The Hermit Poet

Meanwhile, back at the ranch… Neil enters the uncharted realm of his 34th year.

It’s been a good — almost phenomenal year — in many respects. A year of changes, transitions, recognitions, and surprises. A year too with its share of sadness and struggle. I’m grateful for everything and everyone that has into my way, though I do not pretend to understand it all.

Today was a relatively normal day. I worked on a project for my poetry & music composition class. We had a double celebration in my poetry workshop for me and my classmate Jessica who shares the same birthday — lots of food, drink, and banter. I spent a little time with friends afterward, then went back to my apartment to read and relax. I’ve actually done little to celebrate. And perhaps this year that’s fine. I miss my father. That too is normal. It’s been exactly a year since his passing.

I’ve been wondering what the best thing to do would be under these circumstances – how to celebrate my birthday and yet to honor the memory of my father. Tomorrow night (Tuesday) I’ll be giving a poetry reading with Jennifer Kwon Dobbs at Village Books in Pacific Palisades — and to me at least, that feels like the perfect way to combine both.

If you’re free and in LA or Santa Monica, please do stop by. Jennifer’s reading from her new book, Paper Pavilion. I’ll be reading from my forthcoming book, The Lost Country of Sight.  No cover charge, but buying books is much appreciated.

Tuesday April 22, 2008 — 7:30 PM
Neil Aitken & Jennifer Kwon Dobbs
Village Books
1049 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA