Apparently, there are big events elsewhere, but I hope you have time for me to share a few happy photos of a sweet small event here recently — and to share an excerpt from my latest Substack post (and ask you to go read the whole piece, over there).
First, the sweet small event. High tea as a belated birthday treat for someone who marked another year while I was travelling in the fall. Months late, but she loved extending that good birthday “I’m Special” feeling. . .
She grabbed my phone for the selfie, and I love the snap she took! New-generation tech skills, no hesitation or fiddling. . . and don’t we look happy together. . . #NanaLife
The Secret Garden Tea Company is the perfect spot to get together to learn all the school gossip, talk about books we’ve read, movies we’ve enjoyed, friends who got to go to the big concert, what Nana thought of Marrakech, and when we were going to get together for a knitting session. . . .
And then we stopped chatting for a bit and simply admired. And planned a starting point. . .
I’d brought my sketchbook along, but only managed to get it out briefly while we were waiting for the bill. . . So I sketched this page at home afterwards. There’s a sketch I don’t love on the right-hand page that I can see if I flip back the menu card I’ve hinged over it — that’s what the strip of washi tape on the far right is doing. I’m just pleased I got anything on the page by the end of the day. I’ve struggled to manage this since I’ve been home, but last week I managed five days with some sketching (5-15 minutes, it’s a start!)
And here’s an excerpt from my latest Substack post, a continuation of last week’s explanation of the planning that (did or didn’t) go into arrangements for my extended travel last year.
I have to admit that in preparing this post, I’ve erased almost as many words as I’ve typed on this screen. Words that took on a tedium of chronological detail, sketching out a calendar of arrivals and departures to and from multiple destinations and a network of relationships between husband and wife; parent and adult kids; grandparents and grandkids; son and daughter-in-law and grandkids; daughters and sons-in-law and cousins; between sisters and brother. . . you get the idea. There was even a well-loved dog to take into account. Medical concerns, a surgery, school schedules, work schedules, train routes, flights changed arbitrarily by airlines.
So I’ve condensed; I’ve summarized; and I’ve even arrived at some insight about planning ambitious travel at this side of a rich (read complicated, if you will) life. . .
And a peek at some of the insight I gained in writing the newsletter:
Respect for what we did — that in our (early) 70s we took on a slightly goofy adventure. Is that too self-affirming? To give ourselves respect? I don’t do it enough, and I want to. I want to applaud myself (wouldn’t it be a wonderful habit to acquire?) simply for trusting that foolish impetuosity. Launching ourselves on that goofy adventure.
A manageable adventure, yes, but ambitious, nonetheless. Destabilizing in ways that, I believe, were ultimately productive, but also at a few points stressful, fear-tinged even. The “slight goofiness,” it turns out, is valuable in my assessment of the trip — it signifies that we’re still capable of handling a random challenge or two. An important ability, one I’d like to hang onto for a bit. . .
To read the rest, you just need to click this link. While you’re over there, I hope you’ll consider subscribing. It’s free, it’s easy, and it will allow me eventually to streamline the uploading, downloading, managing subscriptions, and letting readers know about posts in two places.
And I can’t close this post today without a nod to a very special day, Martin Luther King Day. In the words of that indefatigible activist for justice, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
May your Monday be a hope-filled one,
xo,
f
Oh how I adore high tea. It’s indulgent and relaxed and just plain fun! My sisters, sister-in-law, nieces and grand-niece enjoyed a lovely one about a year ago. Something so magical about a place where all ages can enjoy and all feel special! Enjoy your blog very much and I’ve subscribed to your substack newsletter.
It’s a quiet Monday for me here in the Midwest … too much to contemplate I suppose. But I thank you for the MLK quote … I’m keeping a copy of it handy as I move forward with hope!
Author
It really does set a mood for a good chat, doesn’t it?! And as you say, seems to be a treat for all ages.
Thank you so much for the kind words about the blog and for subscribing on substack!
That MLK was such an inspiring speaker.
Beautiful post all around and what a lovely young woman your granddaughter has become!
Along side honoring the great MLK today, I would like to note the passing of Cecile Richards, a true champion for women and reproductive freedoms. Her words over this last year ring so true today,”It’s not hard to imagine future generations one day asking, when there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?” The only acceptable answer is, “Everything we could.”
Author
Yes, I have seen many references to Cecile Richards across the web the last few days. I hadn’t known of her before, but it sounds as if she set the bar high for the fight for women’s reproductive choices, and will be very much missed.
Frances,she is so beautiful,you both are. And all the talking and reading together….I hope I’ll have such an amazing granddaughter one day….
Hands down to your trip and all the planning included…how you’ve done it all is a miracle itself
Please,could you check if I was subscribed to your Substack? I did it immediately as you’ve written about it,but can’t like or comment (same as it was here)
Thank you
Dottoressa
Author
I just did a quick check — and I see that you subscribed over two weeks ago — thank you! I have no idea why you wouldn’t be able to like or comment. Maybe other users have suggstions? I need to hear your responses! Are you commenting from your phone, using the app? or from your desktop/laptop?
Thank you Frances! I read it on my phone,Samsung. Well,I could always comment the post on IG,when you write about it,if things don’t change,or here as long as it exist
D..
Author
I must figure this out somehow because I really can’t miss your comments in our community!
Hello Dottoressa! If you’re reading on your laptop/desktop, you might need to sign in to Substack to be able to like/comment. Sign in every time you go to the platform, I mean. There must be a way to stay signed in but I haven’t tried to figure that out yet. (I usually read Substacks on my phone; why I do not know!)
Thank you Georgia. I read it on my phone,too
D
Thank you Georgia. I read it on my phone
D.
Author
This sounds cumbersome and I hope we might find a way around it together as I figure out the new platform.
I also wonder if there’s a difference between those who just subscribe and those who have their own account, even if they’re not choosing to publish. Does that make sense?
Yes, that does make sense…I have an account. I love the content available in Substack but managing the settings isn’t as intuitive as it could be.
And I walked away without commenting on your post, but I love the look of your tea party and spent some time mulling over the menu to choose my favourite (lemon tart, I think!).
My family usually takes me out for a nice dinner on my birthday but this year, after looking at that delicious tea time spread I think I will request a birthday tea!
Author
I think it could be a very good choice! Also, increasingly as I get older and don’t want to be eating too late in the evening because digestion+sleep. . . a special tea earlier in the day is also celebratory.
Looking at that first photo: you could not deny that you are related!
Author
Of course, I can’t see it because I’m distracted by the other relations I see in her face, but I’m glad to hear it 😉
I love going to tea! Your outing looks particularly special and your granddaughter did take a great photo of the two of you.
The mixture of plates on the tea tray is lovely.
My mother who was a bit British inspired used to offer us High Tea occasionally on weekends. a way of lumping lunch, afternoon tea and dinner together. No three-tiered trays in the early sixties, but the combination of sandwiches and sweet things and the unusual hour always made it a very special meal for us children.
Yes, I also see a strong similarity between the two of you.
That’s a sweet happy face! (Oh… and the granddaughter’s a cutie too!)
The Manzoni are on Hoopla but I’m pretty sure VPL doesn’t offer hoopla…there are 4 novels in english
Author
I’m trying to remember where there was a reference to the Manzoni? It’s not in this post, is it?