An update after all this time? YES!

Is there much to say? OF COURSE!

Is any of it particularly important in the grand scheme of things? UNLIKELY!

But life is a precious, improbable thing, and putting joy and whimsy out into the world is needful at all times, but particularly during difficult ones.

First, the good:

Spouse, the dogs, and I are well, though they have been taking vacations this winter and my work and performance calendars have not allowed me to do the same. I miss them terribly when they’re gone.

I’m writing in dribs and drabs–some fiction, some lyrics, some poetry, and all of it exciting to me. On the lyrics front, two of my collaborations with the fabulous Amy Gordon will be premiered this spring: Alchemy by the Indianola Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir in April and Shelter Song by the Ramona Convent Secondary School in May, and I am SO STOKED!

2024 also marks ten years since my sonnet-a-day project, and the UC San Diego Library will be featuring my book Risk A Verse: A Year in Daily Sonnets as part of a National Poetry Month display, which makes me happier than I can say. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to get back in the habit of semi-regular updates here, and if I’m successful, there will be links to ALL THE THINGS!

I’m also making more music now with folks I love than ever before, which makes me feel like the world’s luckiest person. I’m still singing Sunday mornings and feast days September-June as a section leader at All Souls’ Episcopal Church, Evensongs year-round with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral Schola, and trading off weeknights with the San Diego Master Chorale, the chamber choir SACRA/PROFANA, and a new-to-me choir called Cappella Gloriana, all of which have been amazing!

And outside the choral/sacred music spheres, my wizard rock band Potterwatch released our first full-length album Follow the Light in October, and will be doing a spot of noisemaking at LeakyCon in Portland this summer. And because apparently that’s not enough for me, I’ve started a solo wizard rock side-project ERWA (because I’m 1/3 of Potterwatch, ha ha), for which I’ve produced mostly parodies, collaborations, and other disreputable projects that the gents don’t have time to do. It’s been nice to develop the technical skills to turn my more ridiculous ideas into things that exist, especially when I want to focus on nice/silly things for a change.

And now the not-good:

In October, a few days before our Potterwatch album came out, my beloved dad passed away after a tough battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He had relatively mild symptoms for six years, but his condition worsened at the end of 2022, and he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in January 2023. During what was supposed to be a routine cardiac catheterization in February, he had a massive heart attack. He endured bypass surgery, serious infections, and COVID, but when he was discharged home, it became clear that he needed round-the-clock care. So in April, he moved out to the hospital where he worked as a surgeon for decades.

While being away from his beloved woods was difficult for him, he saw my mom every day, and he had wonderful visits from friends, colleagues, and family. For many months, he was able to make trips out to the log cabin he helped build and attend family celebrations, band concerts in the park, and even his 60th high school reunion. I’m relieved his passing was peaceful and that he’s free from that awful disease, but we’re all so very sad that he had such a tough time in his final months, for all that we filled them with as much goodness as we could. We knew that we very nearly lost him February, so we took every opportunity to visit, share memories and let him know how much we love him during the bonus months his surgeons bought us.

One of many things I loved about my dad is that he and my mom read every one of the sonnets I wrote in 2014 as I was writing them and even left me the occasional comment. He also only teased me a little bit about the sonnet that got saved but not actually posted on the day it was supposed to be posted. Like me, he loved making music, puerile jokes and ridiculous wordplay, and was endlessly fascinated by the natural world, which are gifts from him that I will always carry with me.

And while that’s certainly enough sadness to be getting on with, that’s unfortunately not all. My wonderful father-in-law is currently in rough shape following a terrible reaction to immunotherapy infusions, and one of my relatives is in dire legal trouble, so we’re all sitting tight, seeking support when we need it, and hoping for whatever the best may be in these situations. And that’s without even going into how heartsore I am over events in the wider world. But boy oh boy, it’s been a lot.

Unsurprisingly, I have not been resisting the urge to hunker down when it strikes. I’ve also been indulging in comfort reads/watches, doing my best not to get over-committed, keeping my expectations for myself low, and other me-specific forms of self-care while keeping an eye on the good thing coming down the pike.

And for now, here’s a video from SACRA/PROFANA’s season closer last May, a piece that warms my heart. I knew better than to audition for a solo because I knew I’d cry. And I did cry, but I also sang. And good lord, what a gift it is to be able to do both at the same time.

Oh heck, and a second video from SACRA/PROFANA’s season opener in September, a month before we lost my dad. This one’s for you, Pop.

Sending love to all!

Libby