What Lies Beneath
Dateline—May 2016, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
Eavesdropping is a consequence of the writing life. Life becomes an opportunity to gather material for the next story or essay—vacations not excepted.
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I am at dinner in our hotel in the Grand Tetons. At the table next to ours, a woman and her pre-school grandson sit, heads-together and leaning over a book. "That is the sacred heart of Jesus!" the grandmother says. I recall this image from my Catholic girlhood. The child probably wonders, like I did, why Jesus wears his heart on the outside of his robe. It's an odd conversation for the dinner table. Soon, a server arrives and asks the family about their travels. "Yellowstone was just awful," the grandmother says. "I've heard people say that before," says the server. Yellowstone is our next stop on our Wyoming journey, How could the oldest national park in the world be "awful?"
Within days, I am at Yellowstone, a steamy landscape that looks like Mars with water. I expect to see the young Luke Skywalker zoom over the horizon on a hovercraft. Geysers, springs, mud pots, dead trees stacked like pick-up-sticks, herds of bison crossing highways, warnings of scald-injuries for walking on ground near steaming holes, and animal scat dotting the soil. A woman dressed in a Smokey Bear hat explains that the scat will remain there, untouched. Scat has its purpose in the circle of life, as does everything in this strange place.
Yellowstone is a caldera (aka crater) in the middle of mountains. Under our feet is an active volcano—the source of the steam. Magma several miles underground heats and recirculates water that has seeped into the ground. According to the National Park Service,"Nothing can be done to prevent an eruption. The temperatures, pressures, physical characteristics of partially molten rock, and immensity of the magma chamber are beyond human ability to impact—much less control." The Earth rules.
The landscape is magnificent but not lovely. I can imagine the grandchild asking his grandma, "Why are the trees dead? Why is there mud bubbling out of the hole? Why is the earth cracked and steamy? How come it smells so bad?"
Everything is alive here —the mud pots bubbling, springs steaming, geysers erupting, animal poop recycling. The dynamic water features will outlast every tourist strolling along the surrounding boardwalks.
Here's another consequence of the writing life— I see metaphor everywhere. This steamy landscape reminds me of memoir writing. What we write is a result of what lies beneath. Our memories bubble up from the heat of experience. Some missives steam or bubble. Others explode. Either way, there is surreal beauty to life stories.
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Now, you may scroll down for upcoming workshops!
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Memoir and Essay Workshops
Memoir and essay workshops run continuously through the year. Each meets 2.5 hours for six weeks. Small groups (4-7) work together. We read, write, discuss, share, and complete two first-drafts of short pieces to develop and revise. Writing prompts are completed at home, as are readings and short manuscripts. Here is the upcoming schedule:
Memoir Workshop
Monday, June 13— 6 to 8:30 PM
Essay Workshop
Tuesday, June 14—9:30 AM to Noon
Memoir Workshop
Wednesday, August 17—10 AM to 12:30 PM
Memoir and Essay Special Session—Critique of Collections
Monday, September 13— 6 to 8:30 PM
Cost: $160 per person for all six-week workshops
To enroll, e-mail Kimberly or call 502-417-3424 |
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Writing the College Application Essay
A small group of rising high school seniors who plan to apply for college in the fall of 2017 will meet on three Thursdays, beginning July 7. Participants will learn how to write a college application essay that is specific and unique. Class is scheduled for 9 AM to 10:30 AM each day; however, I can adjust times once students enroll.
Cost: $100 per student for all three sessions
Inquire by e-mail
or call 502-417-3424 and ask for Kimberly |
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