My sister Therese, chronicler of the Stories of Elmford, has a phrase she likes to use: “Gifted with a magic oomph.” I have that phrase taped up under my office window.
It visits like a neighbor I see is at my door. It’s the unexpected connection that follows the dread (always the dread first) which leaves me flying, soaring, leaning in.
Happy birthday to your dad! He is lucky to have you and your sisters. Wish I could cultivate a bit of obliviousness myself.
"It's the unexpected connection that follows the dread..." Me too! Martha's question about my magical oomph stopped me in my tracks. I've been mulling this for the past 4 or so days and I was just going to say what Rachel said but with more words. (So, thank you Rachel!)
This morning I was in the car with my son after dropping my car off for winter tires. traveling through this industrial part of town, I saw the top of a skinny fir tree all by itself it seemed among warehouses. My heart leapt because it looked like it was the church steeple on top of one of the buildings. I thought that all churches must have modeled their original forms after trees. My "aha!" was followed by a "duh, now." I imagine many people have made that connection, but it was a visceral first for me. Those visceral firsts stimulate my creativity and the oomph to do something with it. I'm off to draw some skinny tree tops.
Your dad's serene face makes me so happy. My lovely grandfather-in-law is 97, and I swear his kindness and optimism are some of the reasons he's lived so long.
My oomph comes from kids and their shrieking joy. How quick they are to laugh, how they don't see rain as an impediment to playing outside, how they fight bedtime because they're so excited about waking life.
Thanks for sharing your magic oomph! Mine comes from poetry - Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Ada Limon, and the mischievous haiku masters Basho and Issa.
Happy Birthday to your dad! What a cutie! I love the list of his oomphs and yours, too. My oomph is triggered by pure joy, brought on by so many things, mostly ordinary, under-the-radar things, like open windows, balmy temps, and just the right amount of breeze on my bare feet. Feeling contentment is part of that joy. It spills everywhere. Great post, Martha!
P.S. Thanks for the link to your sister's Substack. I just subscribed. 😁
Just the right amount of breeze on bare feet — love that. Small, physical sensations—yes. Thanks for subscribing to Therese’s substack. She is the wise one in our family.
It visits like a neighbor I see is at my door. It’s the unexpected connection that follows the dread (always the dread first) which leaves me flying, soaring, leaning in.
Happy birthday to your dad! He is lucky to have you and your sisters. Wish I could cultivate a bit of obliviousness myself.
xo
"It's the unexpected connection that follows the dread..." Me too! Martha's question about my magical oomph stopped me in my tracks. I've been mulling this for the past 4 or so days and I was just going to say what Rachel said but with more words. (So, thank you Rachel!)
This morning I was in the car with my son after dropping my car off for winter tires. traveling through this industrial part of town, I saw the top of a skinny fir tree all by itself it seemed among warehouses. My heart leapt because it looked like it was the church steeple on top of one of the buildings. I thought that all churches must have modeled their original forms after trees. My "aha!" was followed by a "duh, now." I imagine many people have made that connection, but it was a visceral first for me. Those visceral firsts stimulate my creativity and the oomph to do something with it. I'm off to draw some skinny tree tops.
You are a gem, Martha!
I personally have never made that observation, Terese, and it’s beautiful.
"always the dread first" ... yes, I have that too. Fear that I'm going to mess it up. And then the plunge!
Lovely!
Ooh I will look up this mischievous masters! Thanks!!
Thanks Kate!
Your dad's serene face makes me so happy. My lovely grandfather-in-law is 97, and I swear his kindness and optimism are some of the reasons he's lived so long.
My oomph comes from kids and their shrieking joy. How quick they are to laugh, how they don't see rain as an impediment to playing outside, how they fight bedtime because they're so excited about waking life.
Definitely. My daughter got so excited when it started to rain, she wanted to be out in it immediately.
Thanks for sharing your magic oomph! Mine comes from poetry - Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, Ada Limon, and the mischievous haiku masters Basho and Issa.
Happy Birthday to your dad! What a cutie! I love the list of his oomphs and yours, too. My oomph is triggered by pure joy, brought on by so many things, mostly ordinary, under-the-radar things, like open windows, balmy temps, and just the right amount of breeze on my bare feet. Feeling contentment is part of that joy. It spills everywhere. Great post, Martha!
P.S. Thanks for the link to your sister's Substack. I just subscribed. 😁
Just the right amount of breeze on bare feet — love that. Small, physical sensations—yes. Thanks for subscribing to Therese’s substack. She is the wise one in our family.
Happy Birthday to your amazing dad! Wow, 100! That's a lot of magic oomph! xo
Your magic oomph sparks my magic oomph
and boomerangs back to me