Selfish Southern Lady Sends Herself a Postcard

by Margo on July 10, 2009

From the " I Feel A Sin Coming On" Collection, Chronicle Books, Design by Laura Crookston

The writing guru, Natalie Goldberg- if we were to be best friends and all – could send me this postcard every day:

Dear Margo,

“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”

Love, Your Friend,

Natalie Goldberg

But since that won’t happen.

I will write myself (and you too, because I mostly believe I am generous):
If I were to write
What I really wanted to
this week
next week too
I would undoubtedly reveal myself to be:

an ungrateful daughter
an ungrateful wife
an ungrateful mother
a real dumb ass
who sometimes is
lazy and mean

Do I remember when I wrote
only because I had to?
Right then.
Without breathing
or even thinking.
I liked that.

Ladylike
Southern
Good People
are discreet
considerate and
grounded

unselfish

Boring.

Wouldn’t I rather tell myself – and you too – if you promise to still be my friend -

secrets?

For more Postcard Friendship Friday, visit Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards

PS – Email me your address if you want me to send you a postcard from France. Marie? Anyone?

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{ 27 comments }

1 Marie July 10, 2009 at 6:45 am: I’m going to start using that line.. I feel a sin coming on! I like how you wrote tp yourself using this open poetic form. I read it a couple of time to soak it in! I will send you my address in France! Hooray!! When do you leave luv? Happy PFF! I’m flying on the 14th:)
.-= Marie´s last blog ..Postcard Friendship Friday #24 – Marianne and the Phrygian Cap =-.
2 The Peach Tart July 10, 2009 at 7:24 am: Marie is flying on the 14th…Bastille Day…(my birthday) what a great place to be….I have this graphic and others as coasters….I love them
.-= The Peach Tart´s last blog ..Stiletto Shopping for Mr. Peach Tart’s Birthday =-.
3 The Mother July 10, 2009 at 8:23 am: I write to entertain myself–not stuff that scares me, stuff that makes me happy. You know, like viciously murdering off all those annoying people in your life?
.-= The Mother´s last blog ..The Pythagoreans Have a Number for That =-.
4 Thinkinfyou July 10, 2009 at 9:50 am: I love the idea. Unfortunately I think you can tell by my writing that I’m ungrateful,lazy and mean. So you are not alone…you just hide it better!
.-= Thinkinfyou´s last blog ..The History of Fingering 101 =-.
5 Pricilla July 10, 2009 at 10:25 am: Oooh, you are going to France? I am a jealous goat. I have not been in more years than I care to admit.

Have a wonderful time and eat well!
.-= Pricilla´s last blog ..The Return of AbbyDay! – My Life as a Nanny =-.
6 debby July 10, 2009 at 11:21 am: hehehe!!!! Wonderful post, snicker..
debby
.-= debby´s last blog ..Postcard Friendship Friday ~ My Hometown Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada =-.
7 phd in yogurtry July 10, 2009 at 11:21 am: I’m too chicken sh-t to write the dark, revealing, self-reviling stuff. Oh wait, I just did!
.-= phd in yogurtry´s last blog ..an interpretive query =-.
8 Trudy July 10, 2009 at 11:59 am: Oh, that is a great line…I’m going to add that to my repertoire too! “I feel a sin coming on”…I can see how this can work for the good and the bad ones, LOL!

I think it was just one of those weeks. I’m glad it’s nearing an end!

Have a wonderful weekend Margo!
.-= Trudy´s last blog ..Today is the Day! =-.
9 jessica July 10, 2009 at 12:13 pm: I write to make others laugh. That is my goal. If not to laugh then to say, “wow, me too!” Hopefully I do that but if not, at least I know I gave it my all
10 Margo July 10, 2009 at 1:02 pm: Marie, I leave on the 17th! Where are you flying to, exactly?

PeachTart – the collection is a riot. They suit you!

The Mother – oh, how somedays I yearn for that anonymous blog! Shoot them off at the kneecaps? Who me?

Thinkinfyou, are we figuring it out together, why I’m drawn to you and your blog?

Pricilla, I’m starting to plan the food I want to eat. Is that normal for a non-goat? I haven’t been in a while, and I’m incredibly excited

Debby, thanks! don’t tell on me

phd yogurtry – perhaps you need another blog for the alter ego? Oh listen to me… projecting my own wimpiness onto you

Trudy, Here’s to the end of a weird week! Clink, clink!

Jessica, Me too on both the laughter and the empathy. But some days, what makes me laugh isn’t what I would custom order. The pathos can actually be ugly – but it always is what it is. And on those days, I can’t fake it. I’ve tried! Complexity sucks! Or maybe i’m just hopelessly polite and repressed.
11 Lydia July 10, 2009 at 1:40 pm: A sinfully delightful postcard for PFF! Love it. Love your poem even more, though. Your new blog looks fantastic, Margo.
.-= Lydia´s last blog ..Willow shows pioneering spirit in quest for cool water =-.
12 Lydia July 10, 2009 at 1:48 pm: For the life of me, I cannot find your email address in order to email you my snail mail address so that you will send me a postcard from France to said snail mail address, which isn’t said yet because I cannot find your email address in order to email you…

.-= Lydia´s last blog ..Willow shows pioneering spirit in quest for cool water =-.
13 aimee July 10, 2009 at 1:48 pm: “I feel a sin coming on”…what a great line! I just might start using that one!
14 Sparky July 10, 2009 at 2:09 pm: Somehow, I don’t picture you as being dumb at anything! Selfish? Well, I think all of us are that from time to time. If we weren’t, then some folks would just steam roll right over us.

I like the postcard, by the way. It reminds me of how I think when my hubby hugs me … OH YEAH!! Purrr. [giggle]

Happy PFF!
.-= Sparky´s last blog ..Things Are Getting Ugly For Freedom =-.
15 Sheila July 10, 2009 at 2:35 pm: That could make a great series of postcards. My mind’s working overtime….
16 The Lawyer Mom July 10, 2009 at 5:05 pm: If “anonymous blog” weren’t an oxymoron, I’d so be spilling secrets!

Have a wonderful trip to France. Let us know if Sarkozy puts the moves on you. ; )
.-= The Lawyer Mom´s last blog ..I’m Just Sayin’ . . . =-.
17 Terry July 10, 2009 at 5:38 pm: Howdy Margo
Oh wow happy PFF to you.
I have all of Natalie’s books I have enjoyed reading them .
I have not run across anyone else to refer to her in blogland this was so much fun.
I really enjoyed your poem that was great .
I do hope your travels will all be happy and filled with many wonderful moments.
Don’t forget to send yourself postcards .
We will want to see all the great sights too .
What a fun post today.
Thank you for making me laugh.
If we were honest with ourselves I bet we could all feel a Sin coming on
Have a fabulous weekend.
Happy Trails
.-= Terry´s last blog ..PostCard Friendship Friday =-.
18 Eric "Speedcat Hollydale" July 10, 2009 at 10:08 pm: Postcards from France? How COOL !!!!!!!!!
.-= Eric “Speedcat Hollydale”´s last blog ..Two Chihuahua’s, Juice Newton, and a Golden Spatula =-.
19 Robin July 11, 2009 at 1:06 am: I’m getting a very late start this week…….I’m out of town again. But I love this postcard and I adore your post.

Hope you are having a beautiful weekend….
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Postcard Friendship Friday =-.
20 Jane Gaston July 11, 2009 at 6:54 am: I bit the bullet and write about whatever I feel like. Revealing, yes. Sometimes a bit scary, yes. Sometimes interesting, sometimes boring, both. But I’m an old lady and as you get older, a lot older, you tend to be more outspoken, even about yourself. So don’t beat yourself up so much, Margo and have a fantastic time.
.-= Jane Gaston´s last blog ..Chitika Sucks =-.
21 maryt/theteach July 11, 2009 at 7:37 am: Oh Margo, I feel a friendship coming on! This is my first post for Postcard Friendly Friday. Yes please send me a postcard from France! I’ll give you my address in your e-mail…
.-= maryt/theteach´s last blog ..Postcard Friendship Friday =-.
22 Wendy July 11, 2009 at 9:11 am: “I feel a sin coming on.” That is GREAT.

I love your poem. Maybe it strikes me because I grew up Southern, too. Where in public we’re all gentility. At home it’s something else.

Lazy & mean. LOL. Who isn’t, sometimes?
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Pare It Down 2009: Intro Post =-.
23 fiona July 12, 2009 at 12:19 am: What a great post and I’m jealous of your trip! hmm i feel a sin coming on too!
.-= fiona´s last blog ..Quotable Sunday ~ Music =-.
24 redlan July 12, 2009 at 7:00 am: Really? I have lots of postcards from France but I would love to receive a postcard from you.
.-= redlan´s last blog ..SIPAG AT TIYAGA (HARD WORK & DETERMINATION) =-.
25 robin July 12, 2009 at 9:30 am: Great post! “Writing Down the Bones” is one of the best books on writing! I wish I were this brave to post such a thing but I’m really, really not!
So you’re going to France… lucky, lucky! Have a wonderful time!
.-= robin´s last blog ..Six Word Saturday: Homeward Bound =-.
26 koe whitton-williams July 12, 2009 at 9:36 pm: Margo – I feel a sin coming on is great isn’t it. Save your po$tage – email photos from France everyday – no more than 10 or 15 or 106 a day – I’m not jealous, exactly, just sitting here trying to think of a euphemism for jealous.

nope.

can’t think of one. just jealous.

I’ll send a photo from Nova Scotia next week while we are there being green with you know, motion unwellnes, for being on a ferry for 6 hours. Have more fun than me!
.-= koe whitton-williams´s last blog ..i wanted to fly =-.
27 Beth July 14, 2009 at 12:42 pm: How VERY funny!

I’m sorry I am coming by so late for Postcard Friendship Friday. My parents were involved in a roll-over accident on the freeway last Monday. Miraculously both of my dear parents survived and are recovering, leaving little time for blogging. I had a few minutes just now, though, so here I am.

Happy PFF!