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“Making Spirits Rise”

Today I picked up my dad’s ashes—or “cremains” as they’re known to the bereavement industry—from the funeral home here on the Vineyard. The biodegradable cotton urn was packed in a small burgundy tote bag, suitable for small grocery runs, I expect.

I first placed the ashes on the floor behind the passenger seat, but as I began to drive with my “dad” in the back, I suddenly felt like a chauffeur. Too impersonal. Too formal for the humble man. I stopped the car (a red, 1999 Izuzu with”CLIFRD” plates and a tiny stuffed Clifford hanging from the rearview mirror) and swung the bag around to rest on the passenger seat beside me.

Patting the sack I proclaimed “let’s go, daddy-O,” and drove off, employing the term of endearment I used most frequently in these last few months with my dad.

I put dad’s ashes under the tree until his interment ceremony, a few days after Christmas.

Until then I make my daily trips to the Edgartown post office, bringing home stacks of cards. If they are addressed to my mother, they are condolences; if they have my dad’s name, they are Christmas cards; if addressed to the “Bridwell Family” there’s about a 70% chance it’s a condolence card.

Even without his ashes here, there would be no doubting his presence in the house. Our lovely Christmas spirit.

 

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This One’s For All The Lonely Sailors

old sailors

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Author Interview in KGB Bar & Lit Journal

KGB Bar & Lit Journal

Thanks to John McCaffrey for this interview.

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It’s Halloweeny

Happy Halloween!

I thought this quote from my upcoming novel Sophronia L. captured the spirit of the day. Give me some credit for not writing “spirits” there, okay?
Final month to pre-order before the 1 December release date.

www.sophroniaL.com
Photo 07-08-2013 19 29 53

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SOPHRONIA L. : The Movie (actually… the trailer)

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The ELIZA JANE Has Arrived…

(From the novel SOPHRONIA L. Coming in December 2014 from Folded Word Press) pre-orders at: http://sophroniaL.com

Honolulu Bay

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Uncle Keziah’s Cooperage

In Uncle Keziah Lambert’s cooperage. (From the novel SOPHRONIA L. Coming in December 2014 from Folded Word Press) pre-orders at: http://sophroniaL.com

Cooperage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lightning Over Sound

A thunderstorm over Vineyard Sound last night reminded me of this quote, dreamt by my novel’s protagonist, Sophronia Lambert:

lightning_strike

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Edgartown Excerpt

For the occasion of my signing @edgartownbooks on Saturday August 9 at 12:30pm, here’s an excerpt from my novel, SOPHRONIA L.

Teeth Gnashing Quote

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Advanced Signing: SOPHRONIA L.

I’ll be signing advanced copies of my novel Sophronia L. at Edgartown Books at 12:30pm on Saturday, August 9, 2014. It’s only appropriate that the first signing take place in my hometown.

MOVA Poster