IUNIVERSE SENDS ITS BEST

Padding softly in new snow to the mailbox I didn't expect an envelope from IUniverse. It wasn't an advertising sized envelop, but a money-sized envelope, the kind that you tear the perforation and voila, there's a check.

I saved it till last as I tore apart the other correspondence. What was I expecting? Not a thing. What was I hoping? That somehow, someone had purchased a hundred books, and this was my quarterly royalty statement. And what was it? Well, it was a statement, for the IRS, declaring my earnings of $28 and some odd cents.

What does that represent? About twelve books! I chuckled, gently acknowledging my grandoise self and gratefully accepting what was declared.

In the meantime I'm sending out a couple of freebies to people who are great blessings on the planet. One is Bette LaDuke, Sun Bear's first wife, and mother of Winona. Bette is an amazing artist whose focus has been earth healing and the celebration of women throughout her long career. I can always spot one of her posters: bright colors, strong people, or wonderful animals pulsing with life.

The second one going in the mail today is to Medicine Story, whom I met many many years ago in a meadow in the Trinity Alps. He was playing piano on an old upright standing in the weeds! It was a glorious afternoon, capped off by a little fire and storytelling for the many children gathered at that lodge. He is currently working to have Leonard Peltier freed from prison, after 35 years. Leonard is suffering from cancer and needs to return home before he passes.

Both of these folks received my inquiries with graciousness, and welcomed the book. I am thrilled to share it with them. I'll also donate a copy to the silent auction at a retreat I'll be attending later this month to raise money for a scholarship fund.

In the meantime, I've enrolled in a writing class at the University to keep nudging my awareness as I put fingers to keyboard and mind to ether to create new poems, short stories, and to continue pieces of the next book!