My inbox has been blessed with readers who have sent me notes or messages, sometimes with their own writing! A few weeks ago, I was sent this poem. There’s some things I really like about it, but others I don’t. Let’s talk about it.
Calling all members of The Tortured Poets Department!
What’s dead is people romanticizing themselves tormented.
What if life was a choose—your—own—reality adventure novel you were the author of.
Each moment you were thinking, writing, speaking your life into existence past, present, future, for better, or for worse.
Would you still make the choice to stand in solidarity with those who call themselves the Tortured Poets?
Or would you rather be part of the Radical Optimist Alliance, the Eternal Sunshine Society?
Persephone chose darkness, I choose the light.
Let’s start with what I didn’t like:
Did you notice how the poet name-dropped three albums released (or to-be-released) by mega-pop stars in 2024? The Tortured Poets Department is the soon-to-be-released album from Taylor Swift. Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism is coming on May 3rd. Ariana Grande’s album, Eternal Sunshine, came out on March 8th.
Do you think the poet was intentionally trying to pit against each other these three superstars and their records? Or was there a different reason for the comparison?
Also, the end of this poem… “Persephone chose darkness, I chose the light.” Does anyone think that is a little pretentious? Persephone is a figure in Greek mythology known as the Goddess of the Underworld. She was kidnapped by Hades and dragged down into Inferno. After she was tempted to eat some Pomegranate seeds in the Land of the Dead, Persephone realized that she could never rejoin the Land of the Living, but she pleaded with Hades who granted her some relief. Persephone then was able to come back to Earth during certain times of the year.
All that backstory begs the question, did Persephone really choose darkness?
Let’s talk about what I liked:
If you look at just the italicized words, a sub-poem appears.
Tormented Choose-your-own-reality Thinking, writing, speaking, Past, present, future, For better or for worse. Radical Optimist Eternal Sunshine.
The sub-poem may tell a story of a poet who was once tormented, but then realized that they manifest their past, present, and future through their thoughts and words. It tells the story of a tortured poet who became a Radical Optimist, who thrived on Eternal Sunshine.
Both the poem and sub-poem speak to the idea that we play an active role in shaping our realities. Romanticizing being tormented is a slippery slope. Who wants to be a tortured poet? If the past gives us any indication, the life of a tortured poet is dark.
Class is now in session: What are your thoughts on this poem?
A hundred thousand rabid followers hang onto every word of the Lyricology podcast. Its host, the Lyricologist, rose to fame after their original and totally crazy theories about America’s favorite pop-star, Rhea Harmonia, actually came true. Dubbed a ‘true clairvoyant’ by The Music Times and an ‘entertainment industry prophet’ by Club Chicago, the Lyricologist became the most sought after interviewee in the American media circuit. Everyone wanted to know how they did it, and most importantly, what — and who— else they knew. But then, without warning, the Lyricologist stopped posting their weekly podcast and disappeared without a trace.
The ultra-competitive podcast network, the Clock, swarmed with creators eager to take the Lyricologist’s place. None was more excited about their disappearance than Athena. For weeks, Athena’s podcast had been putting Lyricology on blast after learning how the Lyricologist sourced their theories. It turns out they had a slew of suspicious characters, sources whom Athena suspected were connected to Rhea Harmonia’s team, spoon-feeding them inside information and guiding their narrative.
Athena hatched a plan: she’d use her podcast to investigate what really happened to the Lyricologist, and in the process win their followers and media attention. Before long, the sources began to whisper in Athena’s ear, feeding her clues to help solve the puzzle. When they dangled in front of her an all-new original theory Athena knew her followers would go feral for, fame and fortune seemed within reach.
But the voices get louder and the theory takes a scary turn. Will Athena be able to create the life of her dreams, or will the pursuit drive her mad?
Lyricology: Mad are those who fall in love with their own theories.
2022 was a year for the books, filled with love, travel, and personal growth. I got engaged to the love of my life, made memories in new places, and spent countless hours reading and writing. As I explored the country from coast to coast, I found myself constantly drawn back to the beauty of the Great Lakes. It was in Duneland, I found the inspiration for these poems.
The Escape
Escape with me.
We’ll go far away,
to a place they won’t have already
seen me,
known me,
judged me.
To a place where I can be
without pretense.
To a place like Paris,
or Neverland.
Timbuktu,
or somewhere else.
Escape with me.
We’ll run far,
the world’s wide,
let’s explore it all:
the nooks and crannies,
the alleyways and backstreets,
the mountains, the canyons,
the lakes and the seas.
We’ll go places you can
only reach in your
imagination.
Because we can escape together,
without ever leaving
the place it all began.
A Duneland Sunset
Chicago, I see you there,
you sparkly-eyed silhouette.
Tiny stars fly in against
a Golden salamander sunset.
Metallic waves roll in,
painting a mirror in their wake,
reflecting darkening skies and beauty;
a photo you could never take.
The city from across the lake,
could hit her with a skipped sea stone.
As the sun sets on Duneland,
I miss the bright lights of my home.
But, I listen to my inland sea.
It grows quiet, the sky goes dark.
Like a beacon, still you shimmer.
My breathing, beating birthmark.
Nestletopia
The Autumn sun flipped a switch.
Like magic, the leaves were aglow.
Their light shone on the dune cave,
ivy-covered, hidden from below.
It was a shelter from the coming cold.
A haven for our love to grow.
A sanctuary to find our god.
A refuge from the status quo.
We called it “Nestletopia,”
our perch upon the shore,
and stole stones from the beach,
as if we needed something more
than the art we made at the lake.
In each other, we found DaVinci.
The teacher, master, pupil, servant:
every hat worn by the sea.
Our veins intertwined with the ivy,
until our dying day.
Even then, we lingered still,
like life was just foreplay.
‘Cause we left a golden mark,
constructed a sea-side portal.
A Great Lake upon Eternity,
time travel for a mortal.
Halloween
A tiger striped with turquoise
became a starless night.
A void in the noise;
the Theatre de Fright.
Any horror could ensue
on this stage, once blue.
Dare not misconstrue,
It could happen to you.
"I'm not scared of monsters."
You try to convince me.
"What about witches?"
"This close to the sea?"
Your ego brings you comfort
'til shadows shift with the breeze,
and the beach is overtaken by a
deep, ghostly freeze.
You scoot close to the fire.
There's no need to count sheep.
Despite your fear of reapers,
The sea soothes your soul to sleep.
Glowing embers flicker,
the last of the light.
Your breathing grows weary,
'til your neck is grasped tight.
Murmuration
Emergency! Emergency!
Their whisper whizzed past me first;
so loud, it gave me whiplash,
a neck cramp,
as I tried to identify the culprit.
’Til I saw them,
glorious, in formation,
flocking, flapping furiously
towards their destination.
A murmuration!
“Will we make it?” cried one.
“Stop squawking!” murmured the next.
“Flit faster,” called a third.
“Cooperate!” another twitted.
“We have to stick together.”
“A storm is coming.”
So they swooped and swirled,
close together, well-knit.
The starlings headed west,
’til a reverse split.
“Safety,” breathed in one.
“Shelter,” breathed out another.
“Life,” breathed in the next.
“Future,” breathed out a fourth.
As they floated out of view,
their murmurs became a memory,
and in their place, silence.
The blizzard had arrived.
An Indiana Afternoon
Afternoon. Days after the storm. A walk along the frozen lakeshore, just before the sea and beach rekindled their romance.
You and I saw sand cliffs become waterfalls, ice pancakes become stars, the sea become the universe. We watched waves rush in, and dunes disappear. Nothing living in sight, just the wind did we hear.
Was it You?
The winds sang the song of my ancestors,
people who loved this place before me.
I sat on the pebbled beach,
waves lapping into the shore,
as the sky transformed.
A light show caught my attention
across the horizon,
across from the setting sun.
Stars danced on the water,
getting closer and closer
to my resting spot against the boulders,
til they were upon me,
swirling around me,
engulfing me in the light.
“Who are you?”
I barely whispered,
not wanting to dispel the magic.
The winds replied.
“Energy is neither created or destroyed.”
The swirling light got
brighter, brighter, brighter—
‘til suddenly,
with a poof,
darkness swirled instead.
The light was gone,
like it had never been there at all.
“Energy is neither created or destroyed.”
The winds’ words lingered like the tide,
as I wondered where the lights went.
I’ll Dream of the Sea
Metallic blue sea,
come back to me.
Rainbow sunshine,
will you always be mine?
One minute you’re there,
the next, you’re gone.
You smolder and gleam,
then disappear with a yawn.
In your place,
outer space.
Inky scars,
glowing stars.
A different flow,
it’s time to go.
I’ll dream of the sea,
‘til you come back to me.
Bring it on, 2023. ‘Til next time, we’ll dream of the sea.
Are you looking to add a book to your TBR that will transport you to a cozy, New England town? Do you dream of sandy spits, salty breeze, and the charm of a wealthy, multi-generational coastal haven? Is your favorite song “the last great American dynasty” from Taylor Swift’s folklore? Or maybe you wish you could be on the guest list to one of Swift’s notorious, star-studded 4th of July parties?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this is the ultimate book list for you!
The books listed below are all set in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Watch Hill, Rhode Island is a historic New England coastal village that is steeped in tradition, affluence, and American values. Just a two hour drive from Boston or three hours from New York City, Watch Hill is located at the most southwestern tip of Rhode Island and is characterized by gorgeous sunsets, rocky seashores, and old money.
View of Watch Hill, photo taken by Richard and Mary LaGarde
The bluff after which the town is named was used as a lookout point during the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Watch Hill became an idyllic summer resort for a number of families— many traveling via train from places like St. Louis and Detroit.
Today, upon Watch Hill’s highest peak, sits the legendary Holiday House— a multi-million dollar mansion that once belonged to Rebekah Harkness (who married into the Standard Oil fortune) and now belongs to singer/songwriter Taylor Swift.
Holiday House, photo taken by Richard and Mary LaGarde
Watch Hill’s geography, culture, and notable residents make it the perfect setting for any type of novel. Many authors, including myself, have been inspired by the history, tradition, and all-American nature of this timeless New England coastal village.
Books Set in Watch Hill
Lucky by Kristina Parro
If you are a Taylor Swift fan (especially any folklore lovers), interested in the Golden Ratio, love mythology and philosophy, or enjoy unique, genre-bending fiction, Lucky is a book you need to check out!
Lucky is a story unlike any other… a fairytale of modern times. Inspired by 2020 Album of the Year, folklore, Lucky weaves together the stories of two powerful women: Rebekah Harkness— notorious, scandalous heiress of the Standard Oil Fortune— and Rhea (Rae) Harmonía— America’s favorite pop-star. Both women become rich beyond their wildest dreams… but soon come to a harrowing realization. It may be that only the pursuit of happiness is fun. Once the dream comes true, life seems to become a nightmare.
Bonus: This book is my debut novel! There is a ton of content on this blog that talks more about Lucky.
Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce
If you are looking for a lyrical, thought provoking thriller,Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce is the book for you. Susan Ford lives an idyllic life, splitting her time between New York City and Watch Hill, Rhode Island. She seems like the type of woman who keeps her life— and everything that is part of it— under control. Until one morning, in the summer of 2014, when the FBI pays her a visit… and Susan is forced to revisit the summer of 1979. A summer where everything changed.
Bonus: Finding Mrs. Ford was written by Deborah Goodrich Royce who lives in Watch Hill. There, she and her husband restored the iconic Ocean House hotel. Deborah also played Silver Kane on the hit ABC soap opera, All My Children. You can check out a conversation I had with Deborah on Instagram LIVE!
Eden by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg
If you are looking for a poignant family saga full of generational wisdom, Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s Edenneeds to rocket to the top of your TBR. Eden is set in Long Harbor— a fictional Watch Hill, RI— a town packed with wealth and tradition. But as with everything, for families summering in this coastal village, there is always another side to the coin. In Eden, secrets are revealed, stories are shared, and lives change with the times. Join Becca Meister Fitzpatrick, a wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community, for what might be her last summer in Long Harbor… as she struggles with the discovery that her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg.
Bonus: Eden’s author, Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, also has a home in Watch Hill! She is an amazingly inspiring author and thought leader in independent literature. You can check out the conversation I had with Jeanne on Instagram LIVE!
The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon
From the book’s description on Amazon: “When Flossy Merrill summons her children to the beloved family beach house to celebrate their father’s eightieth birthday, both cherished memories and long-kept secrets come to light in this charming and lyrical novel from the author of The Lake Season and Mystic Summer.
Flossy Merrill has managed to—somewhat begrudgingly—gather her three ungrateful grown children from their dysfunctional lives for a summer reunion at the family’s Rhode Island beach house. With her family finally congregated under one seaside roof, Flossy is determined to steer her family back on course even as she prepares to reveal the fate of the summer house that everyone has thus far taken for granted: she’s selling it. The Merrill children are both shocked and outraged and each returns to memories of their childhoods at their once beloved summer house—the house where they have not only grown up, but from which they have grown away. Featuring McKinnon’s “sharp and evocative” (Kirkus Reviews) voice, this warm-hearted novel is perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe.”
Blue Blood by Craig Unger
If you love narrative non-fiction (and can manage to get your hands on a copy of this rare book), Blue Blood by Craig Unger is for you. Blue Blood is actually a primary source I used for my debut novel, Lucky. This book chronicles the life of Rebekah Harkness, heiress to the Standard Oil fortune and star of Taylor Swift’s song “ the last great American dynasty,” and includes her scandalous history with Joffrey’s ballet.
Other Art inspired by Watch Hill
Florida based artist Mary LaGarde has also used Watch Hill as inspiration for her art. Her painting, A Marvelous Time, is inspired by Taylor Swift’s folklore and the last great American dynasty. You can find her painting (and prints!) here: A Marvelous Time.
Thank you to Mary LaGarde (and her husband, Richard) for providing some of the photos used in this blog post.
Have you read any of these books? Comment below and let me know what you think.
Also, feel free to send me an email if I have missed any Watch Hill inspired reads. I want this to be an all-encompassing list!
Note: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you click any of the above links and purchase the listed books, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support.
All strong souls first go to hell before they do the healing of the world they came here for. If we’re lucky, we return to help those still trapped below.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Last Friday on Instagram Live, I spoke with Australian author and artist, Sigrid Wharton. Sigrid is the founder of Sowelu Studios, a small business that focuses on healing through art. She recently published her first book, “Carving the Path,” which explores metaphysical landscapes, the nature of reality, the vulnerability that connects people, and the very heart of the human condition.
An oil painter by background, Sigrid began writing her book because she found herself overflowing with messages she needed to express, but couldn’t paint fast enough. During the pandemic, Sigrid exchanged her paint brush for a pen to help heal herself and others. Her poetry works to understand the mind and is filled with lessons Sigrid wishes people would have taught her during her self healing journey.
Our conversation was insightful and inspiring. You can find the whole conversation on Instagram TV.
Some topics we covered include her book, archetypes, healing through art, energy, the nature of reality, people who inspire us, philosophy, psychoanalysis and much more. We also talked about how creative exploits— such as art, literature, poetry, music, and dance— help remind us of what’s important in life. Creativity can also help us transform as people and help each of us reach a more enlightened state.
In life, transformation often goes from periods of dark to light. Sigrid’s book aims to helps you not be weighed down by the dark times, and look at things from a more aerial perspective. Darkness and lightness— and how both of those live inside of you— is something that philosophers have been looking at since the beginning of time. Shadow work is important for people going through a self-healing journey because, in the words of Sigrid, “fear is something we should befriend. It teaches us well.”
Fear is something we should befriend. It teaches us well.
Sigrid Wharton, Sowelu Studios
That was one of my favorite takeaways from our discussion: Friend fear. Fear is a part of life. It helps us learn lessons and get to the other side, or to “level up,” and can help us understand our inner cycles.
Resources
During and after our chat, Sigrid provided me with a variety of resources to share with my audience, in hopes of inspiring and aiding in others’ healing/self discovery journeys.
People
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Clarissa Pinkola Estes is an American poet, psycho-analyst (studies Carl Jung), and post trauma specialist. She is also an author, and is probably most well known for her international bestseller “Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype.” Sigrid was first introduced to Estes’ work as a kid when she listened to her fairytales and folklore via her mom’s cassette tape. Sigrid and I share a similar philosophy regarding fairytales and folklore: these stories are packed with rich symbolism and stories that help you understand yourself and the world better.
Though fairy tales end after ten pages, our lives do not. We are multi-volume sets. In our lives, even though one episode amounts to a crash and burn, there is always another episode awaiting us and then another. There are always more opportunities to get it right, to fashion our lives in the ways we deserve to have them. Don’t waste your time hating a failure. Failure is a greater teacher than success.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Trevor Hall
Trevor Hall is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. According to his website, Hall’s music is a blend of roots and folk music with touches of electronic elements, and is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. Sigrid recommends you check out the stories behind his songs here:
Music was such a love of mine. It was my way of exploring life, my internal world. To be honest, I don’t really know why or why not. It just seems life without it would be death.
Trevor Hall
Aubrey Marcus
Aubrey Marcus is a NYT bestselling author, podcast host, and the founder of Onnit, a lifestye brand that is based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Sigrid recommends his podcast, which can be found here: https://www.aubreymarcus.com/blogs/aubrey-marcus-podcast
To live one day well is the same as to live ten thousand days well. To master twenty-four hours is to master your life.
Aubrey Marcus, Own the Day: Master 24 Hours, Master Your Life
Films
Embrace: The Documentary
You can watch this documentary about shedding negative body image on Netflix. From the documentary’s website, “Embrace is a social impact documentary that explores the serious issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies. Released in 2016, this film is relevant, relatable, highly engaging – but above all life changing.
Nominated for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Best Documentary, Embrace has been seen by millions of people across the world and has created a ripple of positive changes.
The documentary was supported by 8909 KickStarter pledgers who responded to the fundraising trailer released in 2014. The trailer has now had over 45 million views.”
The Shift
Per Amazon, “In this compelling film Dr. Wayne W. Dyer explores the spiritual journey from ambition to meaning. The powerful shift from the go constructs we are taught early in life by parent and society— which promotes an emphasis on achievement and accumulation— are shown in contrast to a life of meaning focused on serving and giving back.”
I watched this movie with some friends the other night and found it to be thought provoking. Directly afterwards, we watched a short film based off The Egg short story by Andy Weir. These two resources in tandem are guaranteed to change at least one thing about how you think about the world!
You can pretend to be something other than who you are but eventually you will run out of energy to continue because that’s not authentically you.
Caroline Myss
Healing the Core Wound of Unworthiness by Adyashanti. Sigrid also recommends listening to the audiobook.
and the most amazing thing happened. That love that I had experienced didn’t budge, it didn’t cower, it didn’t pull back from his criticism. In fact, I felt such a sense of appreciation and gratitude and joy because him telling me ‘I shouldn’t have left and I shouldn’t have come back’ I realized that it didn’t budge that quality of love that had been poured into me. And I felt so grateful…it provided a perfect contrast to what I was experiencing.
Adyashanti, Healing the Core Wound of Unworthiness
Another great resource is Sigrid’s FREE course: an intensive, self-paced 7-week program called The Soul’s Palette, which is designed to take you on a journey of vulnerability from darkness to light. She gives you the tools you need to carve your own pathway, while filling your spiritual coffee cup. This course has even more resources for your self-discovery and enlightenment journey.
It’s funny to me how words seem to flow, Only after a person is gone. But I want to express the love in my heart, Before my loves venture beyond.
I gave these poems as gifts, But they mean too much not to share. The people who inspired them Are amazing beyond compare.
Poetry makes a thoughtful gift for the holidays, a birthday, or just because. All of these poems were written by me, Kristina Parro, as Christmas gifts this year. The recipients gave me permission to share— to help inspire the flow of your own words and maybe even your own poetry.
Tina’s Tip: Be vulnerable with yourself and others. It feels good to put words to your feelings and even better to share them with those you love.
Poem for my Mom
My Mother, My Captain
If my life were the ocean, We’d have seen The sunniest days And stormiest of seas.
Through it all, My captain, Who weathered each Alongside me.
My mother, My captain, My light, And my world.
Without you, I’d be ship-wrecked. My survival, Up to the sea’s swirls.
Poem for my Dad
A Daughter’s Debt
If I had ten million dollars, And spent it all on you, I’d never be able to repay The debt to you that’s due.
Remember when I was little? I’d fall asleep in the car. You’d carry me inside, But I was heavy and it was far.
Then, when I grew older, You taught me how to be. Generous, inquisitive, and stoic. All the advice you gave for free.
You taught me to work hard, To think, to create, and to love. To be true to myself, And to hold my family above.
We are cut from the same cloth, You and me are two peas in a pod. I’ll always pick you as the MVP: My favorite on the squad.
I’m grateful for what you’ve given me, But more thankful for our bond. We will be together forever, Whether we’re here, or the beyond.
Poem for my Brother
Yin and Yang
She was the sun, He, the moon.
Different, but complementary. Separate, but together.
Yin and yang. Brother and sister.
They say a connection between the two Brings harmony so powerful Wars would stop And world peace would be had.
They say, infinity is found, Between balanced opposites. Like with you and me, And the relationship we’ve fostered.
In this kaleidoscope world, Often separated by distance and reality, I’ve become grateful for adversity, For it only strengthens our bond.
Poem(s) for my Grandma(s)
Grandma’s House
Blue was the color of the house Where I made those childhood memories.
Ivory were the keys of the piano, Which played your lyrical melodies.
Coffee was the smell in the air, When the words “Good morning,” you exclaimed.
Sweet is the smell of the flowers After which that beautiful street was named.
Warm was your smile When I walked inside Lily of the Valley in my hand.
Full was my heart When we got to do all the fun things you had planned.
Stamped and Etched
Remember when you called me, Just a few weeks ago? To thank me for the pictures and poems From the beach, so well, you know.
“Thank you,” you said, enthusiastically. Then you repeated it five times. Your voice made me so happy, I thought that I might cry.
“Thanks for sharing your creativity and your talents with the world.” Words like that, from a woman like you, Gave my heart a little twirl.
Your voice made me so happy, I’ll remember it forever. Stamped with love in my memories, And etched in every endeavor.
Poem for my (future) Sister-in-Law
A Distant Memory
Inside you is a spirit, That I remember With sparkling clarity and vivid color, Yet hadn’t known, Until you wandered into my life, On the arm of my baby brother.
Maybe it’s your energy, Or a distant memory from a past life.
All I know, is that Life finds a way Of returning to you Those whom you need to find.
Poem for my Boyfriend’s Brother
Trip of a Lifetime
If years were measured in miles, This would be your longest one yet. Countless hours spent in your van, On a quest for a life sans regrets.
How many spend their lives wishing To travel far and wide? But not many would forgo their comfort To live a life outside.
You made the most of the pandemic, Doing what others wish they could. I’m inspired by your trip of a lifetime, And the challenges you’ve withstood.
My Poetry Writing Process
While writing these poems, I began with a brainstorming session: writing down some of my favorite memories, stories, or concepts that reminded me of the poem’s inspiration. I read poems that others had written about their loved ones. I meditated and tried to connect with my deepest feelings. From there, I built the message and prose for each individual poem. Finally, in order to make sure the flow and rhythm worked, I read the poems out loud— over and over.
Comment on this post with your best poetry tips, or a poem that you have written for a loved one! I’d love to read them!
Lights, rocks, the beach, the lake, and the sunset. Photo by Kristina Parro.
There’s nothing quite like spending time at the beach in autumn. Leaves falling like rain. Fiery sunsets. Nights by the fire. Waves crashing into the shore.
It is magical for me, being so near the place where the water meets the sky. Cleansing. Inspirational.
I love to wake up early and watch the sun rise on the horizon, while drinking my latte and listening to the surf. I enjoy long walks on the beach, while talking and taking in the views. I cherish moments spent with my friends and family; moments spent with my thoughts and my notebook.
Enjoy!
An Indiana Morning
Waves crashing against the rocks. Photo by Kristina Parro.
Morning. Two lovers. A walk along a hazy, pebble-covered beach.
The sky is aglow, painted by the rising sun. The tide is high; waves crash into the shore. The froth rushes out, leaving behind reflected rainbows in its wake.
Still water snakes along the lovers’ path, leaving sand islands between them and the lake. As the sherbet hues dance in the stillness, the couple stops to take in the view.
She leans in for a kiss, then they pause for a moment, faces pressed against one another. Just being, together.
The smell of his Nivea lingers on her face, long after the walk is over.
Who knew an Indiana morning could be this beautiful?
Surreal
A figure walks along the shores of Lake Michigan, the sky and setting sun are reflected in the water. Photo by Kristina Parro.
Dive into my dreams.
Learn each square inch of my sun-lit cliffs and the shadowy depths of my valley floors.
Take a dip into my subconscious.
Learn who I really am. Deeper than I even know?
Bathe in my rivers. You shall learn, then be rewarded.
But, beware of the depths. Don’t drown.
Constant
The sun sets on a rippled Lake Michigan. Photo by Kristina Parro.
Spring turns to summer, then fall to winter.
Things grow, then die.
Love burns, then withers.
The circle of life: nothing is constant but change.
Water and Fire
A couple walks on the seashore at golden hour. Photo by Kristina Parro.
The waves crash behind me. I’m warmed by the fire in front of me.
I sit on the beach, thinking about the people who have sat here before me. The Potowatomi’s, pioneers, and Presidents. Simon Pokagon, Harry Tuthill, Joe Biden.
My grandparents.
I want to ask them, “Were the colors always this vibrant? Was the sand always this soft? Were the sunsets always this beautiful?”
Time changes everything, but maybe this beach is beyond her grasp.
The lake grows dark behind me. I’m enlightened by the crackle of the flames.
A November Sunset
Sunset on November 7, 2021 along the shores of Lake Michigan. Photo by Kristina Parro.
As the salmon November sun sank into the glassy water, the world, momentarily, was set on fire.
Brushed stripes of magenta and apricot appeared painted on the turquoise sky, then reflected in the tide.
Just above the horizon, lead clouds were lit from underneath. For a moment, just a moment, the entire world glowed.
The beach doubles as a panoramic stage for the ultimate virtuoso to show off.
Dear Vanguard Logistics and potential Vanguard Logistics customers,
I am writing this open letter to express my deepest disappointment in Vanguard Logistics’ customer service, follow-through, and failure-to-deliver on promises and payment-rendered services.
It is important that the general public knows about this case, as it may save someone (like me, who is trying her best to grow a small business) from having similar issues.
I ordered 39 boxes of goods from overseas that have been in possession of Vanguard Logistics since (at least) early July 2021. This order was set for “self-pickup” from Vanguard’s Chicago warehouse (GLO4). As of today, November 1, I am still unable to pick up my packages. I have no date of when I will be able to pick up my packages. I have been offered no compensation for Vanguard’s negligence.
It feels as if Vanguard is holding my packages hostage, despite already receiving my payment for their services over 4 months ago.
Throughout this process, I have received a litany of excuses of why I am unable to access my goods. The current excuse is that their system is down, company-wide, and has been down since last Friday.
Keep in mind, Vanguard Logistics is a company that generated two hundred million+ in sales last year. I am confused at how a hundred-million dollar+ company is able to function without their system for over a week.
I sent this email to the C-suite at Vanguard Logistics, including to their CEO Onno Meij, as well as all of my contacts re: this case last week. Nobody has responded to my email, so I decided to publish it to my blog, in hopes of eliciting a response:
“On 7/6, I got this message from Linh Lien from Vanguard: “ON 7/5 THIS CONTAINER WAS IN TRANSIT TO GLOBAL 3 DUE TO CONGESTION. PENDING MOVEMENT TO GLOBAL 4 FOR GROUNDING. UPDATES TO FOLLOW.”
Linh’s message tells me that, by 7/5, Vanguard Logistics obtained access to goods that were being shipped to me. I payed, in-full, at that time in order to ensure timely pick-up of my goods. It is now October 26, and I still have not been able to pick up my goods.
I received infrequent updates regarding the status of my packages in July and even less frequent updates in August.
I sent multiple emails to Vanguard in September re: updates to where my packages were/ when I’d be able to pick up. No one from Vanguard returned any of my emails in September.
In October, I sent additional emails, stating that this would be my final attempt to contact Vanguard. Finally, I was connected with Chris Baillie, VP of Central Region. Chris has acted unprofessionally in a variety of ways: making false promises, failing to follow through, not answering his phone or returning phone calls.
I have sent and continue to send Chris and his assistant Sharice several emails, only some of which they respond(ed) to. The phone number for Vanguard that is listed on my paperwork is disconnected. Sharice nor Chris answer their phones. I am unable to leave Sharice a voicemail. I’ve left Chris at least 8 voicemails over the past few weeks. He has returned my call in less than a third of opportunities. I typically have to email and leave additional voicemails in order to get him to call me back. Following up with Vanguard trying to elicit a response has turned into a full-time job. As a customer, I find this completely unacceptable.
On Friday, 10/22, Chris spoke to me on the phone and guaranteed that I’d be able to pickup my packages on Monday 10/25. On Monday 10/25, he told me that I was not able to pick up my packages due to system-wide issues. He has not provided me a date for pickup. He has not returned several calls and emails that I have made in the past two days. I have left him three voicemails since the last time we talked, and have not heard back from him. I also have had two other people call him and leave multiple messages to call them back; Chris did not return any of their calls either.
As the Vice President of the region, Chris Baillie is casting a dark shadow on the entirety of Vanguard Logistics. His behavior is unprofessional. The lack of customer service I have experienced and the abysmal timeliness re: my order has stained Vanguard’s reputation. I am an author and a blogger, and I will not hesitate to share my opinions and the facts from this case with the internet.
Vanguard has failed to deliver my packages to me in a timely fashion. I do not trust that the company is in possession of my packages, due to the lack of communication and abysmal customer service. I have already filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and I am considering taking further legal action.
Thank you,
Kristina Parro”
I am eagerly awaiting response from Vanguard, and more eagerly awaiting the pickup of my packages.
If anyone reading this has any advice for me, please leave it in the comments.
Note: Since sending this email, I have been in contact with Chris Baillie who has been providing me more frequent updates re: status of their system (but only when I initiate contact). He has also provided me photographic proof that the container my packages are in is at GLO4, but has stated that he is unable to allow me access to my packages.
Last week I was interviewed by the amazing Shannon Lane for her new bookish YouTube channel. Shannon is another independent author of contemporary fiction. Check out Shannon’s book, Soul on Fire! Make sure you like the video above and subscribe to Shannon’s channel!
One of my readers (and a friend!) sent me this adorable of their cat with my book. She said, ‘Syd wants to read your book!’
Lucky is the story of the American Dream, an epic juxtaposition of glitter and tragedy: the tangled stories of two powerful women who are connected through the transcendental nature of time and space. In Lucky, the reader tumbles down the rabbit hole with America’s favorite pop-star, Rhea Harmonía as she dives deep on a journey through American history, Western thinking, modern philosophy, mythology, math, music, and time.
I dove into Taylor Swift’s lyrics to help me make sense of some of the tragedy I found myself surrounded by (as an essential healthcare worker during the pandemic).
Kristina Parro in an interview with Shannon Lane
In the first verse of the song, the last great American dynasty, Taylor introduces the main character with the lyrics: ‘Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train, it was sunny. Her salt box house on the coast took her mind off St. Louis. Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil name and money. And the town said, “how did a middle class divorcé do it?”’
Throughout the song, we learn that Rebekah married Bill and they bought the largest, most spectacular house on the Eastern seaboard: Holiday House. Swift sings, ‘Their parties were tasteful if a little gauche,’ which was a little tongue-in-cheek. Everyone wanted an invite to Holiday House. Rebekah Harkness felt like she was the queen of the world.
Then, Bill died, and the tides turned. Rebekah quickly became the ‘maddest woman the town had ever seen.’ Swift sings that ‘she had a marvelous time ruining everything.’ Rebekah’s story ultimately ends in an epic tragedy.
By the end of the song, Swift reveals that after Rebekah died, she bought Holiday House. Almost immediately, Rebekah’s story began to manifest in Taylor’s life. I read more about Rebekah’s story and learned that there are many interesting parallels between the lives of Taylor Swift and Rebekah Harkness. Their stories are a perfect example of an adage echoed throughout Lucky, ‘stories repeat, almost cyclically, throughout history.’
I uncovered this magical story that helped me, as the author, navigate and cycle through a really dark time in my life and bring me to the other side.
Kristina Parro in an interview with Shannon Lane
Learn more about Lucky, my publishing process, the release of my book (including my release party!), the importance of writing, why I chose the name Lucky, and so much more in Shannon’s interview!
Let me know in the comments: did you learn anything new about me from Shannon’s interview?
P.S. I just wanted to take a moment to say, ‘thank you,’ to everyone— my family and friends of old and new— who has purchased my book, read it, provided me with cool opportunities, written reviews, and overall supported me in person or on social media during this process! It has been so much fun to take on this new life path, and I know it wouldn’t be possible without you. I appreciate you all more than you know.
The Fun Stuff!
Bonus content: photos from my release party! A HUGE ‘thank you’ to my parents (for having the party), my brother for coming out, my boyfriend Matt for everything, and everyone who came to the party! It was the best birthday ever!
I signed over 100 books this night!Check out my necklaces!! One says ‘Lucky;’ the other two relate to Lucky’s secret code!My mom had these cookies made! The teal cookie depicts my publishing company’s, Logos, logo!My mom also had suckers made with the picture from the front cover of my book! How cool are these?!?! They are edible!Me, the birthday girl, with a big stack of her own books. Who would have thought?! A truly surreal moment.The set up! I was signing books at this table. We sold out of hardcover books at the party! It was crazy! I feel so LUCKY 🥰Matt with a fat stack of Lucky books!I LOVE YOU GUYS!Thank you to everyone who brought these beautiful bouquets of flowers!!!!
Art by Kristina Parro; Dalí illustration by OM Nair; Background: Dalí’s Persistence of Memory
Many have heard his name. Most have seen his work: dreamscapes, melting clocks, eroticism, and otherwise shocking scenes. Maybe you’ve even seen a photograph of Salvador Dalí, most recognizable by his stiff, upwards-turned, handlebar mustache. But, how much do you really know about the man himself?’
Obtained from WikiArt
Salvador Dalí is one of the most celebrated artists of all time; an eccentric, artistic genius, and leader, specifically in the field of surrealism.
Surrealism
A refresher: surrealism is an art movement with undertones lying in geometry and modern physics that began in France in the 1920s. It is characterized by dreamscapes and images that make the viewer question reality by delving into the depths of the subconscious.
Sleep, Salvador Dalí (1937)
Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.
Salvador Dalí
Surrealism, and Dalí himself, were extensively studied by the renowned psychologist, Sigmund Freud. After meeting Dalí, Freud wrote, “For until now, I have been inclined to regard the surrealists, who apparently have adopted me as their patron saint, as complete fools. That young Spaniard, Dalí, with his candid fantastical eyes and undeniable technical mastery, has changed my estimate.”
More than Einstein or Watson and Crick, more than Hitler or Lenin, Roosevelt or Kennedy, more than Picasso Eliot or Stravinsky, more than the Beatles or Bob Dylan, Freud’s influence on modern culture has been profound and long-lasting.
psychologist and Freud critic, John Kihlstrom
MOMENT DE TRANSITION, Salvador Dal (1934)
Dalí’s Childhood
Dalí was born in the 1904, on the rocky Mediterranean coast, in Figueroa, Spain. His older brother, also named Salvador, died almost nine months to the day before Dalí was born. Early on, his parents had him convinced that he was the reincarnated version of his brother— who, according to legend, died, almost 9 months to the die before Dalí himself was born.
As a small boy, he fell in love with the ocean. Dalí was particularly fascinated by the rocks on the shore of his sacred childhood summertime haven, in the seaside village of Cadaques. The sun shone bright in the sky and casted shadows on them. Dalí noticed how life-like the rocks looked— almost like human faces. At just five or six-years old, Dalí sat on the beach for hours and sketched the faces on the rocks.
Faces on rocks was a theme seen later in Dalí’s work, as well. This piece is called “Three Faces of Dalí on the Rocks,” painted by Dalí.
As the shadows shifted with the passing of the sun, the faces on the rocks changed form. The tiny Dalí marveled at their metamorphosis. He recorded the changes he saw on his father’s sketch pad, in striking detail. That was Dalí’s first foray into art.
One of Dalí’s first known painted works is called Landscape, which he finished in 1914. In 1916, Dalí attended drawing school in his hometown and studied with Ramon Pichot, a local impressionist painter who later became Dalí’s mentor.
Landscape, Salvador Dalí (1910-1914)
Pablo Picasso
Another of Dalí’s mentors/ inspirations was Pablo Picasso, who he met in 1926. Their meeting was hugely influential to Dalí, as evidenced by themes in his work. Picasso gave Dalí “a model to emulate.” Their relationships evolved into a weird, one-sided, obsessive correspondence, with Dalí sending the artist hundred of letters and postcards.
Around this time Dalí enjoyed freedom of self-expression while experimenting with various avant-grade painting styles, including cubism, futurism, and purism. In 1926, following disciplinary actions at his art school, he was dismissed. By 1928, Dalí was notorious… and he began experiencing international acclaim.
Gala— Dalí’s muse
Dalí married Gala—his muse— in 1929. She often modeled for him, and her likeness is seen multiple times in his work.
The year he met Gala also marks Dalí’s artistic transition into surrealism. In the years that followed, Dalí explored a self-coined “paranoid-critical” method of painting, described by Dalí himself as “irrational knowledge” based on a “delirium of interpretation.”
I don’t do drugs. I am drugs.
Salvador Dalí
In 1931, Dalí painted one of his most well-known pieces— which currently resides in Museum of Modern Art in NYC— called The Persistence of Memory. The painting depicts an irrational, hyper-real dream world: melting clocks, swarming ants, entropy, death, decay, and maybe even Dalí himself.
The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dalí (1931)
During this time, a period marred by the Spanish Civil War, Dalí became more and more eccentric. He began to have strained relationships with other artists, including the leader of the Surrealist movement, Andre Breton.
Andre Breton became openly critical of Dalí’s growing celebrity. He coined Dalí’s anagrammatic nickname, Avida Dollars. By 1939, Dalí had broken from the Surrealists. When France fell to the Nazis in June of 1940, Dalí and Gala moved to America.
Dalí in America
In 1941, Dalí finished writing his autobiography: The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí. This book contained an inter tangled web of fact and fictionalized events from Dalí’s life. The next year, it was published. The bizzare book brought Dalí even more acclaim.
In America, he became associated with the greats: Alfred Hitchcock, Walt Disney, Coco Chanel, Buckminster Fuller, and Standard Oil Heiress Rebekah Harkness, to name a few.
Dalí makes an appearance in my book, Lucky: A Novel (inspired by Taylor Swift’s folklore and the incredible true story of Standard Oil Heiress Rebekah Harkness) because of his friendship with Harkness.
During this time, he expanded his art practice to visual-performance art, jewelry, clothing, furniture, sets for plays and ballets, and even display windows for department stores.
Nuclear Mysticism is an artistic style developed by Dalí later in his life after achieving a divine epiphany. He saw a connection between religious/spiritual mysticism and science (particularly physics). Dalí believed that science was proof of God’s existence and God’s existence was proof of the powers of science.
Dalí and the Golden Ratio
Salvador Dalí was taken by mathematics; how number seems to reveal a hidden order in the world.
The Golden Ratio is an irrational number that possesses a variety of interesting properties. It was studied by ancient mathematicians due to its frequent appearance in natural and man made phenomenon. The Golden Ratio has been suggested to reflect nature’s balance between symmetry and asymmetry (chaos and order). It is thought to be the most aesthetic number, or the proportion of perfect beauty.
Dalí talked about the Golden Ratio in the above interview with Dick Cavett. There are countless examples of Dalí using the Golden Ratio and concepts related to the Golden Ratio in his art and life.
Dalí’s paintings Surrealistic Flower Girl and Surrealistic King: both contain countless references to Golden Ratio themes/imagery
Dalí the Performance Artist
Dalí was a born performer; a man who needed (and thrived off) an audience. Dalí was captivating; just as talented at self-promotion and money-making as he was at painting. His southwest-European accent was thick, but he had a way with words that threw you off just from pure amazement of its exquisiteness. He spoke in a scrambled language, but it was the tongue of genius.
Dalí wore a diving suit to a lecture at London International Surrealist Exhibition and appeared in the same on the cover of Time Magazine. He walked his pet anteater on a leash down the streets of New York City. He brought a Rolls Royce overflowing with cauliflower to an interview and rambled on about spirals and the golden ratio.
Dalí’s Legacy
Salvador Dalí changed the way the art world worked, through paint, film, design, his intellect, and his public persona.
Each morning, I wake up experiencing an exquisite joy— the joy of being Salvador Dalí.
Salvador Dalí
What do you think Dalí’s legacy is? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoy learning about Salvador Dalí, check out my conversation about him with Kyle Wood on the Who ARTed Podcast.
