To Be a Writer - One Must Be a Reader (or listener)

Listening to "The Revolution of Marina R."  Part of the novel that is horrifying.  Part V.   Amazing story,  often almost hard to listen to.  Once again as always, throughout history, before history women treated as animals, a means to an end, something to bargain with.  Better to be a stray cat, a lost donkey....

A lost dog, and lost tongue.

Damn, here I am again, trying to write something.  Looking out the window, tree branches silhouetted against the gray of the river.  High tide - moving towards the ocean. First geese, now ducks.

In the story she found "silence".   A new phase in the story.  Marina, tongueless (not really but not able to talk), with a bruised, bloody back with a horrible poem scratched on her back, quietly sweeping, scrubbing, washing to "pay" for her existence.   They baptized her with a new name.

The "ancient ones".   Observers,  really. These ancients, quietly living and studying in an old University setting from earlier times - pre Bolshevik - sounds like hiding away in a monastery.  But remember this is during the Russian Revolution and post the Great War.  Isolation.  The youth want to stay "down there" in the city, except for Marina, who has escaped from a tormentor and the city.

These ancients are teachers, researchers and professors.

Some how this resonates with the current time.  Those who know isolated (chosen) away from the chaos and lies.  Will those who "know" eventually rise up and save us?

Are we beyond saving?  Are we stuck, destined to suffer, all of us, the whole world victims of the stupidity and shortsightedness, group who plays to an ignorant base? Voting agonist their own  interests.  Leading (but not really) with fear and against our better selves and better sense of our own humanity.

God, how can you let this happen?  So called Christians who have no Christian concern for others than themselves or those like them.

How do we grow, prosper and  support each other during this time.   

A few days later - a new book.  Marina R. finished.  The Book Thief - Lisel just found three books after a fire, some burned on the edges, after the village celebrating the fuhrer's birthday, burned many things - including books.   Books smell like smoke - still smoldering somewhat. 

I am listening to the story being read.  The Third Book - Mein Kampf - given the night of the fire.  Funny, when she removes the book that is smoldering. 

Today - I thought - what will I do all day if I am not working?  Terrifying.   Every day, write something,  create something - a collage, painting, an art journal page. 

I could spend some time learning a language.   Invite someone to coffee - beyond Bagels by The Sea coffee.

I should dress up every day.  I should wear some of my wonderful clothes.