Featured Writer

Ginny Foster

When Ginny Foster, 77, started preparing for death, she stopped writing. But during a recent Write Around Portland workshop at Providence ElderPlace Glendoveer, her passion was resurrected.

Ginny’s piece, entitled Midnight Sweetness, was featured in Write Around Portland’s latest anthology, The Top. The poem includes writing prompts used throughout the 10-week workshop to construct a work comparing the oranges at Glendoveer with the old people there, and with Mother Joseph, the founder of Providence. “I thought that my

writing died when I got a terminal diagnosis,” she says.

Two years ago when she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, Ginny moved into ElderPlace, a comprehensive care program that offers health, housing, social service and care coordination to older adults. A mother of five – although one of her children has passed on – Ginny enjoys regular visits with her family, including a recent outing for her great-granddaughter’s graduation. She was an English teacher and a feature writer for the Northwest Examiner, a small newspaper in Portland.

“I came here to die at Glendoveer,” she says. “I’ve surprised everyone.” Herself included.

Ginny recently sat down with Write Around Portland to share about the workshop experience that she said was encouraging and helped her to develop relationships with the people who live around her. You can read that interview and her poem, Midnight Sweetness, below.

Midnight Sweetness

by Ginny Foster

Mother Joseph rings the after-hours bell

cha ching cha ching

returning at midnight from a begging trip

asking the storeowners and the bankers

oranges for the poor

cha ching cha ching

her black habit

frames her plain, unappealing face

as she waits for the smallest sister

to rouse and let her in

she goes out to shake the orange tree

in the courtyard

oranges for the poor

the smells of the midnight orange

Mother Joseph

hungry after her journey

breaks it open

peeling it in the moonlight...

READ THE FULL PIECE

Interview with Featured Writer Ginny Foster

Biography writer and interviewer: Bob Albrecht, Volunteer

What was your favorite part of the Write Around Portland workshop experience?

It frees you to write your heart out.

What do you mean by that?

Kristin [the volunteer workshop facilitator] encouraged us to write and share. She’s so enthusiastic. I liked her a lot. I really enjoyed her writing. I’d never been in a group that was all positive. She let me take liberties. Each writing prompt that she gave us I had in my poem. I really used them all in that one piece.

What else sticks out when you think about the workshop?

The great thing about the workshop is I got to meet people here [at Glendoveer] who are writing. I plan to sit and write with another resident, Lee, now that the workshop is over. I never would have known she was a writer, too, without the workshop.

Anything else?

It was really good to get a beautiful notebook.

Did it motivate you to write again?

This workshop was the first time I’d written in eight years. It really gave me a lot of encouragement. For me, it was getting back self-discipline, finding out I could still write. I was very happy that I could write again.

Your poem won an award; what was that?

It won a $25 prize on the 20th anniversary of ElderPlace. I got to stand up and read it at the celebration, which was really rewarding.

What did you learn about writing in community?

Everybody’s on the same level. They’re all answering a prompt. They were all encouraging. It really bonded us.

Would you do another workshop?

Oh, yeah. I’d do it again in a flash. It’s really good to have things go on here. I can’t get out and go to a poetry reading. I think everyone in the group wanted to have another one. Having it happen on site is so important for the elderly.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Ginny Foster When Ginny Foster, 77, started preparing for death, she stopped writing. But during a recent Write Around Portland workshop at Providence ElderPlace Glendoveer, her passion was resurrected. Ginny’s piece, entitled Midnight Sweetness, was featured in Write Around Portland’s latest anthology, The Top. The poem includes writing prompts used throughout the 10-week workshop to construct a work comparing the oranges at Glendoveer with the old people there, and with Mother Joseph, the founder of Providence. “I thought that my writing died when I got a terminal diagnosis,” she says. Two years ago when she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, Ginny moved into ElderPlace, a comprehensive care program that offers health, housing, social service and care coordination to older adults. A mother of five – although one of her children has passed on – Ginny enjoys regular visits with her family, including a recent outing for her great-granddaughter’s graduation. She was an English teacher and a feature writer for the Northwest Examiner, a small newspaper in Portland. “I came here to die at Glendoveer,” she says. “I’ve surprised everyone.” Herself included. Ginny recently sat down with Write Around Portland to share about the workshop experience that she said was encouraging and helped her to develop relationships with the people who live around her. You can read that interview and her poem, Midnight Sweetness, below. Midnight Sweetness by Ginny Foster Mother Joseph rings the after-hours bell cha ching cha ching returning at midnight from a begging trip asking the storeowners and the bankers oranges for the poor oranges for the poor cha ching cha ching her black habit frames her plain, unappealing face as she waits for the smallest sister to rouse and let her in she goes out to shake the orange tree in the courtyard oranges for the poor oranges for the poor the smells of the midnight orange Mother Joseph hungry after her journey breaks it open peeling it in the moonlight... READ THE FULL PIECE Interview with Featured Writer Ginny Foster Biography writer and interviewer: Bob Albrecht, Volunteer What was your favorite part of the Write Around Portland workshop experience? It frees you to write your heart out. What do you mean by that? Kristin [the volunteer workshop facilitator] encouraged us to write and share. She’s so enthusiastic. I liked her a lot. I really enjoyed her writing. I’d never been in a group that was all positive. She let me take liberties. Each writing prompt that she gave us I had in my poem. I really used them all in that one piece. What else sticks out when you think about the workshop? The great thing about the workshop is I got to meet people here [at Glendoveer] who are writing. I plan to sit and write with another resident, Lee, now that the workshop is over. I never would have known she was a writer, too, without the workshop. Anything else? It was really good to get a beautiful notebook. Did it motivate you to write again? This workshop was the first time I’d written in eight years. It really gave me a lot of encouragement. For me, it was getting back self-discipline, finding out I could still write. I was very happy that I could write again. Your poem won an award; what was that? It won a $25 prize on the 20th anniversary of ElderPlace. I got to stand up and read it at the celebration, which was really rewarding. What did you learn about writing in community? Everybody’s on the same level. They’re all answering a prompt. They were all encouraging. It really bonded us. Would you do another workshop? Oh, yeah. I’d do it again in a flash. It’s really good to have things go on here. I can’t get out and go to a poetry reading. I think everyone in the group wanted to have another one. Having it happen on site is so important for the elderly.	"I thought that my writing died when I got a terminal diagnosis... I was very happy that I could write again." --Ginny Foster Workshop Participant Donate Now Provide a writer with a writing journal, pen, bus tickets, and an anthology. Featured Writer Ginny Foster Click here for archive of past featured writers
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