Going to the "Weird" City

One of the most beautiful words a writer gets to hear is "yes". Sometimes, we have long dry spells waiting for the oasis of acceptance. This is the season of both acceptance and rejection letters as so many of us check our inboxes for responses from conferences, residencies, fellowships, and of course the ever rolling train of submissions.

I was thrilled to recently find my name on the list of 2013 CantoMundo Fellows. I cannot wait to be in the excellent company of so many incredibly talented and accomplished poets this June in Austin, Texas.

When I was a little girl being called "weird" used to make me cry. To be completely honest, it stings a bit even now. (Mean people, go on notice, you know who  you are!) So I think it is apt that CantoMundo is held in a city whose slogan "Keep Austin Weird," fits perfectly with yours truly. Score one for weird little sisters everywhere. May we forever dress funny, talk funny, run like girls, perfect the art of hypnotizing goats, make cardboard shoes for everyone we love, be unafraid to wear the aforementioned cardboard shoes in public places with your siblings who have refused to wear their own (even though they fit them), write poetry on our bedroom walls when we run out of paper but not inspiration, bring home strays, read the dictionary because words make us happy, accept no substitute for the authentically strange and mysterious, and never, ever, bow to the pressure of the often suggested, "Can't you just be like everyone else?" Answer: No. Hell, no. Keeping it weird, like a Boss!