The play is epic. I am a Scrabble god. I bingo with “oleander”, not even really knowing the word, just total recalling from a book cover Moon read years ago. I see the title in my mind, White Oleander, and brilliantly surmise the presence and placement of “white” makes it likely not a proper noun so it’s a legit play.  I am amazing.  I am going to be on SportsCenter.  I see the highlights of me spinning and running through a field of oleander shrubs. I hear the postgame interview where I say all the right things.

ME: “My opponent played well but at the end of the day I just wanted it more.”

SC: “Wes, tell us what you were going through when you made that scintillating bingo.”

ME: “I guess I was just in the zone.”

SC: “How can you explain your high level of play?”

ME: “I’ve got to give thanks to my teammate my brain, I would not be here without him. We really left it all out there on the board tonight.”

Admiring my score, I reach for my next tiles (need to replenish a full seven you know because I just bingo’ed).  This is the stuff champions are made of, I might make the Hall.    Still grabbing tiles when–>  no….no wait  –>  without realizing it I’ve created a triple-triple opportunity for my challenger who swoops in to score 60 with a three letter word. She’s only half awake but that’s all you need when a rookie maneuver leaves a triple-triple wide open.  Um. Suppose the Hall won’t be calling after all.  Now I’m the goat. I hope the camera crew and attractive sideline reporter went home early.  My self-image as a strategist aware of all possible outcomes instantly shattered by three little letters. So caught up in my own awesomeness I’d lost sight of, fact I’d never even seen the big picture.

Scrabble I love you, I hate you.  Oleander, you’re not so sweet anymore either, you’re just a poisonous plant whose flowers are usually pinkish anyway.

It’s simultaneously–> getting easier for the beauty to slip right by out of sight or unnoticed, while becoming more vivid than ever when actually seen.

Take the full moonset I witnessed an early morning this week. From my perspective, a thin cloud curved right through the center showcasing size and influence. I’ve seen this same sky rock a thousand times before/never.  Could have easily missed this showing, driven right under it on my way to work or whatever.  Yet, it registered.  I’m still wanting to reflect on the rock; hold on like it’s a piece of important.  I think I have the capacity, even a propensity to do this holding, though it’s not commonplace for me anymore.  Trying and re-trying to make it common.

I can’t remember my brain not being full, and these days it’s taking more calculated attention to fill up with the right stuff.  It’s maybe even a fight at this stage.  Brawls with schedules and mounting chores, fisticuffs with internet and noise. And those self duels can be grueling.  There’s things to be done y’all/me, but those magic moonsets are happening all around all the time. They set across the dinner table and tell disjointed knock-knock jokes.  They can set to be seen in a side alley or Scrabble game paired with just the right cloud.

I think another just slipped me by, better put on those gloves or get a hatchet.

Some recent recommendations–  feel ’em / take ’em / leave ’em –>  

-“The Kings of Summer” (movie)

-headlamps

-kale

-magic

-“The Boys in the Boat” (book)

-breathing

-gumption analysis

-Son House (music)

-Hot Damn Scandal (music)

-fort making

-“Between Two Ferns” (comedy/?)

Husky Crew Foundation Photo:  Erickson Collection 

Workin’.