Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now

Stuff gets done here

recent posts

  • Dahlias and a poem

    In early May, I came upon a poem that had a sweet spirit in it, an every-day-ness that also was a kind of blessing. I got permission from the poet to share it here, but things happened and in the mess of all the things, this poem slipped away from me.

    It came back this morning as I was snipping these dinner-plate-sized dahlias (How? I married a man who grew up on a farm), and so I’ve copied the poem below. This poem is also courtesy of the wonderful Poetry Foundation, which will upon request send a poem-of-the-day email.

  • Saying goodbye, saying thank you

    My lovely mother Irene died almost three weeks ago. I’ve written about her many times. At 99, she was still lively, playing the piano, discussing politics, enjoying poetry. Her mental sharpness belied her frailty.

    I had the deep privilege of being with her for the two weeks before she passed.

    I had no prior experience in this part of human life and as meaningful as it was, it sapped all my energy.

    In the weeks since, I haven’t known what to write and so I haven’t written. But then the universe gave me a small nudge in the form of a friendly note from a reader who liked a thing I’d written about energy: The energy well. It was a good reminder that rest is required after energy is spent. While I’m refilling my well, here are some of things I wrote about Irene. She remains an inspiration.

    Still practicing at 96: https://susanpalmer.org/2022/01/07/a-musical-pact-with-a-96-year-old/

    Her love of reading: https://susanpalmer.org/2022/11/23/my-curious-mother/

    Learning about Islam: https://susanpalmer.org/2024/10/18/life-long-curiosity/

    Delving into poet Christina Rosetti: https://susanpalmer.org/2025/01/07/staying-curious/

    Lifting weights at 99: https://susanpalmer.org/2025/01/09/quality-of-a-life/

  • Back to basics

    Traveling again, I’m relying on Nia On Demand, to get my dancing fix. Many of my Nia pals have told me they haven’t felt inspired to do the online routines, and I get that. Dancing with others is such a joy.

    But my body does better when I dance regularly and on the road I rarely find Nia studios. When I do, they rarely work with my schedule.

    I am pretty excited by this new-to-me routine, Soar, with Megan MacArthur. The mix of steps and upper body moves is so different from what I’ve grown comfortable with that I’ve had to fall back on my earlier learning strategies. I’m focused for now on just getting the footwork into my brain and not thinking much about upper body. And I’m also doing the 60-minute routine in small bites of 20 minutes, so I can learn my way in. My body, my way.

    I know it’s good when I’m in a room by myself dancing and suddenly feel the big grin on my face.