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Autumn Is Upon Us

Dear Ones,
I write to you on a morning of pouring rain. A welcome relief from the smoke of wildfires that hung over us in the South Sound for two weeks. A welcome relief from the destruction of wildfires that burned both my husband's sister's homes to the ground in Boulder Creek (our home for 25 years). A welcome reminder that I hold tears unshed for both these sisters. One succumbed to cancer just days after evacuating. The other has moved in with us, healing from ribs broken while running from the fire. Unlike the deciduous trees, we weren't prepared to let go of everything. This wasn't a willing surrender. Thankfully our insurance adjuster is kind. Thankfully love survives. Memories, too, as we comb through photos trying to document possessions, finding we've mostly photographed our family and not our things. We are what and who we have as we move forward. So here I am, reaching through the ether to offer a virtual hug, to thank you for being part of my life. Be kind to yourself, and to those in your orbit. Vote. And please, please, make sure you have adequate homeowners insurance, as well as an inventory of your possessions (I'm doing that right now).
Peace be upon us,
Cathy

We found dozens of photos from April 1978 of my future husband with his oldest sister posed around the family home highlighting possessions. Kevin thinks this was his mom's creative insurance inventory. Dress up. Recruit your family. Make a movie with your phone. Write a script that involves a search for rare jewels as you open your cabinets and drawers. You, too, can make the tedious entertaining.

I'm honored to be included in this year's regional literary event, presented online by Creative Colloquy. I'll be reading a short piece of creative nonfiction titled, "Dreaming of Whales." I hope you'll listen in. See the details below.

Saturday October 3rd, 2 pm- VOLUME SEVEN SNEAKY PEEKS: Creative Colloquy is launching our 7th annual print publication this winter and we can't wait to share it with you! Rather than wait until the release of the book, we'd like to present a little sneak peek of the stories you can anticipate within the pages including stories by Suzanne Akerman, Jonny Eberle, Sam Snoek-Brown, and Cathy Warner.
RSVP here for ZOOM info.

Spoken Word Poet Wins America's Got Talent! Watch all 4 videos of his performances on YouTube, beginning with his Golden Buzzer worthy audition!

I don't watch much TV, but I do watch America's Got Talent—on Hulu, so too late to influence any outcomes by voting. Some of it is ridiculous, and some of it is deeply moving, and this year was beset with creative challenges for a live show that relies on a packed theater. I was thrilled to see spoken word poet Brandon Leake from Stockton CA, bring performance poetry to millions of viewers. Even if you think you don't like poetry—especially if you think you don't like poetry—take a look at how poetry can illuminate our lives.

An excerpt from my latest blog post:
Photography Tips for Surviving the Summer of COVID-19

"It doesn’t matter that the images you expose can never reveal the depth of the truth that washes over you. It is the stillness and surety of belonging you most need to capture and store in the reservoir of your heart. The camera is simply a tool, like the breath in yoga, connecting you to the both/and inherent in everything."

Read more here.

I preached about the Fire & the Gospel in August & September. Click here two download both sermons