Home by Rob Trousdale
i knew the weekend was going to be trouble too many white folks too many Acura MDXs too many of my fiancee’s friends too many J.Crew swim trunks too many Ralph Lauren dinner jackets too…
Category: Friends
Share the Wealth with Madalyn: My Struggle with Mental Illness, Recovery, and Stigma: A Coming out Story
Psychosis is often glamorized in popular culture, but for those who have experienced it it’s anything but. Madalyn will share a personal experience of how it feels to be treated as a patient experiencing psychosis…
Accept Loss Forever: Ono No Komachi & Izumi Shikibu
I am glad to have read The Ink Dark Moon, Jane Hirshfeld’s translations, with the aid of Mariko Aratani, of the Heian Court’s poets—Izumi Shikibu and Ono No Komachi. Several of Kerouac’s writing maxims came to…
Share the Wealth with Lori Hirst: Russia through Anna and Sam’s Kind Introduction
In late May this year, my son and daughter-in-law welcomed me to their home in St. Petersburg, Russia. Even though I had taken some steps to prepare for the journey – through language, and literature…
Claire Writes Me, After 90 Minutes at Northwest Coffee
You are seed, sower, sown You are earth With you I am seed, sower, sown With you I am earth
“I Have Some Wonderful News…”
I recently received the following letter from Robert MacArthur, who studied with me in fall 2005 at Saint Louis University… Dr. Chmiel! Hello! I hope this letter finds you well. I have some wonderful news…
An Amateur Is One Who Loves…
I was at RISE Coffee today with Carrie, who’s soon headed off for first year of university at Mizzou. Early on in our conversation, she asked me if I’d like to see some of her…
Ego Death by Sarah Young-James
I’ve been delighted to have Sarah in the online class, Be in Love with Yr Life, and want to share the following reflection with you… “Security!” my subconscious cries out on most days, looking for…
My Canon by Blair Hopkins
Mark Chmiel told me about the concept of the syllabus (books you are required to read for a given literature class) and one’s personal canon (books that have been significant to you personally, regardless of…
Dear Layla, Dear Mark by Abbey Fox
Dear Mark, Per usual, I devoured your latest release. YOUR WRITING INSPIRES ME SO DEEPLY. It inspires me to take a moment and notice the tiny things that are the fabric of life and how…