Time

February Photo A Day

Moving around the seasons. 

Easy Summer

So much time in New York City is frantic, over-programmed.  I am not a huge planner. So I often get left behind.  There are times when I email or call a friend and say how about dinner this weekend? Then, I am given their calendar, the dates they have available, oh not this weekend but maybe 6 weeks from now?

It's not rude or even surprising.  It's something I've grown accustomed to, living in a place where calendars are important, where every hour is an hour to fill.  (And I'll admit there have been periods in my life where I have done the same.)

Of course, Tyler and I are in a phase where we only plan our day the morning it is about to unfold and we often find ourselves in the predicament above. 

On Saturday, however, something wonderful happened.  I had known one of my favorite friends would be in town from Boston to see a musical with her family but timing was unclear, so we hadn't made plans, and the day before, we decided we'd meet at Grand Central, we'd wander from there.

Another favorite friend had told us to stop by, the same day, to see their beautiful baby girl, who came into the world 5 weeks ago (5 weeks too early, in fact-- aha! babies don't like calendars either!) 

And, as all this took place, a text from more favorite friends: we'll be in your neighborhood, want to meet for a drink?

It never happens.  But it did.  So we skipped around and saw some of the best people we know.  

It felt a lot like being at Rosemary's house, my mother's cousin, who I adored more than almost anyone in the world, who always let us stop by, unannounced, and people floated in and out while I sat in one of her wooden kitchen chairs drinking sweet iced tea, eating crumb cake, with everyone laughing, telling loud stories.


When you were at Rosemary's it always felt like being at the best party because you didn't know there was going to be a party at all.

So I think of Rosemary and summer and friends and post these two photos. I took the first in winter.  I took the second on Saturday.  Look at the difference.

Saturday was summer, feeling the way it should.  Sun-soaked. Green. Easy.  Like running out the screen door, jumping the three steps to the grass, racing down the street, banging a fist on the door of a friend's house, wanna play?

Mostly Here

I'm back from Spain, gone from narrow, yellowed streets, lazy cafe days.  I'm married.  In a daze.  But mostly here.  I have many stories to share, on being a 'bride', on all I saw in Spain, on writing, on books, on life. I will share them in the coming days.

After that short break, I'm writing again, with more energy than I have in months.  They say writing is re-writing and that is what I'm up to.  And it is refreshing to leave the blank page, re-write with characters and places I know deeply, the ones I already have in my heart.

I have many photos to show you (you'll all kill me, I know, if I don't post one of me as a bride and I will) but this is the one I most wanted to share.  The very first thing I saw in Spain. This carousel in San Sebastian. These trees, which I call dancing trees, with the way they link arms, lean, and swirl. It reminds me of my book, my book, (a book I've all but abandoned in recent months) Rabbit Island.  So I wanted to share.

Tell me. Where are you...with your writing, your life, now that summer is here (or almost here)?  What did I miss?