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Tuesday, December 08, 2020

A Socially Distanced December



"The ear tends to be lazy, craves the familiar and is shocked by the unexpected; the eye, on the other hand, tends to be impatient, craves the novel and is bored by repetition." ~ W. H. Auden

Athletes and artists know that repetition leads to greater skill, but the sameness of these stay-at-home days can open the door to boredom if we're not careful. This is why the merry month of December will be a time to count our blessings and look to the future. And like your favorite high school teacher, I'm giving you the month off to start counting.

There are no indications that the libraries in either Duval, Clay, or St. Johns Counties will allow meetings in the coming months, so we'll be Zooming into the New Year.  I haven't scheduled a December Zoom workshop, but we'll pick it up again on Saturday, January 23 with award-winning novelist, picture book author, and poet Shutta Crum presenting "Sound, Shape & Sense: The Work of Our Words." More on that fascinating topic next month.

And some groups have managed to meet with safe, social distancing, like the Amelia Island Writers meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 4-6 pm at Story and Song Bookstore, Fernandina Beach. Attend and listen for book tips, or participate by sharing a book or two that held special meaning for you this year. RSVP required due to space planning and capacity. Reserve to Lee Ann, jimlee.shobe@gmail.com, by Sunday, Dec. 13. ameliaislandwriters.org

The Gathering of Poets group is also conducting in-person meetings on the first and third Thursday of the month at 2PM on the back porch of the Ponte Vedra Branch Library. Masks and social distancing observed. Contact Sharon Scholl if you're interested in joining the group.

Until next year, here's wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

Cheers,
Vic

Vic DiGenti
FWA NE Florida Regional Director