catelin: (kiss)
([personal profile] catelin Nov. 25th, 2004 08:41 am)
Four years ago yesterday, I stumbled upon a place that I found through [livejournal.com profile] rhondak and her Naked Poetry site. The first LJ friend I made was [livejournal.com profile] blackhellkat, who still claims the prize for writing some of the funniest things I've ever read, here or anywhere. She also introduced me and [livejournal.com profile] razorart, who became one of my favorite LJ writers and a friend in the real world. Somewhere along the line [livejournal.com profile] verian and I became partners in crime. He made me believe in the power of my own words and helped me put together a book of poems that I still think is one of the best things I ever did. I still laugh at the photoshop wars that he and [livejournal.com profile] kalliope had in the first year or so I was here. [livejournal.com profile] budhaboy made me crazy and made me laugh from the beginning, as he still does. The fabulous zilla girl, [livejournal.com profile] chaizzilla, was someone so far away with whom I had so much in common--it was the first hint at the odd syncronicity that LJ always seems to have for me.

[livejournal.com profile] _ursa_ tipped his hat to me one day and became the sun. He described me once as the reason that men search for violets in winter. How can I not love someone who would see that in me?

I fell in Mad Love with [livejournal.com profile] doctorgogol and I don't think that either of us ever suspected how we would be changed from the experience. He wrote to me recently that he thinks we were ideals for each other and the real people behind them never quite matched up. This is probably true. He still knows me better than I know myself sometimes, so I've learned better than to argue; especially since he's always been gentleman enough to forgive me every sort of fault imaginable. The same sort of kindness and understanding has been shown to me over time by [livejournal.com profile] beatnikside and [livejournal.com profile] majorweather, making me loyal to them in ways that I could never explain.

Cigarettes and coffee were the glue that bonded [livejournal.com profile] tsarina and I together. She is the younger sister I never had but always wanted, she is my friend, she is my champion. She's the one who understands about all those silly southern foibles and graces. She is a never-say-die kind of person who would fight alongside me to the bitter end without question. She is family.

I've forged friendships here with people that are incredible, every one of them a voyager in the best sense of the word. [livejournal.com profile] rm is a woman who moves mountains, the only person I ever met who I am convinced leads an even busier and more hectic life than my own. She is also brave and cunning in the sort of way that makes me shake my head and whisper a yes with the secret glee that comes from recognizing the sort of vicious ambition that most women are afraid to show each other. We have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses, odd similarities in our childhoods that no one would guess from our histories. I admire her in a way that I do very few women.

[livejournal.com profile] anonymousblack is someone I watch like a universe being born. She is young and old all at once, and can write words that slice your heart clean through. I am extraordinarily fond of her likeness to Patti Smith in every sort of cool fucking way imaginable.

I've had people reach out to me with gentleness and help when I needed it, coming to my rescue with words or actions. Even though I never got to give [livejournal.com profile] roadnotes, [livejournal.com profile] baldanders, and [livejournal.com profile] eleanor big arms-wrapped-around-neck-like-a-wooly-muffler hugs in person, your kindness to me got me through a lot last year. So thank you. People like [livejournal.com profile] coyotegoth, [livejournal.com profile] nan and [livejournal.com profile] muzer, who took time to come by hook or crook to the strange suburbs where I'd landed, be my friends, and help me pack up to go home.

My sweet friends [livejournal.com profile] tamperevident and [livejournal.com profile] sun_set_bravely whom I think of as the muguets des bois, like lillies of the valley, each of them with a strength that one would not guess from their slender delicate grace.

There are the MUSES, with intentional caps...the wise women, the soothsayers, the ones who get me, the ones I aspire to be more like. There's [livejournal.com profile] raindog, the soulsister I brought to LJ land because I knew she would connect so powerfully with some of you. The newly wedded [livejournal.com profile] lolliejean lives with the fullness that makes me grin like a kid when I think of her. She's brash and bold in a way that only people who know the secret to life is love can be. There's [livejournal.com profile] bizetsy, [livejournal.com profile] chachachana and [livejournal.com profile] rockstarbob who give me faith in the future of womankind; [livejournal.com profile] iamkatia with her radiance, [livejournal.com profile] epiphany with her joyful honesty, [livejournal.com profile] lisalemonjello with her spirit, and [livejournal.com profile] suladog with her easy warmth give me faith in my own future.

A special mention of her own goes to the Donna, [livejournal.com profile] lacyunderall, who is my friend in that little kid, laugh until you pee in your pants, share every secret, never doubt that someone's got your back kind of way that I hadn't had for way too long. She pulled me to shore so many times. If I could, I'd kidnap her and bring her to Texas and never, ever, ever let her leave!

I've come to know people who make me proud to be in a group of mamas and papas who raise their kids with humor and limitless love, who make me feel that I am not alone in my struggles to do right by my children without losing myself or sacrificing my own chances to grow: [livejournal.com profile] omy, [livejournal.com profile] rubylou, [livejournal.com profile] jet, [livejournal.com profile] teri_lee, [livejournal.com profile] wolfdreamer, [livejournal.com profile] spleenless, [livejournal.com profile] ariabeltane, [livejournal.com profile] wisteria, [livejournal.com profile] adianoeta, [livejournal.com profile] raveen, [livejournal.com profile] weedyseadragon, [livejournal.com profile] fireangel_999, and [livejournal.com profile] eleanor. I especially honor the last two ladies. [livejournal.com profile] eleanor because she has been a mother by her own choice in a situation where a lot of people would have opted for an easy out. I honor [livejournal.com profile] fireangel_999 because she loved and suffered more with her three sweet wee ones than I can even imagine, because she swallowed her broken heart again and again to give her children what they needed from her, because she lost more than any mother should ever have to lose in a thousand lifetimes, much less one.

I have been priviledged to know word weavers and picture makers like [livejournal.com profile] veenven, [livejournal.com profile] wailaki, [livejournal.com profile] viedma, [livejournal.com profile] jourdannex, [livejournal.com profile] blueframmento, [livejournal.com profile] violetisblue, [livejournal.com profile] lillianleitzel and [livejournal.com profile] outlaw_jesus.

I've had mad crushes on many of you at different times for all sorts of different reasons, the kind of crushes that make a girl want to write a particular name a dozen different ways, in a dozen different positions. Some of you: [livejournal.com profile] nihilistic_kid, [livejournal.com profile] alchemi, [livejournal.com profile] bjohnson, [livejournal.com profile] emrecom, [livejournal.com profile] hobbitblue, [livejournal.com profile] sorrento, [livejournal.com profile] archon, and [livejournal.com profile] drfardook.

I've cultivated enduring soft spots in my heart for some that I exchange few words with but we seem to have grown into comfortable understanding of one another. It's like holding hands with a good friend, not feeling like you need to complicate the perfection of the stillness with a conversation. I sit on the virtual porch sometimes with [livejournal.com profile] tafkak, [livejournal.com profile] fabulist, [livejournal.com profile] daikusei, [livejournal.com profile] curtankerous, [livejournal.com profile] nickelchief and [livejournal.com profile] quuf, watching the world go by and occasionally giving a slow nod without turning our heads. We speak the same language. We see the same things.

I could go through my entire list and tell each and everyone of you something that has made me glad to know you. I hesitated to even begin to name names because I'm sure that I've neglected to mention people who have been so important to me in the last four years. The circle that I've become a part of here is amazing and intertwines itself through my heart in ways I could have never imagined. Even today, I'm expecting two LJ dinner guests--[livejournal.com profile] rothko and [livejournal.com profile] meta, newly arrived to my neck of the woods and nice enough to share their day with me and mine.

So in addition to the many things I am thankful for today---all the love that I have and the people I have to share it with--I am thankful for my time here and for everything that I've gathered into myself and been able to share with you all. Love is infinite, friendship is all. This is what I have learned in this place, from every single one of you. Thank you.

And Happy Thanksgiving! : )

From: [identity profile] justamy.livejournal.com


happy thanksgiving, cate. thank you for your inspirations.

From: [identity profile] daisydumont.livejournal.com


ditto to what you say about [livejournal.com profile] anonymousblack. the "universe being born" is parallel to my sense of her vast potential. i wish she'd bring back the tinfoil fox hat, though.

From: [identity profile] anonymousblack.livejournal.com


worry not! i can make the tinfoil fox hat return. (and *thank you,* so much, v.)

From: [identity profile] fabulist.livejournal.com


We do see the same things.

I'm glad I know you, hon.

From: [identity profile] sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com


Happy Anniversary, dear Cate. I'm so glad that we met each other on this crazy ride. And have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ext_4917: (Default)

From: [identity profile] hobbitblue.livejournal.com


What a lovely post.... and "I've had mad crushes on many of you at different times for all sorts of different reasons, the kind of crushes that make a girl want to write a particular name a dozen different ways, in a dozen different positions. Some of you:hobbitblue,"

*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*

*snuggles*

From: [identity profile] budhaboy.livejournal.com


Now that I have two boys (you are one of the few people who remember me when I had none), I'm stunned at how you've managed to raise two mostly by yourself AND keep a fulltime job.

Clearly you are an alien bent on the destruction of all humanity, I'm just confused about HOW you're going to do it.

From: [identity profile] theotoky.livejournal.com


What a beautiful post.

The admiration you send out is returned to you tenfold. Not because of karma but because you deserve it in your own right. You are an amazing person.

Happy Thanksgiving.

From: [identity profile] chachachana.livejournal.com


gracias! you give me faith in the future of womankind, too!

From: [identity profile] sorrento.livejournal.com


Woo hoo! Made the crush cut! You make mine as well. ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

From: [identity profile] lillianleitzel.livejournal.com


Happy Thanksgiving, mama! I am much privileged as well, deeeeply admiring and riveted as ye should well know, and I am still waiting for some damn sweet lyrical poemmmsss about little houses and porches and women staring out of windows!

And: Joi and I were talking about coming down for a longgg weekend like in late March or early April! We want to go to Austin and San Antonio, too! =)


From: [identity profile] doctorgogol.livejournal.com


There are many many crazy things
That will keep me loving you
And with your permission
May I list a few

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No they can’t take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No they can’t take that away from me

We may never never meet again, on that bumpy road to love
But I’ll always, always keep the memory of

The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No they can’t take that away from me


Happy Thanksgiving, my dear. La cancion eres tu.

From: [identity profile] blackhellkat.livejournal.com


Happy Thanksgiving to you and thank you for the kind kind words!

From: [identity profile] coyotegoth.livejournal.com


A very happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Cate. You're an amazing person.

From: [identity profile] veenven.livejournal.com


Happy thanksgiving to you too. Wise one, lyricist, fun mom and many other qualities I know I will discover.

From: [identity profile] iamkatia.livejournal.com


i am crrrrankin' nina simone's 'feelin' good' right this very
second with a big shit-eatin' grin on my face in your honour
you sweet strong sassy thing you.

god i love you. ♥X♥




From: [identity profile] razorart.livejournal.com


You rule, Cate!!

so glad this thing has brought us together, too :)

From: [identity profile] bizetsy.livejournal.com


This is beautiful--what a kind tribute to friends. You have inspired me more than I can say. xoxo, Betsy

From: [identity profile] quuf.livejournal.com


Thank you, dear Cate. It's a pleasure to share that porch with you.

From: [identity profile] nickelchief.livejournal.com


If Ken Highcountry and Joe Wall and you are all on the same porch with me, I'd faint from the exhilaration.

May your December be a month of light and sky.

From: [identity profile] verian.livejournal.com


You are one of the people I can't leave behind.

From: [identity profile] anonymousblack.livejournal.com


awwww, it was so thoughtful of you to go through and do all of this. but aren't you supposed to give the presents for christmas? thank you so much for your words, here and over the years. there's a few particular lines in this post i am going to copy down in my journal to carry with me, for the darker times: they won't be the first words of yours that i've carried with me.

From: [identity profile] lolliejean.livejournal.com


*snuffle* What a lovely thing to say. Thank you! I said something to Rothko about maybe I needed to move to Texas. and hey! Maybe me and the Scot need to at least visit Texas. *grin* (The poor man. Every day I've got us living somewhere else.)
.

Profile

catelin: (Default)
catelin

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags