. . . demands I wallow in the mud.

It dawned on me this morning that it is no accident I chose a hippopotamus family as characters in my mother-daughter story for children.

I love digging around. I call it research. I love swimming in rivers or walking in lakes. I call it fluid-observation time.

I love belonging to a group. I call it socializing. I love being outdoors enjoying nature. I call it golfing.

I love wallowing in garden or river mud because with high humidity and triple digit summer temperatures here in the south, a shower afterwards feels soooooooooooooo good!

Any outdoor activity followed by a cleansing shower cause my body to yammer, "Let's get busy! Write, dammit!" And so I will.

"Los poetes son los ebrios de Dios". (Italian.)

Poets are God's drunkards. We are easily intoxicated with words and life.