another Sunday Letter: 09.15.19

Good morning. It’s time for another Sunday Letter.

I’m writing from charming and quirky Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I’ve been here for several days, staying at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, soaking up the peace and quiet while making yet more tweaks on my book and tackling a few other projects. If you are a writer or artist or musician, I can’t stress enough how important getting away from routine can be for your creativity.

Dirty laundry isn’t a thing at Dairy Hollow.

The Writers’ Colony

To my friends who have been in residence at the colony, you may have heard that changes are underway. I have nothing but positive things to say about the differences I’ve noticed so far. Newly installed Executive Director, Michelle Hannon, and Colony Coordinator, Chad Gurley, are bringing fresh inspiration and enthusiasm.

The rooms are being renovated one at a time. You will not recognize the Maya Angelou Suite. (I forget the original name of this suite, maybe Springhill?)

If you are a writer, you might be interested in applying for a colony fellowship. There’s one with a deadline of September 30, 2019. Click HERE for information.

And P.S.—don’t worry, Chef Jana Jones is still here whipping up incredible dinners each weeknight. Thank goodness!

Two Semi-Unbelievable Things

Two things happened during the past two weeks that brought me face-to-face with the reality of my mortality. Scooby-Doo and The Brady Bunch both turned 50.

Ruh-roh.

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been 50 years since both of these shows made their television debuts, Scooby-Doo on the Saturday morning cartoon lineup and The Brady Bunch, an after-school favorite my sister and I watched from the comfort of our bean bags while eating peanut butter and crackers.

These shows have been on television so long that the photo above (and a bunch of other related one) are now part of the public domain.

What I’m really saying here is I can’t believe I’m getting so old.

These iconic programs taught me a thing or two…

Scooby-Doo:

• No matter how terrified I may be, there is always a logical explanation for things that go bump in the night.
• Creepy monsters are just regular people with an axe to grind. They are wearing disguises! Summon the courage, yank off that mask asap, save yourself some valuable time.
• The person beneath the disguise? Funny how it’s always the last person you expect it to be.
• Daily snacks feed the body and soul. (Especially after school.)

The Brady Bunch:

• Some Daddies have fancy jobs and come home before sunset without hands stained from farm chemicals.
• Families may actually exist in this world who never worry about the weather!
• Live-in housekeepers are a real thing.
• Don’t play ball in the house, or tattle-tale, or be a know-it-all, or make promises you can’t keep, or change you hair before an important event, or touch an ancient tiki statue in Hawaii.

Okay I have to ask… Is anyone besides me watching A Very Brady Renovation on HGTV? It started last week. I’ll admit the show is a bit hokey, but hey, it’s pure Brady fun. And what’s wrong with spending some time with the people who brought so much entertainment into your den once upon a time? Be prepared, though, to confront the passage of time in ways you don’t expect.

Call-Backs

As luck would have it, my trip to Eureka Springs coincided with audition call-backs for my 10-minute play which will performed by Five & Dime Drama Collective in November. I was able to attend one of the audition nights.

Fun, fun, so much fun!

Based on the various talented actors I heard read from each play, I am honored that my play, Last Call at the Dairy Freeze, will be included in the lineup. I would hate to be in charge of casting decisions.

Honey Belle

While I’ve been here, I’ve been pretending I’m at a spa, eating lots of vegetables and good-for-me protein like salmon (because Chef Jana only cooks healthy foods.) For the most part, my sleep has been like that of the dead. I even snoozed right through the recent earthquake. I didn’t bring any wine with me (#minormiracle), but I did have a mojito last night. The most relaxing thing? Not one second of news, football, or any other sort of television has slipped past my eardrum.

Friday morning, in full spa spirit, I treated myself to a DIY Detox Mask from Honey Belle (which I brought from home). If you like a home mask, this one is unique because it’s a powder that you mix with water, milk, or apple cider vinegar. And you only use a teaspoon of the powder with each application. (This means you get about 12 masks from one 2-ounce container.) I bought the ginger and lemon mask but it comes in other “flavors” like mint and rose.

Honey Belle products are natural, cruelty-free, vegan, and eco-friendly.

So there you have it.

(And no, this post is not sponsored in any way by Honey Belle.)

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Another Sunday Letter is now in the books. I’ve not talked to Momma, so there’s no news from her this week. Yes, I know her witty wisdom is the only reason some of you read. Never fear. She’ll be back next week, Lord willing.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.