Excerpt:
The Rain gets in
In the morning,
When the rain comes down hard.
We can feel it ease into our bones
our skin, the back of our neck.
Gives us the chills.
We can smell it,
the copper taste in the air
rolls under our nostrils,
sneaking in.
We can taste it.
It gets inside us
like breath.
I love it.
The intimacy of rain drops
touching my face
soothes my need for attention;
stops any greed for invention,
perfection.
In the sunlight,
everything looks black and white.
Contrast is king.
But in the rain,
the lines between us blur,
meld, like smoke.
Comfort in gray.
No expectations.
Some people need to go inside.
The rain makes them sad.
They need to go in and hide
from the intimate wet day and night.
They miss the lovely sound
of the pounding drops
on their windows;
the lovely sound
of drops on their doors,
the vibrant sound of water embracing them,
getting inside;
opening them like buds. 

I have been writing poetry since I was a child.  In my life I have had the opportunity to teach learning disabled children, fourth graders, and music students. 
     I hope to be able to continue my work in this world.  I am now healing from a stem cell transplant for ALL leukemia.  I find that meditation, yoga, and exercise helps me through this process.
     Poetry is a form of meditation for me.  I attend a wonderful writing group at the Queen of the Valley Wellness Center: Write for Life, in which people share their inspiration with others.  We write together and separately.  We support each other.
     Singing is another way to commune with others.  I enjoy singing with Sonoma City Opera, and now, with the Napa Valley Chorale.  We recently sang Leonard Bernstein's Mass, Chichester Psalms and Westside Story in May.
     My mother sang with Lenny when she was a young girl at her aunt's house in Hartford. I also sang for Lenny at Lincoln Center when I was fifteen.   I was greatly inspired by Lenny and got to meet him several times. 

     I am donating 85% profits received from this book to leukemia and Cancer research.  I hope I can help make a difference. 

     My first book, Harry's Grandpa Takes a Mysterious Journey is also sold online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.  It is a tale about a boy dealing with the death of his grandfather.  The book uses humor and precious memories to deal with a difficult subject.  This book was published by Arcus Publisher of Sonoma and has been used by therapists and hospice workers to help families deal with the death of a loved one. 

"A very sensitive book about the healing that is possible in saying goodbye." 
Carole Peccorini, R.N. Hospice coordinator

Hey, I like it! Leonard Bernstein,conductor/composer