This reminds of when I taught myself (not very well) to play 'Stairway to Heaven' on the guitar as a teenager. I was always a little afraid that the devil would come out. (Remember when they played it backwards?)
Oh my gosh, that sounds CHALLENGING. I could only play “Come As You Are” and “Nude as the News” (Cat Power); the lefty problem is REAL. You have to mentally flip everything from what you’re seeing, so I gave up pretty quickly.
I think I'd rather listen than play guitar. Sometimes I even think I'd be better off reading than trying to write. But my brain and right hand (I'm a stroke survivor) have too much to say and won't let me stop, until I fall into a deep funk, which is why I find you so inspirational, Esme. Glad you're back in touch.
Thank you for sharing this. That tension between wanting rest & having something inside that won’t be quiet—I know it well. The creative drive doesn’t always align with what’s sustainable, & the cycle of compulsion & depletion is so real.
I hope you’re gentle with yourself in the funks when they come.
Just saw this morning that you won a much-deserved Whiting Award, Esme, and I wanted to congratulate you on this great honor and thank you for taking the time to support a lost writer in your busy life. It means so much to me to hear from you.
If I hold myself very still and tilt my head to listen, I can just barely hear, far in the distance, the sound of strumming. So lovely. And it's you.
I love this. And thank you.
Also, it's so good to hear from you, Esme!
This reminds of when I taught myself (not very well) to play 'Stairway to Heaven' on the guitar as a teenager. I was always a little afraid that the devil would come out. (Remember when they played it backwards?)
Oh my gosh, that sounds CHALLENGING. I could only play “Come As You Are” and “Nude as the News” (Cat Power); the lefty problem is REAL. You have to mentally flip everything from what you’re seeing, so I gave up pretty quickly.
Lefty skills are way beyond my scope! And I didn’t do a very good job with Stairway 😂
I think I'd rather listen than play guitar. Sometimes I even think I'd be better off reading than trying to write. But my brain and right hand (I'm a stroke survivor) have too much to say and won't let me stop, until I fall into a deep funk, which is why I find you so inspirational, Esme. Glad you're back in touch.
Thank you for sharing this. That tension between wanting rest & having something inside that won’t be quiet—I know it well. The creative drive doesn’t always align with what’s sustainable, & the cycle of compulsion & depletion is so real.
I hope you’re gentle with yourself in the funks when they come.
Just saw this morning that you won a much-deserved Whiting Award, Esme, and I wanted to congratulate you on this great honor and thank you for taking the time to support a lost writer in your busy life. It means so much to me to hear from you.