Dear Summer,
I skipped a blog week, I know, just call it a vacation… But I’ve been busy. It’s been a great Summer, put quite simply. Interesting, rich, filled with contrasts and encounters and reunions. Let’s start with those.
My mother received a friend request on Facebook. From her brother. Actually, let me rephrase that. My mother received a friend request from her dead estranged father’s son whom she knew of, had looked for but had never found.
How ’bout them apples. Feels like an ad for Nokia. Technology. Connecting People. Next thing you know, someone will call with information on my biological father. I should set up an 800 number.
Our uncle is a former addict of just about everything under the sun. His story is enough to write a book on the Californian consequences of too much Flower Power in the 70s.
What else? I took the longest vacation ever, because I can do that now. Or rather, I can take a leave of absence from Paris and write wherever I am, meaning that vacation doesn’t exist for me anymore, but also meaning that writing facing the ocean is more inspiring than facing the boulevard out my apartment windows. I’m almost done with the Street Art book, which is very exciting. It goes to press in 10 days exactly. We worked very hard with Magda Danysz, and I’m hoping it will be well received.
I’ve been reading a lot. My first week was spent storming through Twilight, like a good post-teenager that I am. I enjoyed it, breezily. Not the best writing in the world, but very evocative, and I’m a sucker for vampires, what can I say. I’ve also been reading, in depth, the Power of Now. It was a perfect time for this book and me to meet. We’re best friends. I’m in the know of the Now, and utterly respectful of the work, the message, the references, the dimensions it can open. That and yoga are a giant combination. I feel the light.
I got to spend a lot of time with wonderful people over the last few weeks, and feeling very relaxed in my rapport to the world. It’s reassuring to know I have good friends to come back to, and projects to complete. I got to see Marion work on her new movie, directed by Guillaume, which was fascinating. Spent a couple of days on the set, and then would just meet them and the rest of the cast now and then for food, drinks, laughs, when I got too sick of Street Art. Real friends. Real intense people.
I feel great physically. I’m going to start greenshaking, in addition to everything else. Audrey’s been telling me wonders about it, and it seems like a good addition to my regimen. I got a bit off the raw food track during August, because of my various hosts, but managed to keep it somewhat on the menu, not to mention all the fish and oysters. And the clams I spent two hours lying down in the mud with Marion, Elise and Joel, scratching and digging blindly with my hands to find the smooth, polished little animals. There’s nothing like eating what you’ve ripped your fingers open catching.
I’ve been back in Paris for a few hours and can see how the daily things will be trying to sneak in. But I’m excited about facing the times to come with joy and peace and productivity.
I also have Jonathan, and then Trevor, coming to visit in the next few days, and I’m happy. I’m always thrilled to see old friendships evolve through time. Both of them are the kind of open and connected people who bring out the good in me. I’m also counting the hours before Clarisse comes home. Two weeks without her is strange and unusual, but video-conference is a great invention.
I’m sorting out a lot of my family issues, we’re getting a house for a mother. Very rocky process for them all, but somehow I’ve managed to completely stay sane and peaceful.
Over all, it’s all about growing and learning and being grateful and not judging and trying to improve everyday. Without judging. Ok, I’ll stop before I turn into a total hippie enlightened freak. Over and out.
Mad Love,
MND