Fireflies

May 16: Paid a long overdue visit to David Whitener. He is a direct descendent of some of the people in the book Katie Gale’s Tombstone. I had some of my earliest conversations about the project with David. He inspired me with his own talks of the history of the area. He even arranged a trip to Squaxin Island during an Evergreen summer faculty institute. I showed him the printed (xeroxed, not yet published) book with the dedication to him. He reminded me that he had heard Katie spoken of as “Kitty.” He recalled some other stories from that era and about his family.

On April 17: Yukiko Abo passed at age 91. I will miss her very much. I look across the Bay at her home and wonder who will be there this time next year. I’m sorry my article that features her life had not yet been published. Hers was a rich life, a large part of it spent on her wonderful Oyster Bay home.

See new poetry by clicking on Poetry 2011 above. These are works from my studies during the past two months.

Underway: A book of fiction, novel length, call Big Adventure in Moa Nui. It should be published sometime this year.

Still waiting: for Columbia to publish my article, Mountain of Shell. Accepted but not yet in print.

Still waiting: for response to newest revisions re: Katie Gale Tombstone, on contract at University of Nebraska Press.

Eager to see some new work in print.

I’ve posted the revised manuscript to editors at University of Nebraska. Now I’m going on a vacation. Whatever comes next, I’ll be well rested and ready.

I realized yesterday that I did keep a journey/diary of my work these past two months…the work of revising Katie Gale’s Tombstone. I will post that journey/diary one of these days. What it doesn’t tell is that I watched adaptations of English novels (to film) and Sherlock Holmes television serials almost every night. No television news, sitcoms: none. I did not go out much. I did eat well and I did exercise: approximately 4 miles a day of walking, treadmill, or jumper plus some stretches and yoga. This has not been an easy journey. It has taken an incredible amount of discipline: more than I thought I could muster.

I should have been keeping an ongoing record of my journey with Katie Gale. The book has been accepted for publication

Presented Mountain of Shell at the Pacific Northwest History Conference in Spokane/early November. Well received.

Working on revisions of my book, Katie Gale’s Tombstone. On contract with University of Nebraska Press and delighted. Goal: finish in two months. I’ve found wonderful new material and march on, a little more each day.

September 29, 2010

Visited Wing Luke Museum in Seattle and arranged for archiving all of Mountain of Shell material next spring. Very happy with the arrangements. Today is Miyoko Sato’s 90th birthday! Happy birthday!
Harry Sato accompanied me to the Wing Luke. Very helpful.

I am preparing for a presentation to the Northwest Historical Society in November. Still no publication date for the Columbia article.

Wonderful visit. See this study of water and light shot in Gros Morne National Park:

Last Saturday, June 26th, I presented Mountain of Shell to a meeting of the American Haiku Society. Wonderful haiku writers were present. I met several and some promised support for the project. My niece, Dejah Leger, had made the contact with the Haiku Society for me. I am so grateful. She also performed at the meeting and introduced me!