“Around us, life bursts forth with miracles—a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
it was breakfast
I had a much needed few hours out of the house that weren’t related to work or hospitals. That’s a rare thing these days. Stacy and I started with a comforting, delicious breakfast at Winchell’s before I picked up Scrappy from Aunt Millie’s Home For Pancreatitis Doggos (he’s much better, thank you). Then, it was off to the Kentucky Book Festival at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.
the family that reads together
I had just stepped off the escalator when I heard my name. Lo and behold, there stood Tony and Charlene, looking bright and happy. They had stopped by to see one of their three sons-in-law, Jon Reynolds, a featured artist with his book Illuminating Nature, which you might recall from this September post.
all the best
We ran into BFFs Erin Chandler and Kevin Dearinger right away. Much hugging and laughter ensued. I had the chance to meet Jeff Biggers, author of the United States of Appalachia. He credits Jen Reynolds, Tony’s daughter, and Jon Reynolds’ wife, for jump-starting his career with this book. He is pictured above as half shadow/half light with BFF Robert Gipe, author of Weedeater and Pop, whom Stacy got to meet for the first time. She then had to listen to us wax nostalgic about our times at Appalshop’s notorious Christmas Parties when Stealin Horses provided the soundtrack. Stacy also got to meet BFF Jon Reynolds. Besides me and his wife, Jen, she might be his biggest fan. Her living room is filled with his work from Cincinnati to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
new friend
The day was topped off by meeting brilliant artist Anya Liftig, author of Holler Rat. I learned of Anya a few months ago when the UK Libraries became a sponsor of her upcoming talk (Monday, November 4) as part of the Creative Writing Department’s speaker series. I’m about halfway through her book, which started as a performance piece, and it is spectacular. Her mother grew up in Breathitt County in conditions that sound quite similar to Hero’s growing up, and much of the story resonates with me. It’s wonderfully written, too. All in all, it was a fantastic day filled with my people and art. Didn’t hurt that the weather was gorgeous.
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