Notices by dogtrax (dogtrax@mastodon.social), page 7

@tellio all of us, indeed

As much as we can, we look after the lonely and alone in our neighborhood. Last night, I brought our elderly neighbor -- the one who suffered a stroke in Spring and who struggles with a walker and whose lights are on even when I am out with the dog on the earliest of mornings -- to our holiday church services. It was a long haul to pack her up and get her there, but I watched her eyes drink in the song and candles and community, and knew it was worth it. #smallstories #smallactions

You know my cousin. The Ghost of Christmas Past. What a loser. You even know my brother. The Ghost of Christmas Present. Always comes empty-handed. Don’t invite him in. And my father, the Ghost of Christmas Future, is a bummer. Always looking ahead to death. Yours. Merry Christmas. Me? I’m the Ghost of In-Between. I haunt you the entire year. Regrets. Fear. Division. I got it. You get it. Hang that on your tree. Get ready to be spooked. #spooksmas

The boy woke the girl who woke the dog who kept quiet. Silent as the night, they crept down the stairs, kids on tiptoes and dog on paws as light as snow. Stockings beckoned. The boy put his hand in, and felt the mousetrap. Snap. The girl reached in and discovered the spider. A huge hairy spider. Both kids screamed, the dog howled, and parents awoke to find the clock stuck at 3 a.m. It was Christmas and the spiteful ghost of Santa was up to her tricks again. #spooksmas

“Every love has its landscape.”

-- from A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit, page 118

#smallquotes

Light every white candle;
circle this sanctuary
with love, song and hope

#smallpoems

@bstacey My son goes to UMass Boston. Just saw your bio. Neat connection. He's first year.

@bstacey @maloki @testingwithfire I like that idea of using sketchbooks for initial idea-making. Seems like there might be less stress involved. Just jotting down ideas over here. No worries. :) #AmWriting

@maloki #amwriting

I seem to do best when I turn phrases over in my mind. This probably comes from songwriting, but it works well for my poetry writing and then the smaller writing pieces, too. I'll do this while walking dog, in the shower, driving, etc. Mix words. Add. Remove. Untangle. The phrases become sort of thematic anchors, of a sort. I often jot things down on sticky notes (interesting how many folks talk of pen and paper as starting points in this digital age, right?).

@Gargron Morning. I hope you have a good day out there in the world. Peace.

These days after the longest night of the year remain elusive in their change. One can imagine the slow extension of light yet still feel the deep pull of shadow in the hours before Solstice. You could sit by the window, drink in hand, and watch the day grow. You could ponder this shift in ink. You could but who would? Instead, we notice movement over time, with clocks as our anchor points, the sun growing ever bolder. We stand atop the curve of the Earth, gazing outward. #smallstories

@katebowles I love when your pictures bring us to your seaside community ...

“It was not yet dinnertime, but among friends -- friends who want to change the world together -- new beginnings always call for a celebration.”

-- from The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin, page 516

#smallquotes