two of a kind

Setting sun over the Parthenon on the Acrpolis in Athens

Instead of Cancun or the Caribbean

I imagine what Greece used to be like.  I picture Aeschylus’s Agamemnon performed at the Delphi theatre, and how the Agora used to look: the bustling marketplace full of women buying ingredients to make baklava and mousakka for their families.  Women with a purpose.  I buy hologram postcards so I can see more than just the skeletons of these places.

It’s our last night of spring break, and we lounge on the rooftop of The Heroidion in Athens.  I say to Max, “This trip has been like a weird, lucid dream.”

Her response: “I’ve eaten enough garlic to turn into a clove.” 

This is the kind of talk between best friends: disjointed and comfortable.

During the last 11 days, I’ve learned that my skin turns glossy from Mediterranean olive oil; that in touristy areas, the Greeks serve Americanized gyros with oregano fries piled high; and I learn to downplay tripping on the cobblestone streets.  I am a step away from grace.

“Yasa!” we shout as we tip back our last ouzo shot and cheers to this trip.

We sit, stargaze and feel the soft spring breeze. 

“We have a better view of the Parthenon, up here, than we did paying admission,” I say. 

Max nods and jokingly says, “Wish Rula was here to describe this.”

Rula is our Greek tour guide, chain smoker and professional espresso drinker, who has a knack for saying English words in a dirty way.  “Olympics” becomes O-limp-piks and “fortress” into four-undress.  Imagine her description of this postcard worthy view: “marble” to ma-ball, “temple” to tim-pile and “rubble” into rawr-bull.

Max trickles off to bed but I stay up. 

I look at the Parthenon with the scaffolding illuminated by construction lights.  It is old juxtaposed with new.

Then I see a single shooting star fly above this ancient temple.  It reminds me that just like a human body, the bones outlast. Life swirls around us, even as we struggle, always evolving.

- SRM, 2013 ©

I've written about Greece before (found here and here), a very special trip that still inspires me.  This is the piece that I submitted to the World Nomads China Scholarship about Catching a Moment.

Tell us: How does travel inspire you?

-SM 

(image via pinterest) 

 

 

 

1. Stay in touch with professors 

• I heard about this scholarship from a college professor.

2. Attend writing workshops

• This can be a weekend conference like this one or looking at a local community college for their semester workshops.

3. Submit to an alumni literature journal

• If you are unsure if your school has one, or what the name is, then google " your school name literary journal" so I would search "Richard Stockton College literary journal".

4. Poets & Writers has a great listing of submissions in their Classifieds section here

5. Join a mailing list like this one

6. My friend, Meghan, created an awesome magazine called The New Megaphone

• Accepting submissions for their second issue! 

-SM

Today, I applied for a travel writing scholarship to China through the World Nomads site!  Thousdands of people applied, but I still feel confident with my piece.  

This contest gives the winner a chance to travel to China and see what life is like for a travel writer.  It is an incredibly competitive field and I think it's a really cool opportunity.

Fingers crossed! 

-SM

photo source: worldnomads.com

Don't we all want to make enough money to just do what we love every day?

As a writer, part of what I've always been told to do is publish. This is one of the first steps to trying to "make it" as a writer, but figuring out how to do this is not easy. 

Before sending out work, my advice is to revise, revise, revise. I will write a post soon about my revision strategies.

Where to send work:

1. Send work to alumni literary journals

2. Send to a friend's or acquaintenance's literary journal .

I've been struggling with how to get my work out for the last few years, and I recently remembered that starting small is best.  So, my goal for this week is to send to my alumni literary journal, Stockpot, and a friend's literary journal, which I will post more info about soon.

Tell us: How do you get your work out?

-SM

image via pinterest 

I started taking Melissa Esplin's calligraphy class two weeks ago, and I am OBSESSED.  It's like the beginning of a relationship; Jen called this my "honeymoon" phase with calligraphy.  

I have had some challenges because I'm left-handed so I'm still trying to figure out the kinks, but it's still something I look forward to practicing. 

-SM

Tell us: What are you currently learning about?

Today, we are celebrating our 27th birthday.  Though we aren't in the same state this year, it is still special. 

Jen is my best friend and knows me better than anyone.  We are lucky enough to know what each other is thinking without having to say a word.  We share the same ideals, morals, and recognize the necessity of inspiration and following our hearts.  

I am lucky to have someone in my life who just gets me and who cheerleads my lofty ideas.  Jen wants the best for me, which I'm realizing is hard to find these days.  

Thanks for being someone I can always look up to and be impressed by.  You are achieving amazing things.

Happy birthday, sissy!

Cheers! 

-SM

How to Travel Route 50, the Loneliest Road in America

 

Forget your favorite underwear and plush throw--

it's hard to find comfort in a thin bicycle seat

and sleeping bag, and it can't be what you're after.

 

A friend taught me to spell words-- 'bourgeois',

'stereo' and 'poster'--to stop crying.

Pump the brakes when no one is around

and ride in between the yellow lines.

Control is everything.

 

Don't think of the life you left--

ceramic coffee mugs, routine and shaving--

adventure is what you want.

 

If you get lonely, sing. Try to bounce

the sounds off of the mountain sides.

Skip rocks in the valleys and take in

the Nevada backdrop.

 

Take time each day to think of your bike's gears

and chain, the machine that drives you forward.

When you reach the border, turn back--

notice the sun shining on the asphalt--

sizzling some bugs and only burning others.

 

-SRM, 2013 ©

 

This poem came out of a prompt given by a friend.  Requirement: write a poem about one thing, but really be talking about another.  I am lucky enough to participate in another multi-member blog so we post and then critique each others' work; I will post a revision soon.  

 

Tell us: How do you stay inspired?

 

-SM

(what was it I was hungry about)

What was it I was hungry about
I think the turkey in the oven, remember?
My friend said nothing is wrong
stay put, it’s a good fighting bar.
The girl walks home alone
in the dark, always beautiful and sad.
And here in the last minutes,
You can never really be sure,
but someone tightens a screw thinner
than an eyelash
and sips the juice of a grapefruit.
I sink down, as if shot, beside the ball
of its butt larded with mother-of-pearl.
There never was such a bright red ladybug
on the blinds.
Of course I will not be here long,
not the way percentages are going now

- MP & SRM, 2013 ©

This is a play off of Exquisite Corpse, which I've participated in on and off.  I first mentioned that my poet friend/best friend and I would be collaborating here, and this is our first "draft". Thoughts? I will revise and repost soon. 

March Goals:

I did complete 22 work outs this month using Move Your Booty as motivation, and I was all smiles this morning when I finished my run.  I may have had to do multiple work outs a day to complete it, but hey, I still did it!  And I can't wait to do more than 22 work outs next month!

• manage social media of this blog: B

I commented on blogs that I read daily and tweeted most of the posts.  (Follow me! @smoult). I'm going to keep trying with this one.  

• don't waste left overs or food: B
• train for this 4 mile run: B
• stretch most nights: C

I stretched after every work out, but not every night.

I love reading goals that people set; I find it inspiring.

Tell us: What are goals that you set for yourself?

-SM

My unexpected break from blogging has ended.  I spent some time in Philly this past week.  On Wednesday morning, I walked to my favorite Philly coffee shop right before I left, and took some pictures in Fairmount Park.  

I found some "secret gardens" that reminded me of Le Petit Jardin in Red Bank:

Funny how after growing up, I now enjoy re-discovering the Italian deli and Reading Terminal, which we used to visit when we were kids.   

Tell us: Do you revisit places and see them differently, as an adult?

-SM