What Kind of Chicken Outfit is This?

My body sits in Portland, Oregon, but my mind walks the beach in Lincoln City. Waves of wispy clouds from our Pacific (peaceful) Ocean silently filter into my tumultuous city. Last night a guy fell to gunshot wounds about five blocks from where I write. Two others suffered similar wounds that same night in other parts of the city. The Bible asks, “Why do the nations rage so?” I think it a good question. Where does all this rage come from?

Judy Collins sang, “I've looked at clouds from both sides now.” Me too, Judy. I have seen the wispy- white peaceful kind and the dark, angry thunderheads. This day I have much to accomplish and feel the anxiety and, yes, even rage welling up in my spirit. Maybe we all live under a cloud; however, we choose the kind of cloud in our sky and over our lives. Let's see, which do I prefer? Duh.

I tuned into a New Age station with a repetitive piano refrain echoing in my earphones. Good writing takes time, faith, and patience. I have to wait for the right words. I admit that I sometimes get angry during the waiting phase of writing especially if I have dark, deadline clouds hovering over me. However, I have learned that the words come quicker and better when I have my head in the white, wispy kind of clouds. It feels like a waste of time for me to leave the assignment right now, but I know that it pays off in the end.

Today, while I wait for Ms. Muse, I observe things to nourish my writing soul. American students have gone home for the school year replaced by Japanese girls in Levis and red Converse All Stars.  Always in groups they study long hours around laptops and course books with occasional breaks to talk on their cellphones. Very accomplished young women belied by their petite, reserved, and shy appearance, they inhabit study rooms throughout the library keeping pace with my long hours writing.

Another group of little people invade the campus. A class of third-grade school kids from a local school take a tour. All energy and distraction they appear to hear nothing while absorbing everything. I look down from the library window at our future. Concordia has an impressive attitude toward community, e.g. They allow me to use their library as if enrolled here. I can check out books, use their Internet, and access their staff. I feel thankful to have such a spacious, gracious office so nearby, and have tried to repay them with some press in the local rag.

The past couple weeks I have watched a $7.5 million dollar athletic complex take shape outside my office window at Concordia. The university has already formed partnerships with the community for use of the field and facilities. Their education students volunteer in local community schools. Concordia's student athletes work with kids on skills both athletic and life. Like I said, “Impressive.”

These days I write about chickens. My brother said, “What kind of chicken outfit do you work for?” Okay, it hardly qualifies for the great American novel, but I find beauty there. Today, I study the Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken from Switzerland.  I wrote,  “Silver spangled Appenzeller Spitzhauben look like the snow covered alps from which they come. They have brilliant white feathers tipped with black fringe like snow with exposed black rocks.” My editor likes my writing, and that works for me. In a world of visual stimulation that little appreciates writers, it feels good to have someone capable of identifying decent writing and acknowledging it. I write for readers and those who appreciate the power and beauty of these symbols we call words.

used by permission wikia

I felt a invasive funk these past few days hard to identify and even harder to eradicate. It felt good to connect up with the beauty swirling around me. I hope it helps you, Dear Reader.