Turtle Crossing
“Never give up on a turtle. Because turtles never give up.” ― Sy Montgomery
I know you cannot always stop. Sometimes, you are already late, and you just cannot be late again. Sometimes, the car behind you has been riding your bumper for miles, and will definitely rear-end you if you even try. I know you cannot always stop. Sometimes, you just do not see me in time, and there is no good place to turn around. I know you cannot always stop. But if you can, if you have a little extra time, if there is no one behind you, if you see me in time, or if there is a good place to turn around, why not be a hero? If you can, why not stop for me? If you see me on the side of the road, when my shell is cracked, when I can no longer move, why not be a hero? Why not stop? Why not stop for me? If you see me trying to cross the road, and you have a little time why not stop for me? Thirty seconds of your life could mean five or ten or twenty years of mine. I know you cannot always stop, but if you can, why not be a hero? Please remember, the next time you see me on the asphalt, I am not crossing your road; your road is crossing my land. I know a lot of things. But I don’t know about your roads. No one ever taught me to look both ways. And even if they had, my pace was not meant for pavement. (Are you so sure yours was? Might it not be nice to slow down with me every now and again? To stop?) So please, help me across. And should you hit me accidentally, please stop to check on me. I am remarkably resilient. I will probably pull through. But I might need a little help. Don’t leave me stranded. Don’t leave me baking in the sun, because I don’t rush into anything, death included. I might need a little help. And why not be a hero? It doesn’t take too much. Your minor inconvenience, your slight change of plans, carries an entire lifetime for me.
What I’m Working On
Outdoor Writing
Earlier this month, I visited the chestnut tree orchards in Lesesne State Forest, where restoration efforts are underway for the American chestnut tree, today functionally extinct. I was privileged to tour multiple orchards with researchers from the American Chestnut Foundation and the Department of Forestry, as well as several dedicated volunteers. Controlled pollination was underway during my visit, and the beautiful trees were in bloom. It was quite the experience! Look for my story in the October issue of Cooperative Living Magazine.
Westminster Canterbury: The Personal Essay, presented by James River Writers
Leading this workshop has been incredibly fulfilling. We are now three weeks into the five-week experience, and I have read essays about everything from premature deaths, to first memories, to fingers nearly lost to chainsaws, to the University of Texas tower shooting, which one of our participants lived through. What a wealth of life lessons and life experiences is gathered in a single room every Wednesday afternoon!
Wild Senses: A Mindful Creative Writing Workshop
The next Wild Senses workshop will take place this Saturday and focus on the sense of smell, featuring co-hosts Frick and Frack, two adorable (de-scented) skunks.
Registration is now open for our August 1 Wild Senses workshop, during which we will write with ambassador pigeons from Thieves of Seed Bird Rescue and focus on the sense of sight. During our final workshop on October 3, we’ll write with a fox. Keep a lookout for registration for this one-of-a-kind wildlife writing experience.
Mind the Dog: A Writer’s Best Friend: Nurturing Your Relationship with Your Dogs through Writing
Registration closes Monday for this playful, dog-friendly writing workshop scheduled to take place at Book People. We will explore how we relate to our dogs, examine how our dogs relate to the world, and enhance our relationship with our dogs through creative writing. Dogs are welcome to attend each session of this dog-centric writing workshop, which will take place on two Saturday evenings, July 11 and 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Registration is $60/person (dogs are free). If all goes well, an extended, five-week version of the workshop should take place this fall.
Writing Community
On Tuesday, a college friend and I will host the inaugural meeting of an as-yet-to-be-named virtual writing club. It’s fairly informal and will center around a specific prompt. Participants will each write a short piece inspired, however loosely, by the prompt in any genre or format they want, and then share the piece for feedback.
Prose and Cons met last Thursday at East Coast Provisions to discuss our writing lives and enjoy some delicious food.
I’ve already registered for the James River Writers Annual Conference, and am particularly looking forward to two master classes, one on creative stamina and the other on narrative structure.
What I’m Reading
Currently, I’m reading The Fullness of Time: Marking The Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars by Cathey Haynes.
Teacher Life
Yes, I know it’s summer break. But I’m still a teacher. So far this summer, I’ve created an activity centered around a podcast episode about AI for my dual enrollment college composition class, and I’m currently working with a teacher friend to create a professional development session focused on self-care for educators, to be offered during pre-service week in August.
Volunteering
The latest issue of the Bay Quarter Bulletin, a quarterly newsletter I compile for Bay Quarter Shores, a community in the Northern Neck, goes out July 1, so I’ve been working on that for the last several days. I’m waiting on a few last-minute items to come in before I can wrap up.
Links to My Latest
Archie and The Littles
Archie snuggles with me in the armchair beside his enclosure.
Nacho (top) and Soda (bottom) float down the James River between Pony Pasture and Reedy Creek in Richmond.
The Littles enjoy a morning on the rocks at Pony Pasture.
Soda (top) and Nacho (bottom) enjoy a leisurely paddle on the James River at Maidens.
What I Saw Outside
Male chestnut tree flowers at the chestnut orchard in Lesesne State Forest
A leaf of romaine lettuce dangling from his mouth, a tortoise lumbers toward me at My Three Chambered Heart, a reptile natural history museum I recently wrote about.
A small praying mantis on my parents’ porch regards me with seeming curiosity.
An oakworm moth on one of my pineapple plants
Literary Calendar
June
Wild Senses: A Mindful Creative Writing Workshop
June 27, 2026 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Possumbilities, Fredericksburg, VA
This third class will focus on the sense of smell and feature skunk co-hosts Frick and Frack from Awesome Possumz, with future workshops featuring each of the remaining two senses. Registration is $30, plus an item for the rescue.
July
Mind the Dog: A Writer’s Best Friend: Nurturing Your Relationship with Your Dogs through Writing
July 11 & 25, 2026 | 7 p.m.-9 p.m. | Book People, Henrico, VA
In this playful, dog-friendly writing workshop we will explore how we relate to our dogs, examine how our dogs relate to the world, and enhance our relationship with our dogs through creative writing. Dogs are welcome to attend each session of this dog-centric writing workshop. Registration is $60.
Register here! (Registration closes Monday, June 29)
August
Wild Senses: A Mindful Creative Writing Workshop
August 1, 2026 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Possumbilities, Fredericksburg, VA
This fourth class will focus on the sense of sight and feature pigeon co-hosts from Thieves of Seed Bird Rescue. Registration is $35, plus an item for the rescue.