I do believe arrivals are all temporary. Like winning and losing—merely signposts along the journey. We bask in it for mere moments and then are already looking forward. Doe that ever change? Perhaps when we reach the ultimate arrival—death. But who knows? 🤷🏻♂️
Your visit sounds lovely. I love Dee’s comment and will also say that if I lower expectations and truly be in each present moment, feeling genuinely grateful, then I have arrived.
I just adore Murakami. We see a couple of monarchs each day on our walk. What I really wanted to comment on is the joy of getting a letter. I got a letter from an author I’ve worked with this week, just a simple note, about how much she loved my chapbook. She took the time to write and mail it and it meant so much. Getting an unexpected letter is a joy.
I really liked the idea of this post as a letter. And the idea that arrivals are only temporary. Some beautiful reflections, Priya. And the butterflies are such a wonderful way to encapsulate what your talking about.
Also, I loved this little admission — “(retrospect being such a know-it-all)” — that made me giggle. :)
I love letters. So so so much. I feel like sitting down and writing by hand slows the brain to match the pacing of the heart. I’ve kept all the ones ever sent. I hope they’ve done the same.
A few weeks ago I was reading in the park and this butterfly landed on my book. He (assuming he) flew away and came back on my knee. Then jumped to my chest and sat perched on my shoulder for five minutes. Magical! I like to think he was reading the book too from my shoulder.
It's so hard to say what my favorite letter is b/c real letters are so infrequent these days. I loved it when everyone wrote letters. I still do, but to a very select few group of people: primarily my 96 yr old cousin (my oldest living relative). She remembers me as a little girl, said I was such a cutie which of course one wants to hear--but my mom did always have us dressed really cute and our hair curled, we girls. Anyway, she-her name is Rosemarie- is in very good shape considering--still does all her own shopping, errands to post office, hair appointment, car repairs, etc. She deals with a gardener and work people if something needs to be done on her house. She drives herself mostly to her dr appointments unless a niece goes with on 'big stuff.' She loves receiving my letters, I write stream of consciousness, daily life stuff, and for some reason she loves it which is fine with me! Hers are more dr. appt related, etc.That's okay. Oh, the best letters I'd rec'd were from my old 9th grade science teacher! After I'd long left home after college for Calif, and then on to MX, I wrote my travel memoir. He saw my mom somewhere and got my address and we corresponded. He was just the best long letter writer. Also, he loved my book writing, so that helped, haha. Sadly he passed away about 10 yrs ago. But he was quite adventurous after retirement--his daughter lived in Queensland Australia, and he'd go to visit and write me these wild letters from OZ. He took the train from Melbourne to PERTH! and it was a doozy of a ride. Roos all over the tracks. I saved his letters but can't bring myself to read them. So, that was a nice memory, thanks Priya!
I do believe arrivals are all temporary. Like winning and losing—merely signposts along the journey. We bask in it for mere moments and then are already looking forward. Doe that ever change? Perhaps when we reach the ultimate arrival—death. But who knows? 🤷🏻♂️
Beautiful thoughts Priya. 🙏
Love this. Also…
Your visit sounds lovely. I love Dee’s comment and will also say that if I lower expectations and truly be in each present moment, feeling genuinely grateful, then I have arrived.
I just adore Murakami. We see a couple of monarchs each day on our walk. What I really wanted to comment on is the joy of getting a letter. I got a letter from an author I’ve worked with this week, just a simple note, about how much she loved my chapbook. She took the time to write and mail it and it meant so much. Getting an unexpected letter is a joy.
I really liked the idea of this post as a letter. And the idea that arrivals are only temporary. Some beautiful reflections, Priya. And the butterflies are such a wonderful way to encapsulate what your talking about.
Also, I loved this little admission — “(retrospect being such a know-it-all)” — that made me giggle. :)
I love letters. So so so much. I feel like sitting down and writing by hand slows the brain to match the pacing of the heart. I’ve kept all the ones ever sent. I hope they’ve done the same.
A few weeks ago I was reading in the park and this butterfly landed on my book. He (assuming he) flew away and came back on my knee. Then jumped to my chest and sat perched on my shoulder for five minutes. Magical! I like to think he was reading the book too from my shoulder.
It's so hard to say what my favorite letter is b/c real letters are so infrequent these days. I loved it when everyone wrote letters. I still do, but to a very select few group of people: primarily my 96 yr old cousin (my oldest living relative). She remembers me as a little girl, said I was such a cutie which of course one wants to hear--but my mom did always have us dressed really cute and our hair curled, we girls. Anyway, she-her name is Rosemarie- is in very good shape considering--still does all her own shopping, errands to post office, hair appointment, car repairs, etc. She deals with a gardener and work people if something needs to be done on her house. She drives herself mostly to her dr appointments unless a niece goes with on 'big stuff.' She loves receiving my letters, I write stream of consciousness, daily life stuff, and for some reason she loves it which is fine with me! Hers are more dr. appt related, etc.That's okay. Oh, the best letters I'd rec'd were from my old 9th grade science teacher! After I'd long left home after college for Calif, and then on to MX, I wrote my travel memoir. He saw my mom somewhere and got my address and we corresponded. He was just the best long letter writer. Also, he loved my book writing, so that helped, haha. Sadly he passed away about 10 yrs ago. But he was quite adventurous after retirement--his daughter lived in Queensland Australia, and he'd go to visit and write me these wild letters from OZ. He took the train from Melbourne to PERTH! and it was a doozy of a ride. Roos all over the tracks. I saved his letters but can't bring myself to read them. So, that was a nice memory, thanks Priya!