Bookworm Press

I spent a little over two months at my first home in the German part of Switzerland, visiting family and friends. I was looking forward to a change of climate from sunny southern California (which turned out not quite as sunny and warm over the holidays, as I saw on the internet) to real Winter. Having grown up in Switzerland, Christmas in my subconscious mind is still associated with snow and cold, a Christmas tree with candles, roaring fires in the wood stove or fireplace, hearty meals and a few glasses of excellent wine. So when I first arrived here in the beginning of November, snow was nowhere to be seen. In fact, not even the mountains had much of the precious white and the tourist industry in the ski areas were all gloom and doom.

After a short holiday in a castle in the Piedmont (see my last blog entry), it was back to Switzerland and my dreams of white Christmas seemed to kind of evaporate–

Pretty, but more like Autumn than Winter

  until the second day of Christmas and then the dream became reality.

and with it the work of shoveling shoveling shoveling …

And, of course, a real Christmas tree with real candles!

and one of those yummy gloggs or mulled wines (hot red wine with spices and fruit)

A visit to my niece’s tea and coffee lounge with the addition of a vegetarian buffet at restaurant Limalimon in Bremgarten, Aargau. Although I’m not a vegetarian, I really enjoy these delicious dishes!

And above all, I’m very grateful for the company of family and so many friends.

Wishing you peace, health, and happiness in the New Year, dear friends. May your dreams come true in 2015!

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Last night, in Wettswil, Switzerland, we had a rainstorm, followed by snow and mixed in with it a huge flash of lightning and thunder. Very odd combination.

Today, the sun is shining and the sparkling snow-covered trees all of a sudden reminded me of a poem I wrote long ago. It was published as part of a poetry volume, Path of Fire, by Finishing Line Press in 2002.

I am in the process of formatting it as an ebook for Kindle.

Winter in Castaneda
(To the memory of my sister)

Climbing the stairs
from the cellar to the room
with the tile floor,
eight months later,
after the pain has softened,
after the ashes have been scattered
on the rock, after driving past the
snowy fields of Saint Gotthard,
we feel your presence
fill the spaces between our bodies.

Not yet understanding the full meaning
of this merging, of your hands
entwined in the leaves of plants,
your scent lingering in the
cedar closet, your smile
in the candle flame,
your voice trailing the crackling
of logs in the fireplace,
a sound so delicate,
we dare not move
as not to disturb it.

With each breath we take
the silent words into our hearts
and choose to believe in the
here and now
of all that was, before you left us

(Path of Fire, 2002)

It’s time for a poem. This one is by ten-year old Miranda, daughter of the brilliant author Scott Nicholson (see my blog entry about The Skull Ring, 3/3/2010). Miranda obviously walks in her father’s footsteps. She is an aspiring writer, poet, and photographer. Anybody who has ever languished during the long winter months and longed for a sign of spring can relate to this beautifully crafted poem. Enjoy!

Negative Snow

By Miranda Owen

Snow is bad.
It makes me mad.
When there’s no school,
It’s not so cool.
Sitting at my mom’s work place,
I’d really rather be in space.
Snow is cold.
The joke gets old.
It falls in your hair.
And everywhere.
Snow makes ice.
Ice brings mice.
In my house.
Traps for the mouse!
Positive I try to be.
But that job’s really not for me!
Snow please give us a break.
There’s not much more that I can take!