Blogging in this space has led to many friendships over the years. Over the weekend I noticed that one of my online blogger-teacher-poet friends was in New Orleans for a National Writing Project conference. I am in New Orleans babysitting my middle grandson Thomas, so I reached out to Kim Douillard, and we met for lunch. I promised Thomas a visit to the aquarium after lunch, so he was cooperative. Kim and I visited like old friends. Her husband Geoff was with her, and he made the comment, “For two people who have never met, you seem so comfortable.” That’s the magic of meeting face-to-face someone you have been writing with for years.
Writing with others, even if it’s over screens, can be a powerful connector. If I read your words and you read mine, we get to know each other on a level that may be as deep as taking a long walk together.
Yesterday I dropped Thomas off at day camp and had some time to myself. I decided to take my notebook and current book of poetry, “The Stafford Challenge 2024-25 Anthology” to City Park for a Poem Picnic as suggested by Georgia Heard in her June newsletter. Today I am sharing the resulting poem. If you take a poem picnic, let me know. I’d love to read what you wrote.
Reflections on the Teche 
lovely poem. You can feel the quiet settling down around you. “Begin in the breeze where no one else hides” Sometimes just getting out of your normal environment helps to find that quiet space, where you can notice the breeze.
I love that you met with a fellow blogger and talked like you had been “face to face” friends for years. That made me smile. I appreciate your poem, and the reminder to be open to what might come my way. Thank you for sharing.
Margaret,
Geoff’s observation is perfect. Blogging in this community is about making connections. We can be f2f w/ someone for years and never know them as well as we know some in this community.
“Take the moment / to be blank”
YES. I love this line, this poem, and the invitation to open ourselves up to the world.
I’ll have to take my own poem picnic!