Though sometimes I leave them in for ease. A placeholder for something better? Although more than a line it in the end got in the way of the piece: She doesn’t know her daughter is dying. That disease is laying waste to her. She doesn’t notice the gauntness or assorted wigs. She only notices when she is out of cigarettes, is putting on weight, and is growing out of things. as long as she has her Newports, she doesn’t look for anyone, and no one holds it against her. 10.04.23 Anyway, I hope you all are well or drifting in that direction at least? Have a wonderful weekend whatever you do!
Arnold H. CraneMan Ray1968–1971Gelatin silver print