April 2, 2022
by jenniferpuryear
“Picture yourself walking through a meadow. There is a path opening before you. As you walk, you feel hungry. Look to your left. There’s a fruit tree in full bloom. Pick what you need.” Thus began one day’s reading, this week, from The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency, by Melodie Beattie. It continued, in dreamlike fashion… ”Steps later, you notice you’re thirsty. …
March 26, 2022
by jenniferpuryear
Tulips at Cheekwood will peak this week! “Everything is Beautiful” at the Frist. Susan Page speaks, meets, and greets at the Nashville Public Library (Washington Bureau chief of USA Today, she’s written books on Barbara Bush and Nancy Pelosi). Nashville Ballet and our Nashville Symphony perform “Firebird” and “Billy the Kid” in an extravaganza at the Schermerhorn. Finally, Nashville celebrates all things Japan with the …
March 26, 2021
by jenniferpuryear
I was already feeling bad about uprooting the orange and black pansies – flourishing in their pots since October – for the sole reason that they look like Halloween, not Spring.“I’m sorry,” I whispered to them. “You have been very good pansies.” I felt like crying. What is wrong with me, I thought. “I’ll meet you in the dirt,” I whispered, but they just kept …
March 21, 2021
by jenniferpuryear
Yesterday in a fever dream I walked through a forest of strawberry cream – lay down upon a petal bed – swiftly sinking… sinking, sleeping… sleeping, walking… walking, waking… among the hellebores who hissed with dragon tongues and cursed me. Now – running – stumbling – falling – tumbling – into the bamboo forest – where possums and lions and even coyotes haunt and torment. Lost – …
February 7, 2021
by jenniferpuryear
Have you become more comfortable with silence and solitude in the time of corona? Has social media filled more time – or less? Friend of Bacon Beth Alexander was deeply affected by the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” and today she explains why… From Beth: During this strange time of Covid when the norm is separation, I’m missing friends and the little perks of friendship that …
January 10, 2021
by jenniferpuryear
In my yard, unsteady, I’ve taken my first steps since October. Winter’s glories abound, and its desolation… Winter’s Feast At winter’s feast, I drink the yellow jasmine – Paint my lips with blood-pink bloom – Rub my hands with Rose of Mary; In their rooms, dear pansies flirt and swoon. At winter’s feast, I touch the veined hydrangea – Dress my hair with leaves …
November 3, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Good morning, Bacon friends! I woke up to such a fun message from our friends across the pond today… Is it weird that my heart swelled with joy? My husband brought me a cup of the strong stuff. We’re going to be fine! Wow I hate to sound flip – and many of you know I can go a little sharp on politics from time …
June 13, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Beth Alexander stops in at Bacon today with a radiant essay on a favorite children’s book. She makes me want to stay in bed and read – to ignore the glorious summer morning and the flowers that need watering and the laundry that needs doing and the bills that need paying. (Perhaps I shall read in bed, for just a little while, perhaps a book …
May 24, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
In January of this year, Caroline Hawkins was teaching in Uganda. Her younger sister Eliza was studying in Sydney. Middle brother Charlie was working in Dallas. The kids found their way home to Nashville as the virus spread, and the girls are staying for a while. Caroline, Eliza, and their mom Elizabeth stop in at Bacon today to reflect on the unexpected…
May 21, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Sometimes a girlfriend knows you better than you know yourself. Sometimes a girlfriend likes you better than you like yourself. Sometimes a girlfriend laughs with you and helps you laugh at yourself. Agenia Clark and Marlee Mitchell make each other laugh, and they’ll make you smile too! Agenia Clark is the charismatic CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee; Marlee Mitchell is a badass, National-Park-loving …