“ The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” – Henry Miller
As I move through the apartment these days I’m aware that the light outside is changing – the bedroom seems brighter (it faces north-east) as the lower angle of the afternoon sun reflects off a neighbouring building’s windows, there are new shadows on the wall creating beauty where none was before. Other corners of the apartment are revealed by this same light fueling an urge to disrupt the everyday patterns of my books, objects and other ephemera, to breathe new life into these forgotten realms. I’ve been opening drawers and looking into closets gathering up abandoned dreams, scribbled notes, as well as the odd unread book – surfacing from the dream-like slumber of summer to embrace the new season to come…
This means saying good-bye to picnics in the park at our favourite spot (the Railway Cafe) as well as the meditative forest-bathing we enjoyed so much on the trail (both are now closed until next Spring) and saying hello to some delicious hot chocolate after chasing the sun towards the unique concession/gift store just beside the Totems (near Brockton Oval in Stanley Park) on fall walks to come. We enjoyed doing this a lot last year and can hardly wait to sip on that first hot chocolate when fall officially arrives!
Surfacing from languid summer life has resulted in new energy, I’ve shaken the water from my eyes and have taken that first breath – I find myself making important appointments instead of putting them off, exploring new things (I recently signed up for a fun workshop on “Food Poetry” at our local neighbourhood house!) and reaching out (hello new blogger friends!). There is still one more Farmer’s Market visit this Saturday and time to organize for our trip back east, time for taking more breaths and enjoy the slow crawl into fall…
Journal Entry: December 13, 2004 – Olas Altas
I was happy to find myself at Cafe San Angel again this morning having my favourite pancakes. Even though we are moving to our new digs, we still plan to come here – it’s so inspirational and this morning they are playing great music, very Spanish with some Middle Eastern notes. We’ve started to pack our backpacks; we plan to take the bus to the hotel (Paloma del Mar) if our packs prove to be too heavy for a long hike.
There are many things I will miss here in the Olas Altas area – the spaciousness of our studio, our open front door with the view of the very blue sky and the fresh green of a large palm plus our always open balcony door. There are incredible views from our balcony of very interesting and charming homes. I never tire of the view especially looking up at the hills at the palms ( there is one spot that is my favourite, my eyes are drawn to a stand of 5 palms – it is peaceful to see them up there swaying…
Fall is reflection. The backdrop of the stage that we are on is changing. The leaves are colouring, they are falling, The crunch when I walk is music. Sometimes I try and walk more quickly, and play in my mind the silly game, “step on a crack and you’ll break your Mothers back”. Down Bute the cement walkway is filled with cracks, and passes as fun. Now the nuts are falling, and Henny Penny, the sky is falling comes to mind. Deep reddish Chestnuts, acorns, all along the tree lined street. Mentally I am down=sizing, trying to pass on some treasures only to find someone has done the same, and I am bringing their treasures home.
May your holiday be filled with treasures, the visual Fall of Ontario, Bliss.
Love Mom
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Yesterday I was walking through the park and couldn’t help but deliberately step on some large golden-brown leaves just to hear that “crunch”! I like this line a lot, ” The backdrop of the stage that we are on is changing.”, it reminds me that we are eternal, forever still in the eye of the storm.
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Your writing makes me think, I really like your descriptive way of writing, it creates feelings that all of us have, you only makes us more aware of them. The passing of the seasons is something that I find compelling to think about, it is something unstoppable, difficult and beautiful at the same time. I always like the way that human life compares to the way nature works, changing seasons are everywhere, not only in the colour of the leaves but also in our minds.
Thank you for your beautiful words, whenever I read something you write, the world becomes a little bit more fascinating.
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Thank you so much for leaving your beautiful words – I feel the same when I read your blog (which is filled with exquisite imagery and atmosphere)! I’m glad you stopped by to leave this lovely piece of writing.
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What a refreshing place it is to be at ! I really liked taking a virtual tour through your words 🙂
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Thank you so much for this and your very kind words!
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You’re most welcome 🙂
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Lovely.☕🍵📚📒
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I love this comment and emoticons, you are so sweet!
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My dear neighbour and friend, your words are alwYs captivating. ❤️ It is a pleasure to read you always. Huguette❤️
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Correction. Your words are always captivating, invigorating. The ferocious beautiful sun was playing tricks on my tablet this morning. . Again love your notes, your photos and journals of my darling Mexico. Thou always. Huguette
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It is a joy to write if someone receives comments like yours, I have said and written this before, you are an inspiration!
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Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Thank you again for the re-blog, I appreciate this so much!
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So enjoyed this little trip as if being there myself!
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Hey, thank you so much for dropping by and leaving such a nice comment, I really appreciate it!
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I love you post… and i also am loving the comments here.. you have brilliant followers
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I am very blessed and glad to have your words here as well!
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Keep writing …you have beautiful thoughts as always
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Thank you for this, your words are so encouraging and warm my heart!
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I feel like I’ve already been there…. Wow amazing
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
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You are welcome 😊😊
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