Writing. Life.

Self-portrait as a Young Woman

Yes, Alanna, she does look like she's taking stock, reading something into herself as she reads of others' lives. This painting made me think of myself as a young woman. I think of myself at that age, with a whole life ahead of me - excited, but wary, determined but doubtful.

What if we could paint ourselves as we were then? How would I, twenty* years later, see my eighteen-year-old self? How would you? Wouldn't that be a great project for this blog, for anyplace - draw (or sculpt, paint, collage, embroider, write, etc.) yourself as a young woman on the verge of the big adventure of adulthood. If you go on my About page, you can see a pastel of how Mia saw me when I was 30, which is as close as I'll probably get to an image of my young self, as I can't draw very well. Sara, someday I'd love to see one of yourself at age eighteen (you've been publicly challenged!)

As I was reading the comments on Elise Bauer's recipe for sour cream apple pie, and seeing her replies to some of the comments, it has only just occurred to me that, duh, a good blogger comments on comments from time to time. Talk about SLOW to get it. My apologies to any of you who have wondered why I haven't done that, especially when so many of your comments come from such a deep place within you - I promise to be more present. I can't tell you how much it means to get your comments and to have this forum to share your thoughts and feelings with others.

* Okay, so for me it would be thirty years later. Oh, alright, thirty-two years later.

Dana Reading

One of the greatest things about the success of our book is that I've spent the last year in a veritable sea of the most amazing, inspiring, loving women, from coast to coast. Women we meet on tour, at appearances or at speaking engagements, the readers I've gotten to know through emails, the women at two blogger conferences.

Women who, before the internet, would never have been able to share their writing or photography, their humor or expertise. Women who have been through what Mia and I went through, to varying degrees, and come out the other side and able to share their stories with us. Women who were less fortunate and share their hope. Women who have overcome addiction or abuse, some of whom triumphed, some who are still struggling. Girls who are inspired by Mia to quit using. Girls and women who grew strong from their mother's love, those who powered through without it. Women going through the ups and downs of motherhood, like the gentle soul, Sue L., whose poem is in the last post.. Women who have raised their kids and chosen to rediscover and reinvent themselves, taking up pen, paintbrush, passport. Like Sara Becker.

Sara and her nineteen-year-old daughter, Dana, had both read our book and she wrote to thank you for the way we wrote about the mother/daughter relationship, which had resonated for her. She'd been taking oil painting classes and had done a portrait of Dana reading. She sent us a jpeg of the painting, because the book in Dana's hands is ours. Mia and I were delighted beyond words, really speechless (if you can imagine that.) It's such a beautiful work, not just for her skill as a painter, but for how much the painting is informed by her love for her daughter. I'm so proud and pleased to share this with you and hope it inspires you to explore the endless, exciting territory that is you.