The Twelve Days of Thanksgiving: Day Two
Once I decided to really spread out the Thanksgiving love, I realized that there are and endless supply of things that make my cranberry sauce jiggle. A dozen days can hardly do justice to all the delightful people, books and experiences around Bright Sky.
On the First Day of Thanksgiving, I was thankful for our founder, Rue Judd, and all the work she did getting this little publishing company going out in West Texas.
On the Second Day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for H'town, the current home of Bright Sky Press.
Houston, Texas is neither East, nor West, South nor North. It is not traditionally beautiful, but it has oak alleys that will knock your socks off, mysterious winding bayous, and massive mounds of festive azaleas that could make the most exotic flamenco dancer feel like a wallflower. It has architecture: from the most modern skyscrapers to the funkiest wooden music hall to the indescribably delightful Orange Show. Most of all, it has an open, creative, can-do soul: hard core inner-beauty.
Houston is worth it. In more ways than I can ever rhapsodize about here. Today, I am thankful that this funky, energetic city is home to all kinds of off-beat, new, outside-the-box, inspirational, connective and wired talent.
For example: I am thankful for our writer friend Katherine Center, author of Bright Side of Disaster and Everyone Is Beautiful as well as godmother to our kirtsy book. I am thankful for her introduction to Laura Mayes, author of said kirtsy book. I am thankful for the generous open hearts and creative connectivity of these two ladies which led to: Karen Walrond--a.k. better k. as Chookooloonks--who's currently penning and shooting The Beauty of Different for us; Monica Danna--a.k.b.k. as Cosmopolitician--who leads our social media socials, works with so many of our authors, and generally inspires us to keep trying to save the world; and Jim Prather--a.k.b.k. as YouData, an absolutely innovative and exciting approach to advertising--who shares his projector so generously when we find ourselves in need and generally offers us inspiring insight on publishing.
And these truly wonderful people are just the tip of the iceberg here in H'town. Everywhere I turn, someone new and wonderful pops up. Someone willing to look at things with completely new eyes, someone with a creative vision that just makes me thankful that I am Here, and not There. Someone like Matthew Wettergreen, Brian Gaubert or Katie Laird.
I am thankful that we are in this town, right here, right now, surrounded by people whose creativity is as big as their hearts--a rare and precious combination, and what I think people really mean when they say that Houston is the Energy Capital of America. I love this kind of energy.
Thanksgiving Tip #2: Take time out over the holidays to fill your own creative cup by seeing a movie like Fantastic Mr. Fox by another talented H'town alum, Wes Anderson. Old school animation + new school ways of seeing definitely = food for thought t hat is way less fattening and more satisfying than any pi.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
~Albert Schweitzer
Houston is our home as well. Perhaps I can buy lunch and learn from some of the experience at Bright Sky Press.
-Greg