Tucson Writer Editor

Trying to make it easier — a short one

Posted on November 29, 2015 by sheilawill

Walking back to Brook and Gian’s house, up the main drag of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, NC, I see a way to make it easier. Cut through the woods.

Some folks may think I’m a bit nutty. I prefer “fearless.” Hell, why not? I recognize their house, surrounded by a wooden fence and short patch of woods nearby.

It’s their hood, right? Their new community.

Ah…community

Walking between their wooden fence and a small hidden house, which I hope to scurry past without anyone seeing me.

No such luck: “Hello, hello!” a woman smoking a cigarette on the screened-in porch calls out. “Stay right there. He’ll be right out,” she says.

A hefty young guy emerges from the side door.

“That’s my daughter’s house over there,” I say, pointing to it. “I’d just like to try taking a shortcut through the woods.” He looks dubious.

“I’m visiting and I’ll only do it this once,” I tell him. He still looks dubious.

“I don’t know what’s back there. Could be spider webs, all sorts of stuff,” he says.

What can I do but pull the Maine woods card?

“That doesn’t scare me. I’m from Maine. I’m used to the woods. But that’s okay,” I give in. “I’ll walk up the road.”

“I love Maine,” he says, sounding way more comfortable.

Posted in Fight wimpiness, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Nature Girl | Tagged "The Big Orange Splot", Chapel Hill, Franklin Street, Maine woods, neighborhoods, Saxapahaw, sense of community, spider webs | 2 Comments

Thankful for taxi drivers, leftover leaves, and Thanksgiving leftovers

Posted on November 27, 2015 by sheilawill

So nice to see leftover fall leaves…

Kalid, the taxi driver from Dubai who took me from the airport to Brook and Gian’s new home in Chapel Hill, was full of Thanksgiving wisdom.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s not about religion. It still came up, but we agreed. “ISIS is not Islam,” Kalid tells me. “The Koran says that anyone who kills a stranger is not a Muslim.” As a secular Muslim, he says that Jews and Muslims are brothers.

“You know, you can be a good person without being religious,” I say. Kalid considers this, then says that he’s learning a lot from me. My teacher self is appreciative.

I’m surprised when he adds, “The Palestinians are not good people.” I point out that there are good people and not so good in every ethnic group, but that I believe 95 percent of us are decent folks, we’re all part of the human race, and that race is a social construct.

He likes this.

And, there’s always politics. “We need a president who’s a mother,” Kalid says. I couldn’t agree more. He loves the Clintons, and thinks that Wild Bill was the best president ever.

Kalid’s been in this country for five years and already owns his cab, a gas station, and a small grocery store. “I make good money,” he says. I’m happy for him.

His background reminds me a little of President Obama’s. His father came from Dubai to attend Harvard, and is now a retired engineer living in Minnesota.

As my kids sometimes say, I often find out more about cab drivers than their families know.

I love these conversations. Perhaps I’m a born interviewer.

With my own family, I try to be quiet. Let them take the initiative.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. I’m happily doing my own thing at Brook and Gian’s gorgeous Carolina home, eating chocolate, knitting Ethan’s scarf, and waiting till they’re ready for a field trip.

What a beautiful home!

But first, Brook comes downstairs after doing some schoolwork. It’s time for Thanksgiving leftovers. I’m ready.

Posted in Family Matters, Food/happy hours, politics, The Rest of the World | Tagged Chapel Hill, Dubai, good people, Hillary Rodham Clinton, North Carolina, secular Muslims, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

Cyclovia Tucson… Decorated bikes, no cars, happy cycling!

Posted on November 1, 2015 by sheilawill

Hundreds of people whooping it up with no annoying cars driving too close. Small children on tag-along bikes with their dads, kids proud as they could be. Colorful fake flowers arranged on bike baskets, shimmering streamers flowing from bike helmets.

The scene along the way

Biking in Cyclovia twice a year was fun. In November, as soon as it turns cool, a five-mile easy ride through central Tucson, and even better, the spring tour of the barrio.

Yup, the old lady was ready to go, after drinking lots of coffee and munching on weekend biscuits with eggs, at the B-Line with her honey.

At the first traffic light stop along the Cyclovia route, she didn’t hesitate getting off her bike, watching the svelte young thing barely expending any energy jumping rope. Assuming she could hop right in and do it, too.

No stopping her.

Three tries before she fell backward. Smack on the concrete road. On her coccyx.

Jumping rope — even double Dutch, and fancy hopping from one foot to the other — had been so easy for the old lady, more than 60 years ago.

Time has passed. Lots of time.

What was she thinking? Was she in denial of her somewhat advanced age?

She hates to think of herself as old, although in reality. most of her life has passed.

After getting up off the road, a young Cyclovia volunteer looked at her Oz t-shirt, and said, “I was born in Portland, Maine.” (There’s always some Maine connection, everywhere in Tucson).

Since they had started a conversation, the old lady asked, “Do you know how old I am? I’ll be 70 in 2016.”

“No way!” the young woman replied. The old lady felt better, like she wasn’t really that old.

Bullshit.

But she rode away and all was well. Except for her headache.

Posted in Baby Boomers, Bopping Around Tucson | Tagged B-Line, bicycling, Cyclovia, growing old, jumping rope, Maine, Oz Books | 2 Comments

I’m with Bernie: ‘A grotesque level of inequality…’

Posted on October 10, 2015 by sheilawill

That’s the real issue, isn’t it? I’ve been a political junkie my entire life, but never have I been so afraid for the future of representative democracy in the United States.

Citizens United has made a mockery of any semblance of fairness in politics. Undoubtedly the worst of the Supreme Court’s ubiquitous 5-4 decisions, it allows corporations to act as people.

What does that mean? No holds barred in humongous political donations by the super-duper richest among us.

So last night I went to hear, Bernie (Sanders), the iconoclastic Independent (Socialist) Vermont senator. I remember hearing about Sanders when I lived in Vermont in the early 1970s. Wow, a socialist/progressive/truth to power guy I could believe in! And I still can.

Photo: Gwen Russell Harvey

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2015/10/10/bernie-fills-the-reid-park-performance-center

“A grotesque level of inequality”: Republicans aren’t the only rich donors; Democrats have their share, too. But as Bernie said, when the ultra-conservative Koch brothers plow $900 million into the 2016 elections, what happened to one man [person], one vote?

When 1 percent of Americans have more money than 90 percent of the rest of us — yet they oppose raising the minimum wage from a pathetic $7.25 per hour — how can we call ourselves a democracy?

“A grotesque level of equality” is right. Now what are we going to do about it? I wanted to see a woman president in my lifetime, but if there’s a choice I’m going with Bernie.

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Fight wimpiness, politics | Tagged 2016 presidential election, Bernie Sanders, Citizens United, truth to power, Tucson Weekly, U.S. inequality, U.S. Supreme Court, Vermont politics | 4 Comments

Thirteen years in Tucson…a few thoughts

Posted on September 26, 2015 by sheilawill

I drove into Tucson at sunset on my daughter Brook’s 25th birthday, Sept. 25, 2002.

“I did it,” I said to myself. “I don’t know what I’ll do next, but I did it.” I had driven cross-country from Southwest Harbor, Maine, left my much-loved community and home for sunshine and adventure at age 56 (mostly sunshine).

What I did next was head to the closest motel off Interstate 10 and go to sleep. But first, I put on a vintage, pink lace nightgown, which friends gave me as a going-away present. Who knew what excitement awaited me in the big city, right?

Guess that’s another story.

What did I discover in the big city?

Tucson, with its population of more than 800,000 people is for me a giant place, coming from an island of under 10,000 hardy year-round inhabitants.

It feels like a small city. No cars surge by on interstates within the city limits.

It’s surrounded by natural beauty, a protective circle of desert and mountains, which I love.

Tucson has a liberal, laid-back bent. I’ve been invited to attend “Drinking Liberally,” where like-minded political fanatics can rant and drink freely. I’ve never gone but it’s nice to know that the group exists.

There are hidden book-lovers in Tucson, more than 100,000 who emerge from their homes every March for the spectacular Tucson Festival of Books, which I also love.

I don’t like hibernating like a desert rat in the heat of summer. Luckily, we’re in Maine coolness for a good part of it, yet even a month or two indoors is too much for me. I could do my hiking at 5 or 6 a.m. Doesn’t appeal to me whine whine…

Education — as I knew it teaching in Maine — is nonexistent here. At least 30 kids per public school classroom. Arizona, shamefully, ranks 5oth in per-pupil spending. Teacher friends must buy their own tissues, pencils and notebooks. (Watch for my Teacher Hero piece on Nanette Longchamp, one incredible educator, in a December Tucson Weekly.)

Equality of education is the backbone of society, and here, it’s mostly been tossed aside leaving fixed black and white views collected on Fox News. That’s also another story.

Tucson loves its local musicians (I often think about dancing more). The arts are not a luxury in Tucson, except in the schools.

As a former journalist, this speaks to me. (Thanks to Deborah Hilary Sussman)
“It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there.” — William Carlos Williams

Seeing beauty in this fucked-up world, whether I’m in Tucson or Southwest Harbor, is what sustains me.

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Journalism/Writing, Nature Girl, Tucson Festival of Books/good books | Tagged big cities, desert living, education equality, everyday beauty, Southwest Harbor, teacher heros | 2 Comments

Poets & Writers magazine supports Our Place Clubhouse!

Posted on September 22, 2015 by sheilawill

Thursday Writing Group at Our Place Clubhouse returns! We’ll be starting up again in October.

As facilitator of the 2012-13 Thursday Writing Group, I’ve never worked with a kinder group of people than the dozen writers who live with serious mental illness, and who strive for recovery every day.

Together we co-wrote “A Certain Slant of Light. Emerging from the Shadows of Mental Illness,” which we launched at the clubhouse on Jan. 17, 2014. More than 200 people celebrated with us!

Guests who joined me at the book launch on Jan. 17, 2014.

Guests who joined me at the January 2014 book launch

To find out more, check this out:

http://www.pw.org/content/shining_a_light_on_mental_illness_sheila_wilenskys_thursday_writing_group

If you’re a therapist, guidance counselor, middle-grade, high-school or college teacher, who would like free copies of “A Certain Slant of Light…” to share with clients or students, please let me know.

Let’s reduce the stigma of mental illness and support brain health in Tucson!

Here’s to the growth and happiness of each of our unique selves!

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Journalism/Writing, Mental illness | Tagged A Certain Slant of Light, brain health, kindness, Our Place Clubhouse, Poets & Writers magazine, Thursday Writing Group | Leave a comment

From my desk to my ocean: taking time to smell the roses

Posted on September 12, 2015 by sheilawill

See the tiny handcrafted bowl of dried roses? My dear friend Olivia made it. She lives in Berkeley.

See the photo of Brook, about to turn 5, ready for her first day of kindergarten in Bass Harbor, Maine? She will turn 38 during this Libra birthday month.

See the Schrager family photo? That’s me in the first row with my eyes closed, second from the left. My brother, Joel, is seated to my left, and cousin Linda, who’s now Sita, to his left. We have no idea who the kid is to her left. Cousin Gloria, now Nikki, is kneeling on the far left, in the second row.

Ethan formed that ceramic head topped by what looks like a black beret. He was probably in my friend Carol Shutt’s pottery class, maybe in third grade. To the left of the little guy is a tiny book on friendship with a tiny purple ice cream cone on the cover, given to me by Penelope, my first friend in Tucson.

Inside that tiny book is one of my favorite quotes, “Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.” — Henry David Thoreau

In front of the Newseum mug, which Brook and Gian gave to me, is an oblong silver bookmark. I don’t remember who gave that to me, or why, but I try to follow its quote:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams,” — also by Henry David Thoreau.

Today, Olivia and her husband are visiting Mount Desert Island, following a week on Great Cranberry Island, across the Western Way. She sent this fabulous photo of one of my favorite places in Southwest Harbor (maybe on the planet?), the Claremont lawn (looks down to the boat house, where we go for cocktails in the summer. The Claremont Inn isn’t in the photo, only its shadow).

Olivia and I roomed together at the Claremont many Septembers ago. We both served on the board of the American Association of Children’s Booksellers. I suggested the Claremont for our annual three-day retreat. Ten board members arrived from around the country, adding immeasurably to fall commerce in Southwest Harbor. I still lived there. I had to go home to get more blankets. A late September chill was in the air.

Both Olivia and I left the book business in 1997, and received the “Spirit of ABC” awards at at that year’s American Booksellers convention (now Book Expo America, I think that’s what it’s called). We’ve been friends for more than 20 years.

I’m glad she stopped to smell the roses this past week.

Brook’s birthday at the end of this month marks 13 years I’ve lived in Tucson. Welcome to September, one of my favorite months. Welcome to my desk, where I write to remember my dreams.

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Family Matters, Mount Desert Island/Maine | Tagged American Association of Children's Booksellers, Book Expo America, children's booksellers, Claremont Inn, Henry David Thoreau, Schrager family, September, smelling the roses, Southwest Harbor | 4 Comments

Being in charge of myself…the way life should be!

Posted on August 20, 2015 by sheilawill

It’s been almost a month since I plunged back into an independent work life.

Quitting my job after 10 years has been a relief — both emotionally and politically. For those of you who have sent kind words about missing me, hoping this is a positive change, here goes!

First comes an early morning walk, which usually includes a social hour at Starbucks. We find out unreported Tucson news or get recommendations for new movies.

On these hot, hot walking days with Julie and Mira, we return from our walks to swim in our pool. Cutie Mira, who’s 2- 1/2, likes to stand poolside practicing her counting.

“One, two, three, eight, nine,” she shouts, then happily jumps back into the pool, into her mother’s arms.

Sheila’s SPA! Our townhouse is behind the wall.

Either before walking, or afterward while I’m having a yummy eggie and veggie breakfast, I write my own stuff.

Okay, first I check my emails.

Pitching interesting stories to both local and national publications is a kick. Here are the first two in print/online so far:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/the-science-of-violence-and-compassion/Content?oid=5893148

Wilko Wine Bar + Eatery: Fresh Menu & Local Ingredients Balance Top Notch Bar Program

I don’t know which queries will be answered, who may think my idea is “fascinating” (one so far), and who can’t be bothered writing back to me.

I’ve been in the writing/publishing/journalism world long enough (more than 35 years) to know this is part of the process.

Late mornings and afternoons are for working on freelance stories.

During our idyllic two months in Maine this summer I discovered that my best working hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m.

And it was in Maine where my happy new life began. I realized what was most essential, besides gazing at my children’s faces, during the next stage of my life.

Still, I was ready to return to my job on July 27. However, after around two hours, it became increasingly clear that I couldn’t stay.

Too bad the thought of spending winters in our Southwest Harbor home also won’t work for me. But I’m lucky. I have the best of both worlds.

Maine will always be my heart’s home. It must be Brook’s and Ethan’s, too. Together with their magnificent mates, they chose to return to Mt. Desert Island for their weddings.

For those of you who’ve asked to see more photos of Ethan and Steph’s May 30th wedding, here’s one of the happiest gazes ever!

Rockin’ out with the groom…”Loves me like the Rock of Ages. My mama loves me, she loves me…” by Paul Simon.

P.S. I’ve been sleeping better, too!

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, Mount Desert Island/Maine | Tagged Ben's Bells Kindness Conference, freelance work, morning walks, Southwest Harbor, Tucson Foodie, Tucson Weekly, Wilko | 10 Comments

Sleeping…or not?

Posted on August 12, 2015 by sheilawill

Granted, I’m a bit nervous abut my finances since happily quitting my job a few weeks ago.

Is this the cause of sleeping poorly, waking at 2 a.m. and again before the sun comes up?

I used to sleep like a rock. During our two months in Southwest Harbor, from late May to late July, it was too gorgeous to sleep. Lilac-strewn curtains started dancing to the breeze at sunrise. Lobster boats putt-putted by. Birds chirped in the field behind my house by the sea.

I cheated. These lobster boats are at the Ilesford Co-op, not behind my house. But they look the same.

When I returned to Tucson three weeks ago I figured that waking up in the middle of the night was due to the time change. I was still on East Coast time.

But after three weeks, what’s going on?

My dear friend Phyl, who retired from teaching at the University of Maine two years ago, tells me I’m going through a tremendous life transition. I suppose that’s true.

Life transition: I’m sailing into the sunset but hoping for many more.

I think that excitement and anxiety are flip sides of the same coin. So here’s the question: When I wake up in the middle of the night, am I excited or anxious, or both? I feel excited about new possibilities.

Querying stories about subjects that I choose as a freelance writer — to publications near and far — is such fun.

Still, I imagine anxiety lurking.

But dang, I feel so happy. It’s a good thing I stopped having to go to work. I now have time for naps.

Posted in Baby Boomers, Journalism/Writing | Tagged excitement and anxiety, freelance writing/editing, life transitions, retirement finances, sleeplessness, Southwest Harbor | Leave a comment

Blueberries galore, views astounding…summer epiphanies

Posted on July 17, 2015 by sheilawill

Pemetic mountain south ridge ascent. Best hike ever. Scrambling over pink granite. That’s Dan up there…I’m too busy picking blueberries. Sweet, perfectly plumped up in patches welcoming sunshine.

Wish I knew some geology. Rocks unite but are different. I like that.

A stellar summer for climbing Acadia’s peaks: Beech, Flying, Acadia, Champlain, Eliot and now Pemetic mountains. North and South Bubbles. Biking to Wonderland and Ship Harbor almost every day. Leaning my bike into the bushes and walking the 1.3 miles over roots and rocks.

So many islands in the distance. First summer I remember not being on the water. The Atlantic seems so friendly to me — all those safe harbors. I’ve also seen its wrath. Not today. It’s as smooth as ice.

We made it to the top. I had been worried about Pemetic being too hard for me to climb. Epiphany — don’t predetermine the outcome.

Next week I’ll be in Chapel Hill, N.C. Dan will be on his way home to Tucson. He’s taking three weeks to get back. I’m taking two days to be with my two kids and their lovies. One with a new home in academia; the other about to take off for the other side of the world.

Everything changes. Thanks to Mount Desert Island for its majestic beauty, for encouraging me to be nature girl again. Thanks to 165 Seawall Road for harboring my epiphanies.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments