I have decided to share the aforementioned short story, “The House God.” You can find it here or using the tab at the top of the site. Let me know what you think! A sample:
I watched Oyimbo, the peeled one, lying under her mosquito net from the rafter in my sacred corner. She was writing in her red book by flashlight as she did every night since she arrived in my house. I did not mind sharing my house with her until nighttime when her eyelids slid shut, her mouth inched open, and the pig came out.
As I watched her close the red book and shut off her flashlight I tensed knowing the pig would be out soon. I had not had a peaceful night since her arrival. As the god of this dwelling it was my responsibility to maintain peace. I made up my mind: I would make myself visible and visit Oyimbo tonight to ask her to please keep her pig inside when she slept.
I left my rafter and made myself into the shape of a human; a strong man of the Gourma tribe, the tribe that had inhabited this part of Africa for centuries. I climbed on top of her like a husband on a wife and waited for the pig. Her mouth opened and her breath warmed my face.
Read more here!
In my novel, The UM, I recount a night dream I had. In fact, I have thought about it for so long that I don’t think it was a dream at all; I think it was a vision. It was so vivid that I can still remember the face of the Gourma man very clearly 16 years later. I have also tried to make sense of it in a short story I wrote called “The House God” (which no one has wanted to publish!) where I try to understand it from the Gourma man’s perspective.
It all came back to me because of an experience recounted by Peter Duffy, a journalist for the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who had a vivid dream encounter and is talking to monks, spiritualists, and priests trying to make sense of his experience:
“Nocturnal visit leaves me shaken”
UPDATE: Apparently the Chronicle Herald does not leave their stories posted so the link above is dead. If I find another link I will provide an update.
The Bundles of Hope program is a great way to help folks who are still affected by Katrina and her aftermath. I am once again helping out the Communications office of EDOLA (by LOOOOOONG distance) and this is very important to us. If you can help, please check out this link.
Bishop Charles Jenkins and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana are pleased to announce “Bundles of Hope,” an alternative gift giving program this Christmas season.
Give the gift of hope this Christmas to many still in need in New Orleans. Honor family and friends this season and help the diocese in its rebuilding efforts at the same time.
Bundles come in all sizes, from $10 for School Supplies up to $500 for Volunteer Support. Simply purchase one online, or mail in a check, and print out your honor card to mail to friends and family. It’s that simple!
It is hard to describe how beautiful the snow is, I feel it so keenly after nine years on the Gulf Coast. Today the flakes are full and round, swirling and dancing in the yard. The kids stick out their tongues to catch the flakes and love when the flurries land on their eyelashes.
Okay, okay, it might get really old by February, but right now it’s wonderful.
Merry Christmas New Orleans
Once again, Studio 60 delivers a great show. This time Matthew Perry’s character is “a Jew and the only one who cares that its Christmas” (paraphrase) and insists on putting on a Christmas show. The finale is a group of NOLA musicians playing Oh Holy Night while images of the City are on the screen at behind them. Wonderful.
From their site:
The 12/4 episode featured musicians benefitting from The Tipitina’s Foundation. For more on how to help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, click http://www.tipitinasfoundation.org/.
(Via Targuman.)
