the online journal of jordan e.

And Another

A SINFUL WOMAN ANOINTS JESUS’ FEET
Luke 7:36-38

She didn’t stand up straight. Her past, her sorrow,
her burdens buckled her shoulders over in a guilty
bow. Earthy linens draped around them haphazardly,
wrapped her in a lonely tunic. She hovered over
you like that – with the pain, the ache hanging heavy in
her chest, pushing hard on her ribcage – until you turned
to her. Then, like steam that clears our lungs, giving
passageway to breath, your sweet aroma rose to
mingle with her musk. And as the essence of you explored
the corners of her hurt – her cavernous insides with
the gaping, barren holes – a convulsive gasp rose from
within her, a terrible wave of violent weeping that
bucked her body with deep heaves for breath and
life. Because this gentle scent wrapping around
her – your scent – was not one of condemnation, of
pointing fingers, of the customary blame. But one of
love, mercy, forgiveness and her first sip of grace. And her
tears – they kept coming. They kept falling on your feet
in salty drops of worship.

posted by Jordan @ 12:25 em

Signs of Labor
For the next few days I'll be posting a little fruit from this semester's poetry seminar. Hope you likey.

WHEN WE GO TO SVERIGE (SWEDEN)

There’s singing in this bakery. Here people
stand before neon-lit cases where Criscoed long johns,
glazed fritters and raspberry-filled bearclaws
don’t belong. Instead, blue eyes hover over
Fat Tuesday Semlår, almond-pasted, whipped
cream buns frosted in a film of powdery
sugar. Ordering one sounds more like a tune with
the singing dip of pronoun and melodic rise
of verb. Jag skulla vilja ha… becomes a
prelude to pastry and a cup of coffee so black that
you blink hard after swallows.

But you welcome the caffeinated burn in
exchange for the ringing blue and yellow
tack så mycket, blonde braids and squat, pale
houses rooted under birch trees. You’ve fallen in
love with the circles that crown their letter A’s and
hellos formally shortened to hej, like everyone’s
your neighbor, your friend from third grade.

And you wonder how your grandpa, your
great aunt, your fourth cousin could have left
the bluish, nordic haze of this place. This
country where conversation sounds
like it follows the score of a musical, taking
intermissions for swallowing bits of Semlår or pouring
refills of the bolder, stronger ancestor of Folger’s.

posted by Jordan @ 4:34 em

The Easter Bunny Came and Went
Unless you are citizen of northern Mongolia, you probably spent last weekend celebrating Easter with the rest of us. My particular Easter break had a special twist this year as I brought home my friends Carlos and Celine to spend the holiday with my family. So rather than me, Carlos got to basque in the comfort of my room and one night Celine's nightmare made her scream and push the top bunk up (with me in it) using her feet, but over all, the time was splendid.
On Friday, for instance, we caroused around Canal Park. Carlos skipped rocks for miles, Celine herded in a flock of wild seagulls and I chased my little brother around, demanding to know if the Easter Bunny really existed.
That night Kelly joined us for supper and came to church with us. The Good Friday service at our Vineyard is extra funky, as there is always tons of drama and creativity woven through the service - usually through art displays and other elements to spark the senses.
Though church was funky and mighty moving, we still managed to make it back downtown to go salsa dancing at the Blue Note. Carlos, the bonified Latino, did his hip-swiveling, mexicani-moving, fancy-footwork while I, the legitimate native of Mora, Minnesota, did my best to swivel along with him. The "Bueno! Bueno!" shouted by the Venezualans there seemed to indicate that we weren't too shabby.
But alas, Saturday came and we came to Gooseberry Falls. We hiked, we ooooed and we aahhhed. Celine ran into a group of French people from her home town of Rennes. Carlos and I waltzed around in matching clothing.
Later that night my brother Jonah arrived back from his high school trip to Germany. He still had a hungover from the deutsches Bier. Actually, to be more accurate, he was extremely jet-lagged and still ridden with sugar from the many kilos of Germany candy he purchased.
Little, sleepy Jonah decided to pass out just in time for the Easter egg coloring. As he slumbered on the couch, the rest of us went wild with a white crayon, nine delightful dyes and a pot of boiled eggs.
On Sunday we rose and shined to Easter baskets and a hectic rush to get to church on time. Later, the Bjorlin family joined us for Easter dinner. We ate and talked and played a few games of Kerplunk. Before ending it all with some delicious carrot cake that Marijo and Jessica had made, however, we all went out for a softball game in our field. Marijo and I each wiped out once, Jessica risked tick infestation from digging around in the brush for the ball so much and Celine learned how to swing a Louisville Slugger. It was great fun actually.
Monday was spent packing and eating out with Kelly, Tyler and Jon and Brian LaCore - not mention a four-hour drive back to the other side of the state. Easter break was definitely a goodie this year.
And now, I leave you with three random photos.

posted by Jordan @ 10:08 em

Rocking in the Free World
As you all know, last weekend was in part spent at a John Mayer/Guster show in St. Paul. Alida and I drove from Margo's Forehead to meet Kara and her friend Anne as well as a hoard of love sick girls donning John Mayer apparel. The four of us politely nodded heads and tapped toes through a great set delivered by Guster until the shrill shrieks around us indicated that Mr. John Mayer was about to begin. He played a good mix from each of his cds, occasionally giving a little extra tlc to his six-stringed beast - one guitar solo was so long and intense that he actually had to sit down on the stage and lay the guitar across his lap while playing. And when he wasn't occupied with blues scales and Gm7 chords, he was singing with that lovely voice of his, twisted, freakish singing face and all. The concert was splendid.
But the weekend fun didn't end that Friday night as we filed out with all the swooning girls. The next day my mom drove down, took me out to lunch and brought me to the boys' basketball state championship game in which her alma mater (Braham High School) was playing. It was a basic class reunion for her and a victorious win for the Bombers. For me, however, it was a shocker as we ran into my grandma and grandpa. Grandma (the beaming woman in the right of the photo) was her normal self, but Grandpa was wearing a matted woman's wig, which he claimed was good luck. Honestly, I think it was just an excuse to wear a woman's wig.

posted by Jordan @ 8:53 fm