You can watch my reading of Take Good Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs, Chapter 3 here
I read it on the same day (that’s today, April 7) that I was hit by a truck while riding my bike in Haines fifteen years ago. It was hard to read, and I almost re-did it, but figured I probably would end up skipping it rather than trying it again, and I promised to do this, so here you are, phone call in the middle and all…
Also, I know some of you have been having trouble contacting me, or getting the emails if you are subscribers (it’s a service for you, is all, it’s free, and I don’t do anything with the list, like sell it or other nefarious deeds), but that should be fixed by tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. And please pardon me if I haven’t responded to emails that I didn’t receive because of the snafu. Try again, I’m here, and happy to hear from you.
Losing John Prine tonight slayed me. It has already been a hard day because of so many memories– and I am always wiggy on April 7, and then there’s all the rest of it thanks to life in pandemic land– But here is the miracle of great artists like John, and the great good news : listening to his songs tonight, by the fire, waiting for the snowstorm to begin and the full moon, tears running down my face (I was a mess, honestly) made me feel better. “When I get to heaven, I’m gonna drink a vodka and gingerale…” His music comforted me– It really is a big old goofy world. And before this, all day, with each dog walk (it was a three walk day), I sang “blow up your TV” and “I’m taking a walk, going outside… ” and “make me an angel..” his words and tunes have been rolling around in my head for hours before the news. “Whistle and fish, eat everything that you put on your dish..” There is so much to be grateful for that is still here, for that part of John Prine that will never go away, thank God. (And it’s okay to be sad, too. That’s the way the world goes ’round. Sometimes your up, sometimes your down.)
