Blog Posts for Opal Palmer Adisa

MARCUS BOOKS STORE

Opal Palmer Adisa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:16:43 -0800

When I was a little girl in Jamaica, my mother had a dear friend, Mrs. Powell, who had a bookshop in downtown Kingston that we visited weekly. While my mother and Miss Powell spoke and caught up on each other’s news, I would browse around, flipping through books, reading a few lines or several pages. When I got older, in my teens, I went to the store on my own, to visit with Mrs. Powell, ...

Not Writing/Not Trying

Opal Palmer Adisa — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:42 -0700

Years ago, whilst in the midst of raising three children as a single-mother and working full time, I lamented about needing time to write, just a simple poem, now I have an empty nest, but I still cannot find time to write all the stories bubbling in my head because of work, which has nothing to do with writing.Why has that not happen for me -- being able to live as a full time writer?Why am I ...

Living My Life: Getting UnStuck

Opal Palmer Adisa — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:28:01 -0700

Living MyLife: Getting UnStuck Procrastinationis the medicine of failure and dreams never realized. Each and every day wemust go about living our life as if this is the only and most precious momentwe have. Alltoo often I hear people say, tomorrow, or next year, making excuses as to whythey are not doing what they love, fearful to take a change, to risk, toexperience the sensation of ...

Nothing to Say then Remain Silent

Opal Palmer Adisa — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:40:15 -0700

How have we come to this? People are busy communicating on various sites, but have nothing to say, well nothing of substance it would seem. Is life so mundane? "I am getting ready to sleep or going to take a shower, ad nausea ..." Really! Why should I care? This is after all, I am told, a democracy, so people have the right and they certainly have space and access to the ...

Thorny but Necessary Path

Opal Palmer Adisa — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:49:58 -0700

Thorny but Necessary Path: I would not forgive her, I pouted at four, when once again, my sister, being the older, got to share the treats, this time it was a gloriously deep red apple. I did not forgive her that day, and for my stubbornness, I was punished. However, I did not care and refused to eat my share of the apple. Although I distinctly remember my mother packing us up and ...

FORGIVENESS, MY RIGHT

Opal Palmer Adisa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:09:16 -0700

I have asked myself time and again, if given the chance, what would I have done differently, would I have loved less men? Would I have taken less risks? Would I not commit words to page?My life is free of regrets. I seek no confession nor do I entreat anyone for forgiveness.I forgive myself all my mistakes.Do I wish that in order to walk I had not fallen down, and kept on falling down until ...

LAST CHILD OFF

Opal Palmer Adisa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:18:02 -0700

LAST CHILD OFF I pulled her to my bosom, held her tenderly and whispered, I love you,” into her ears. I could feel our heart beats pulsing through one another and in that moment my eyes liquefy. We disengaged and I walked away not looking back, but less than 100 yards away, a wail, so forlorn, escaped me, my breathe tighten that 50 yard further I had to sit down to catch my breath ...

Self Promotion is Great Promotion

Opal Palmer Adisa — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:14:23 -0700

I was reared at a time and in a place where it was frowned on to declare who you were, what strengths or talents you possessed, or in anyway affirm and applaud yourself. I remember being cautioned to wait until someone praised me for some act before I announced my talent or value. Boastfulness was frowned on, touting your own horn was discouraged, humility was praised, disappearing into the ...

What's Next

Opal Palmer Adisa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:59:10 -0700

Until I was there, I had not imagined myself sailing on the Amazon, until I was there I had not seen myself climbing the walls of China, until I was there I could not have envisioned the vastness of the pyramids, and so it is okay that I cannot hold in my mind's eyes where tomorrow will find me, and what other wonders life will offer at my feet. All I can do is stay open and declare that I ...

WE ARE ALL EVERY DAY HEROES

Opal Palmer Adisa — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:21:12 -0700

Most of us wake up each day, wash our faces and bodies, make ourselves presentable and go out into the world. Often, despite what is going on with us, fights with children or partners, mounting bills, a challenging boss or colleagues, problematic neighbors, or physical ailments, we smile at others, nod acknowledgment, say excuse me, and in general behave in an amicable manner with whomever ...