Say yes. Or not. It's your call.

+ a writing prompt for you to use this week

My recent travel to Alabama gave me many gifts. I had time to catch up with friends, teach a workshop, and meet new colleagues. I experienced some incredible black musicians and artists. I’m still processing what I learned about systemic racism from slavery through mass incarceration, and connections with places I’ve lived and people I know.

And I brought home a few germs. I’m on day 6 of Covid recovery.

I’m fortunate. I avoided it for almost three years. My immune system had a heads-up on how to cope. My symptoms are improving. I’ve got the means to hang out at home. I have a partner who is healthy, and neighbors who’ve sent food.

I’ve been pretty lazy this week, while my body works at healing. I’ve read fluff—free Kindle downloads from the chick-lit section, mostly.

Similarly, my viewing habits have been pretty marshmallowy.

• Both Downton Abbey movies, but in the wrong order.

• The short docudrama series Inventing Anna.

• And a long scroll of Say Yes to the Dress short videos which are now showing up on my Facebook feed, and probably will forever. So many brides—all different. Seriously, it’s a surprisingly diverse group of humans shopping at the bridal salons featured around the world.

I thought I’d come home from Alabama and get right to work producing Important Words for Publication. I thought I’d write something meaningful about the museums and memorials in Birmingham and Montgomery. I at least thought I’d get the laundry done. Instead, I’m drinking cherry ginger ale and pondering the family systems on display as brides choose an overpriced dress for one day—a process fraught with a tangled web of tradition.

I’m interested in knowing: What makes all these people tick? And what happens later after the cameras are turned off, the bill arrives, or the bride’s mind changes about the dress and maybe more?

My Covid fatigue is calling for a nap. Stay well, friends.

Here’s your writing prompt for the week—the photo below. Say yes to it. Let it prompt something in you, then follow where your pen leads.

Or not. It’s your call. Write about something else if you like. Or just take a nap.

a writing prompt, if you want

Photo by Megan Lee on Unsplash

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There should be cute little icons below where you can like, comment or share this post. Let me know what you think about the prompt, or come back and add some of what you write in the comments. Know someone who might enjoy this prompt or others? Please share!