A Few Words on my Heroes and Heroines

Buddha, what can I add? Reading his words of wisdom sums up a lot about how to manage this gift called life. How to understand it and how to grow in it. Buddhism is a user friendly approach.

Nelson Mandela is my hero because after all those years in prison he came out smiling and ready to fight for a continued good cause with no bitterness and blame. He wasted no energy on the dark forces.

Mother Theresa spread the love and help in the face of great povetry, illness, desperation and all this with a smile on her face.

Pema Chodron because her writings have helped me in times of great anguish, pain and depression. She has guided me through hard times and given me hope.

Patti Smith is a poet and a rock n roll goddess who has lived her art and life in one and I admire her continued presence and example to us all as creative individuals in speaking our voices.

Tove Jansson a writer, illustrator and creator of a world Moomin valley in which I live with some of the beloved characters. It has become a refuge and place to restore and recover.

Marianne Hauser a writer who lived to be stinkin' old! I loved her deeply, she was an example in how to grow older with grace and feistiness and to keep writing up until the very end!

Alistair Maclennan is a performance artist and prof. of art. His manifesto Rain Reign Rein is one the most clear and inclusive artist manifestos ever and I subscribe to it completely!

Anita Desai is an author whose books I have devoured and whose person is one I would like to be. She is intelligent, and warm and wise. She is filled with grace and calmness, she emanates this serenity which I long for.

Neil Astley because as a publisher of poetry for 30 years he has given a readership a vast choice of books and he has supported a vast body of poets. He has done for poetry-
what green does for grass and grass does for the fells, and what wet does for water and water does for rivers and what air does for life and what life does for us.

Lamar Peterson is a friend and an artist. He is good artist and a good friend. What more could you want?!

Stanley Kunitz gave the world himself in words and actions. I thank him deeply from my heart.