Many of you know that my 2015 was in many ways pretty crappy. Except for a few bright and shining spots — trips to Italy, Mongolia, Indiana, and Mississippi; my genius students — a whole bunch of things piled on to add up to a lousy year. 2016, which starts in a few hours, will be better, I have determined: will even be affirmatively good. So I say, bring it on.
2015, not sorry to see ya go.
2016, pleased to meet ya!
Just got back from a trip behind the Magnolia Curtain. Thought you might enjoy some photos while you finish baking that plum pudding. Which I had in Mississippi, and it was delicious. Along with the catfish tacos and the breakfast kibbee and grits.
Me on the Mighty Mississipp.
Cotton is King, even off-season.
Went to research the Delta Chinese community for a new Lydia Chin/Bill Smith book.
Cotton snowperson in Cleveland, MS.
Baptism mural in Helena, Arkansas. Lunching in Helena knocked one more off the list of states I’ve never been in. Down to 4!
The Archangel Michael, though his sword looks like a tie, from a Charles Eames church in Helena.
All is not sweetness and light in Helena, however.
My little cabin away from home, in Clarksdale, MS.
My cabin on left, with the back porch of the Big House on right and the plantation owner, Eric Stone.
Rufous-sided towhee in Eric’s shrubs.
Terra cotta in Helena. The spirit of Prosperity. A touch ironic.
Not mine, not Eating in Translation’s, but Oxford University Press’s SAVORING GOTHAM. You win it at Eating in Translation, one of my favorite websites, so check out the contest rules. It makes a great holiday gift. As does, of course, a 2016 SJ Rozan Calendar.
Happy holidays!
Pair of soccer balls Float slowly on river's glass, Glow in morning sun. Two paddling gadwalls Slicing through waveless water Raising tiny wake. Long low swell rolls in, Angles against seawall, breaks, Single wave rolls out. And don't forget your 2016 SJ Rozan Calendars! Perfect for every room in your house. Also, your friends' houses. Every room.
Construction site coffee break.
Hardhat #1 takes out cigarettes. “Hey,” he says to Hardhat #2, already smoking. “You got a light?”
Hardhat #2 takes out matchbook, strikes match, holds it out, lights Hardhat #1’s smoke. “Thanks,” says Hardhat #1.
Hardhat #2 shakes match out, claps Hardhat #1 on the back. “For you, buddy, I’d burn this whole fucking building down.”
I love New York.
Some of you have asked whether I teach workshops in NYC. Well, this winter I will. I’m teaching a six-week course in The Crime Fiction Short Story, Saturday mornings starting Jan. 23. Details on the CFA website, so check it out and come on down.
Into my subway car today come the doo-wop guys, who play the subway a lot. They four-part their way through “Jingle Bells.” The only people who put money in their little silver shopping bag besides me are the grinning young Asian guy with his hair in a man bun, and the Sikh in a purple turban.
I love New York.
Two weeks ago a pair of male buffleheads came splashing in for a landing at the piling field near my bench. It was early for our locals who winter here, so I figured they were headed farther south and just taking a rest. Didn’t see them again, so I was probably right. But this morning, a single male landed, floated around a piling with a seagull on it, and dove for fish, looking right at home. About twenty minutes later a flight of Brant geese went by, showing their plump white behinds in a messy V. The winter visitors have arrived!
Also this morning, a gull swooped into a float of debris and came up with a small eel. He flew away and was immediately mugged by another gull, who stole it. Then the first gull and about a dozen others all chased the thief, not to bring him to gull justice but to steal the eel themselves. Or maybe that is gull justice. Anyway, I didn’t see who ended up with the prize, but I started to wonder: do gulls hold grudges? Will Gull #1, who caught the eel, be gunning for Gull #2, who stole it? Will he knock #2 off a perch, or hang around on purpose to see what he finds to eat so #1 can steal it, turnabout being fair play? Also, are some gulls better at finding food, or quicker at catching eels or whatever, and are they therefore stalked by other gulls, who find it easier to steal a faster gull’s prize than to fish themselves?
These are the questions that come up in the early morning, by the river.
On wrinkled river Helicopter's shadow slides, Ferry's white wake froths. Tall construction crane Looms over trees, low buildings: Iron dinosaur. Dog jumps on next bench, Sticks cold nose in hand, wags tail, Refuses to leave. And don't forget your 2016 Calendars!
Glassy high water. Cormorants flap drying wings. Pilings stand like reeds. Neighbor stops to chat. Tourists photograph the sky. Runner slaps on past. Small tug, little barge, Inching by at turtle speed, Barely leaving wake. And don't forget your Five Snouts of Mongolia, Flowers, and Travel Calendars for 2016!
