ABOUT ME

When I retired last year, I enrolled in a poetry class at our local college.  What I sought was a way to pass the time and nurture my lifelong love of writing.  What I found was myself.  And now you have found me.  By way of introduction, I have concocted this little “recipe” poem:

JUST JOAN IN A NUTSHELL

1 head naturally curly hair, salted and peppered
1 big mouth
2 cups French press coffee
1 unique perspective
1 notebook
1 pen
1 extra-large heart
1 avocado
1 library card
1 pair Birkenstocks (socks optional)

Combine with a crazy husband, two rescue dogs, and one stray cat in a small but organized house.  Add a yearning for simplicity and a dash of environmentalism, then ask yourself “What Would Jesus Do?”  Pour into a casserole dish and top with French fried onions.  Slide it into the oven and set the dial to NPR.  While it bakes, go hug a tree and perform a random act of kindness.  Take it out before it’s done and shove it in the closet with all the other unfinished projects.  Grab a glass of Moscato, ignore the TV, and curl up on the couch with a good book.

 

A ONE-SIDED INTERVIEW WITH JUST JOAN

Small talk never really changes, so I’ll let you supply the questions.
Here are the answers:

Yes, Ohio weather is lovely.  Except for tornadoes.
Yes, I’m from here and have lived here most of my life.
Joan (pronounced JOAN, not JO-ANN)
Middle child, three sisters
Married
No kids
I was in third grade during the Blizzard of ’78.  Do the math.
Two dogs and a cat
Air Force vet, retired nurse, up-and-coming writer
Favorites: blue, autumn, jazz, live ones (not bouquets)
Sorry, I don’t follow sports.
Piano lessons as a kid.  Not anymore.
Can’t tell you those; I don’t want to split the jackpot if they hit.