I never thought poetry would pop up in life again. Not since high school have I thought much about it. I also never thought it would take such a hold.

Since May, I was voted to be the Illinois State Poetry Society’s North Suburban Chapter Facilitator, which placed me on the Board. Now there are several more meetings making themselves at home in my calendar.

I also the chairperson of the Manningham Poetry Contest for Illinois. It is a poetry contest for 6-12 graders. So there is a lot of work there.

With all this, I continue to stretch my poetry wings. I’ve written a few poems that found publication this year. Two poems and a photo were published in this year’s (2019-2020) East On Central anthology of prose and art.

This summer I took up the challenge to co-edit a poetry book for Highland Park Poetry. That book came out this week and it’s quite a feeling to have your name appear on the front! (A poem of mine also appears in this book.)

I’ve set a goal for myself to a chapbook by the end of next year aware that my other writing projects are waving to get my attention. There is that one manuscript that needs revising and I’m developing characters for another story. I’m looking that part of it – finding their back stories, what makes them tick.

I look at this time of creativity and find that I’m quite happy with all of it – even the responsibilities.