Snapshots

— The Empire State Building is lit up a deep purple tonight. Beautiful.

— Had my writing group tonight. Working hard to get my manuscripts ready for my class, beginning on June 8. Funny, now that the class fasteth approacheth, I look at my writing and think: “God, this is CRAP.” It’s good to face these demons, to be with this uncertainty. It’s not just about thinking your stuff is good, and thinking that what you do is worthwhile. It’s also about sticking with it even when you feel doubt. Even when you know you have a lot of work to do. A good process.

— There’s a very interesting show on right now, on Court TV, about the Lindbergh kidnapping. It’s all about the investigation into Hauptmann – in particular, to that weird ladder found – and the importance of what became known as Rail 16. Hauptmann was convicted pretty much because of that ladder. There were other things involved, and there is quite a bit of evidence pointing towards Hauptmann’s innocence … but he was convicted because of Rail 16. I love this stuff, it’s so interesting. Forensic details – people whose ENTIRE JOB it is to analyze wood. There are people on the earth who are WOOD experts. Fascinating. And there are modern-day forensic scientists talking about this case as though it is present-day.

— VH1 had a great special on last night about Metallica. If I wasn’t careful, my passion for Metallica could take over my life. I love those guys. They’re all so nuts, but they’re also so likable – in this crazy honest rock-star way. Also, there’s just the mere fact of their MUSIC and how it all happened for them. They’ve been around forever. And the Black Album was one of those albums that just never stopped. It was a phenomenon. They toured with that one album for three years. Every song on that album got radio play. They toured for a year, came home, and then some OTHER song from the album hit # 1 in, say, Tokyo – and they had to go on tour again. Albums rarely get that huge. It was self-perpetuating, it continued to grow and grow and grow … All the guys in the band, talking in interviews, still talk about being blown away by the response to that album. See? The obsession could take over my life. I can’t even listen to them that much because if I did, I would soon find that I would be unable to listen to anything else.

— Cashel was in church this past Sunday. And there was some ceremony at the end of the service, where people got to get up and state what they wished for, what they prayed for. I have only heard this story third-hand, so the details are a bit fuzzy. Anyway, Cashel’s mom asked Cashel if he had anything he wanted to wish for. Cashel said something material – like a toy, or a book. She said, “Actually, it’s not really that kind of wish. What else do you hope for in life?” Cashel thought a bit, and then came up with a good one. I’m not gonna say what it is, but let’s just say this: it is a deeply held true wish. “The substance of things hoped for.” His little heart filled with this sensitive hope. So Cashel got up and went up to the front of the church when it was his turn … and how did he begin? What did he start off with? He started off with the following words: “Dare I hope??” Oh God, what I would have given to be there. Cashel standing up there, a small 7 year old boy, proclaiming to the congregation: “Dare I hope???”