Give Me Your Inights to Help with an Upcoming Event, Please

 Preparing for an upcoming panel: Thoughts on what this topic means to you...."Poets: Bridging from words to Deeper Understanding". Thanks! Poets and poetry readers respond, please!

A Day Trip to Augusta, But Not to The Book Tavern This Time!

 

     My wife and I will take a road trip, now that we are both retired. Our intention was to go to North Carolina to an orchard farm and take in the sights. But it is rainy and cold there. So we will head in the other direction to Augusta, Georgia, just across the border. There is a Mall there, and we will have lunch at the Boll Weevil.

     If you find yourself in Augusta, The Botleys of Beaumont County can be found at The Book Tavern,

https://booktavern.com/, 936 Broad Street. They have all sorts of wonderful books!

    For those who cannot make it there, order from Blurb:  

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

   And for my poetry books ( All in the Family ) is on Blurb,

   

My Wife Found the Second Box of Botleys!

     Three weeks ago tomorrow we moved to the new house. My wife found the second box of Botleys, so I am prepared for an event in two weeks. (more later!)

     And if anyone in North America wants a signed copy, please contact me here or at aturfa@aol.com to fund ut how that can happen.

     Here is the Blurb link:   https://www.blurb.com/my/dashboard  All un the Family

is also on Blurb.

     Amazon Link: 

 https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Turfa/e/B00YJ9LNOA/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

 

Oh, Those Ridiculous Polls...Who Cares?

https://www.grunge.com/639018/this-was-the-worst-singer-in-crosby-stills-and-nash-according-to-fans/ 

     At first, I could not believe what I was seeing. But it was there. A Grunge poll asked who the worst singer in Crosby, Stills, & Nash.

     That's right. Three singers whose harmonies remain among the best ever recorded, and roughly 600 readers responded. The site does not even give an exact number.  Hmmm. I wonder how much of the music they actually listened to. I have heard most of what they have recorded and even saw them during their acoustic tour in 1991.

     How many people will read this "Story" and really believe that Stephen Stills is the alleged worst singer?

     Why I am surprised? Look at how many people refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Some of the reasons would be laughable if it were not a matter of life and death. And not for them, but for me as well. 

      Enjoy the music, and let Grunge and those almost 600 people fade away,.....

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFrPnI1aDy0

    

     

Leonard Cohen and Sacred Texts

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/17/how-leonard-cohen-mined-sacred-texts-for-lyrics-to-his-songs 

     Regardless of what thinks about religion (Full disclosure: I am a Lutheran pastor of 40+ years service), many sacred texts contain excellently written passages. For example, thin of the Psalms from the Hebrew Bible or Christian Old Testament, the Prologue to St. John's Gospel, to name but two.

     Cohen was an observant Jew who appreciated the beauty in texts from other faiths These inspired his own writing., and also his own life of faith.

     Every so often I would have a student who wrote in one or more genres. When I asked whom they read, often I would get a response like "Nobody. I just write." I would talk about whom I read and who inspired me. Usually, I could see the student tuning me out. Then I would smile.and hope they would eventually get my point.

     So listen again to Leonard Cohen, and see if you find more allusions to sacred texts. I know that I will.

Poem Published in the Muddy River Poetry Review

 https://www.muddyriverpoetryreview.com/?fbclid=IwAR1c2ZtMqWhpTV08UWzHKAQBxgYt7gAes8TkLecasmcBxXryQbMpV3axTxg

     This one is about my mother, Margaret Gross Turfa, who concluded her teaching career at Rittenhouse Middle school in Norristown, PA. 

I Found One Box of Botleys!

    We are all moved out of our old house. And we are finding the boxes we need to get our new house in order. Each day is better than the day before. The move was only 28 miles/45 kilometers from where we lived before. while not quite our shortest move, it is close.

     I did find one of my two Botley boxes. Next month I have some events, so the timing is good. 

     Want a copy?      https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

     Or a poetry book of mine?  

  https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Turfa/e/B00YJ9LNOA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

https://www.blurb.com/b/10335105-all-in-the-family-2nd-edition

  

D +4...in Our New Home!

     We moved!  The old house is almost emptied, and our garage and other places in the new home have a lot of boxes. But we are able to function, which is good.

     Now we are in a subdivision again, for the first time in 12 years. Fortunately, the developers left a lot of trees, so not only does it look nice, but we hear all sorts of birds. Magda the Dog has a larger fenced-in backyard, and Merlin the Cat had a larger house to explore. 

    The den is a little smaller. That's where most of my writing occurs. But it is not the size of the room that matters. 

   In the meantime, here are some links to my books:

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

https://www.blurb.com/b/10335105-all-in-the-family-2nd-edition

https://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Turfa/e/B00YJ9LNOA%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

     

D-2...Not a Military Operlation..It's a Move!

     On Wednesday my wife and I will move from the place we have lived the longest in our marriage: a month shy of 12 years.

     We have enjoyed the two wooded acres in a quiet subdivision. I have walked the roads and woods with two dogs in that time, and took care of two cats,. Our current dog and cat will be boarded for about two days at the vet's swanky kennel while we move. 

     I have endured long commutes to schools and congregations but also written all of my books here. My wife has served a two=point Lutheran parish ably and honorably. Her retirement causes us to leave the area. 

      We are only going to the next county, 28 miles//c. 45 km. It is a larger house on a quarter of the land and is in a quiet, pleasant subdivision. Not only will we be closer to shopping, doctors, and the like, but more importantly close to our son and his family, especially our grandson.

     Until we get the Internet up and running, I will sign off. It might be a few days, but I cannot wait to get to D + 2!

     Back view of the house!