"This is Anita." That's the creepy way I answer my phone if I don't have your number already programmed in my device. Scamming telemarketers and aggressive bill collectors looking for some other name are usually thrown off by my blunt weirdness.
"Hi. This is Christy from the Nevada County board [of something or other] and I have a question for you regarding the submission you sent for the art and poetry card design contest. The quote, where did it come from?" "Yay, Hi Christy [See, I'm nice now that it's not someone trying to sell me a time share or calling me Sonia]. The quote came from a short piece I wrote a year or so ago." "It's original. That's great!" I explained how the parameters called for 25 words or less. When I put my name as the quo-tee, it seemed a little much for a card that people would carry. No one wants to hold a person in their wallet. I don't want to actually be in their wallet. Names are powerful. I didn't tell her that. I said with my 3 word name it put me at 26 words, over the cut off. "I can tell you then, that our poet laureate chose your piece in the 18 and over division, and your submission is the official winner." Being chosen by a writer, for my art and edited poetry has made me giddy. I'm confirmed as an artist/writer in the real world, and this has legitimized the hard work I've been doing. I've been really busting my own balls to get some grasp at these watercolors as a medium. I worked with acrylics for 20 years, but watercolors have eluded me. But I did it. I even took a class. And each day that I force my self to do a little more studying, it's finally paying off. Strangers will have the chance to hold my art, though it may just be a laminated little library card in their pocket. They wont know me, but I hope they will feel the heART I put into my work. I was also recently asked to be a judge of the children's art at the county fair this year. They are going to pay me, AND give me and fancy pantsy lunch. It feels wonderful to be a grown up right now. I'm an artist. I can be proud of myself for a minute. And I am.
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July 2023
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