In a recent conversation I said, “I allow whatever needs to find me, find me. Or else there is no end to the search of ‘what else is there?’ It’s been like this ever since I was a young girl.”

This took me back to a letter I wrote in February 2009 to my closest friends via email. At the time I was living at home in California on my parents’ farmhouse, half-way through my year long hiatus from New York City, and friends sincerely wanted to know “How are you?”.  Although I did not quite answer that question, I did share something relevant.

I share the email-letter below, only partly edited.

~a.q.s.

~~~~~~

Tagged authors, Elie Wiesel, life, maya angelou, non-fiction stories, questions, relating, words

In Art and Agency Alfred Gell formulates an anthropological theory of visual art that focuses on the social context of art production, circulation, and reception. As a theory of the nexus of social relations involving works of art, this work suggests that in certain contexts, art-objects substitute for persons and thus mediate social agency. According to Gell, an art object is a physical object that is considered to fulfill or have fulfilled an independent and primarily aesthetic function. An art object is often seen in the context of a larger work of art, oeuvre, genre, culture, or convention. An “art object” essence projected from these earrings which I had been searching for quite some ... read more »

Tagged art, non-fiction stories

Preface to Nectar of the Ordinary stories.

I am not even sure if anyone besides the people to whom these stories belong will read what follows in the collection. Maybe even they won’t.  My sentences together serve as a frame to hold a snap shot of their element’s thumbprint on our big blue marble.  A statement persistently orbits my peripheral consciousness as I begin to write. Over a decade ago, more years than I want to count specifically, a Literature professor in college tirelessly told the students in his class, every time staring directly at me (perhaps unintentionally each time), that all writers have an audience in mind and most importantly they write because they ... read more »

Tagged process of writing, questions, words

This anecdote belongs in the collection Nectar of the Ordinary. The exchange took place in August of 2006 between my college professor and I. I hope it serves as a mediator between the infinite universal queries about love, however you define it, and your journey.

Thanks,

~a.q.s.

Celestial Sap: “Bud on Love”

How many loves in a lifetime? I first thought of Bud’s words after a trip to the bookstore Barnes and Noble right around Valentines’ Day in February 2010. As soon as I entered, there was the following display of books.

I believe it speaks for itself. I did not mind the rows of poetry books, “love coupons” to ... read more »

Tagged life, non-fiction stories, relating

This true account belongs in the collection Nectar of the Ordinary. I met the individual to whom this story belongs in June of 2008. It was about time I put it on paper.

Thanks,

~a.q.s.

Unexpected Sap: “Nigerian Cab Driver’s Message”

One who carries a message bears the weight to share it. One who receives a message bears the Herculean task to contain it.

Tagged choices, non-fiction stories, nyc