"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." Rosa Parks
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| Winter twilight |
Yet again, I’m falling behind on my updates! I am
getting so comfortable in my Sabbatical.
Keeping busy with many volunteer activities, meeting wonderful People,
listening to music in my “Cheers”, Sojourn, not setting alarms most days. (I
love that’s as it was one of my dreams..not having to set an alarm every
day.) Definitely enjoy fulfilling
dreams. And, then there’s the
healing. It is happening, thank God. I am finding my Philosophy class helps so
much, the camaraderie of the class is wonderful, and my almost daily practice
of meditation.
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| on 77th (2&3) |
That is not to say, it is still pain-free! I constantly research job opportunities. What
is it I want to do? When I research
Dental opportunities I feel true dread. I
cannot go back.. The People I meet give me affirmation in what I am doing is “right
and brave.” It will come to me, I
know. On that note, I met with my Philosophy
Friend and her BF who is quite an entrepreneur, and may be a new experience in
work for me, at a neighborhood Le Pain Quotidien. I love that “chain” of patisseries. Part of its philosophy: “Le Pain Quotidien means the daily bread. And to us, that means
everything. It’s much more than mere sustenance; it’s a way of life. As our
loaves emerge from the ovens, warm and fragrant, friends gather around our
communal tables to share in the time-honored tradition of breaking bread.”
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| Hibernation |
This winter is
getting to me, as it is so many. The
Polar Vertex’s are getting me down. I am
finding myself truly hibernating. But,
hibernating here in NYC, knowing how much is outside my door is so different to
my mental health than being stuck inside, alone, in the ‘burb of most of my
life. Funny how that is. Snowy days are
at least warmer, and can be truly beautiful.
On one such day, I met a high school Friend for tea (her birthday!), as
she was in the city on business. It was
a real treat, and a lovely couple of hours spent at Perk Kafe in Midtown.
Some things are being
cancelled due to weather, but I have still managed to spend some time across
the street at the Yorkville Library tutoring Seniors on the
computer. I always go in with
trepidation, and sometimes what my Senior needs is more than I know to
share. But always, I leave feeling good,
having made yet another acquaintance in the city.
A lovely Lady I have chatted with
a few times at my Sojourn is an Event Planner.
Her work is stunning. Nancy and I met at Sojourn one night to
chat about the fact that she needed a Publicist. She was kind and gracious and we pondered if
this could be something for me? I
shadowed her on one of those fiercely cold days..observing how delicate roses
can be; was very impressed with how she handled some crisis’; loved the street
in the flower district I got introduced to; was delighted to spend time at the Cipriani
42nd Street helping to set up the Gala for America Needs You. Nancy then generously treated me to dinner at
a wonderful Greek restaurant in our neighborhood (where one of her
collaborators work, so we got to visit again), Yefsi Estiatorio.
I must share a quick small world story:
Nancy’s second collaborator raised her two children in the North End of
Boston. They most likely all spent many
days together in the Waterfront Park! (memories of Barbara, God love her,
flooding back.) Ultimately, after
writing a very rough draft of a PR piece, researching what PR really entails..I
decided that is not where I want to head professionally. Nancy agreed we’d still be Sojourn friends.
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| Keren and the Sugar Daddies |
I have found another place to see
one of my favorite new bands, Keren and the Sugar Daddies. I joined some of my Sojourn friends a couple
of times and ventured over to the West side to see them at Prohibition. I am officially a groupie for the first time
in my life !
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| The Orchid by Georgia O'Keefe |
Have I mentioned how much I respect and enjoy all the many facets of the
NYPL? I became a member, which allows
for discounts on special lectures and “Live at the NYPL” events. On a Friday recently, I headed out to attend
one such event, and decided to first spend some time at the MOMA which is free on Fridays from
4-8pm. Another exhibit I wanted towas closing. American Modern:
Hopper to O'Keeffe was a
treat. However, one of the participants
in the show, one of my all-time favorites who actually lives at the MOMA,
brought me to tears, yet again. This
time bittersweet tears of sorrow, mourning.
Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth evokes so very many memories of Maine.
Off to the magnificent Library on
5th Avenue to what is becoming a favorite auditorium, Celeste Bartos
Forum. I had a thoroughly
enjoyable couple of hours with James McBride and The Good Lord Bird Band. Author of the classic memoir, "The Color Of Water", this was a celebration of his 2013 book, the Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction, "The Good Lord Bird."
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| First course: Gumbo Z'Herbes |
A
very special treat was a night spent at City
Grit with my one of my special Friends from the Food
Film Festival. From its website: City
Grit is a culinary salon- a gathering
of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another
and partly to refine taste.” Sarah Simmons invited me after working with
her at the FFF here in NYC on October. A
perfect winter Sunday Supper of fried chicken was held at a really cool space
in SOHO, and old Catholic school. (Alas
City Grits will lose its space there when the building gets demolished, but
they’re on the lookout for another.)
And, Sarah’s fried chicken dinners have been so popular her plan is to
open a small restaurant dedicated to that!
Our incredible meal was made so very more enjoyable by our table-mates,
of whom we have friended on Facebook, and hope to see again! Lovely People with poignant stories.
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| Main course! |
I took my first online course. “Stress-free Budget Travel” was a two day
webinar with Matt Kepnes, a Boston boy who now bases himself in NYC, but has
been traveling the world for years. He
has an award-winning blog-site, Nomadic Matt.
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| Ada Dyer |
(I forgot to mention another
memorable first I enjoyed a few Sunday nights ago, BB Kings’ Blues Club.
I found a great show on my Play by Play, and thoroughly enjoyed Ada Dyer
and the A Band at this classic joint in Midtown. My “date” for the evening was a wonderful
young woman who has musical aspirations of her own (including a possible course
of study at Berkely in Boston). Her
boyfriend was in the A Band).
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