All Categories - A Cottage by the Sea

Silence and solitude at Fenway Park?

5/20/2019

I’ve had my computer back for three days. Lending it was not as disruptive as I had anticipated. The programs my husband downloaded didn’t mess things up very much, which reminded me that the first and best remedy for a computer problems is: ‘Shut Down’ and ‘Restart’. In all fairness, that little computer-lending experience remains in the simplicity department.
Silence and solitude often walk in tandem, as they did yesterday with the Red Sox win at Fenway Park. We went with our son and daughter-in-law, and what could be better than that? NO silence or solitude. And yet, I could attend the game all by myself and had a wonderful time. Even to consider such a thing shows how content I am alone.
In fact, I have plans to spend seven nights in Edinburgh June 12-20. Traveling alone? Of course.

Sharing a computer

5/14/2019

My husband’s computer crashed. He’s ordered a new one which should arrive at the house tomorrow. Meanwhile, he has borrowed mine for the work day. I understand that he really needs it, but handing it over is a challenge—all the stuff he’s had to put on, the pop-ups, the computer heating up, no access for me during the day.
How we handle any of life’s situations is up to us. My first response was that indeed Jim needs my computer. That altruistic thought, however, was immediately followed by, “I really want MY computer.” I must admit that he order in which those two valid thoughts came to me, pleased me.
Letting go is one of life’s major challenges. I have friends in their 90s who have had to let go of their driver’s license, and now are letting go of life. A friend is struggling to let go of his job. Another is letting go of the hope of being a mother. Clearly, it should be easy for me to let go of my computer for a couple of days!

The silence, solitude, and simplicity of music

5/12/2019

Yesterday I attended the Spring Concert at my church, Memorial Congregational Church, just up the street from where I live. Obviously, music is not silent, nor performed in solitude, and certainly not simple. And yet, as I sat in the sanctuary I felt those three longing being fulfilled. Silence, solitude and simplicity are a states of being, not a states of doing.
Our choir was joined by singers from the community. They were exquisite, allowing me to close my eyes and sit in that very silence, solitude, and simplicity that I long for. Clearly, silence is not lack of sound; solitude is not being alone; simplicity is not without complexity.

Reading and silence

5/6/2019

I’m still reading, but not with the fevered pitch of a few years ago. I’m up to 23 books on my 2019 Goodreads Challenge, just 57 to read my birthday goal of 80. I’ll get there, and if I don’t, who cares? I don’t, Goodreads doesn’t, and certain you don’t!
At the moment I have four books going:
• The Overstory, by Richard Powers (502 pages of deep reading)
• Power and Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, by Stephen R. Hawkins (reading slowly, chapter by chapter)
• The Book of Dreams, by Nina George (good read at the end of the day)
• Kushner, Inc.: Greed, Ambition, Corruption, by Vicky Ward (the news speaks for itself).

Some books (the last two) I can ready while watching Boston sports teams. Tonight the Sox, Bruins, and Celtics are all paying at the same time, so flipping the channels may slow down my reading. ‘Mute’ will be my setting of choice, which is my little way of staying in solitude.

Remembering May Day~

5/1/2019

May Day. I have school day memories.
   During my early school days we celebrated The Merry Month of May with maypole dances, students reciting their own poems, and singing by the school chorus. Although we gathered around the flagpole, I don’t recall any dancing. Then one May 1st there is no school assembly; instead we sat at our desks (in rows) practicing our handwriting.
    Air raid drills began accompanying this program change (probably when I was in fifth grade). I have a visceral memory of my math teacher (male) leading the drill, letting us know how serious this was by telling us, “I have permission to hit any of you over the head to knock you out if you do not follow the rules.”
     Russian had usurped May Day; communism was a fearful word: the Cold War had begun.

A Wood Duck joining our solitude

4/25/2019

Beautiful spring day. I have a cold, which in some odd way I appreciate because it gives me the perfect excuse to stay home and just be (and to go to bed early). What do I mean by this? It’s all about the solitude, which I recall from my cottage-by-the-sea days when I lived day after day in the moment. But this is different and better because I am home with my husband who also loves to live in solitude. It’s something we can together.
This morning I noticed a bird thrashing away into a hole in a tree which I thought was the entrance to a squirrel’s home. I sent pictures to my ornithologist sister-in-law who reported that we have a female Wood Duck who is hoping to make a home right in our back yard. As she said “It would be very exciting if they nested there.” Ah, no place like home!

No place like home for solitude~

4/23/2019

I’m home. Spring is here. The garden is bursting forth, especially after last night’s rain. In the tree outside my window, a goldfinch and redpoll wait to swoop down to my kitchen window bird feeder. Life was good in Italy; life is good back home. In fact, I feel I have more solitude here than when I travel. Although I search for solitude in different physical location, I know that it is wherever I let it in. That being said, I feel like Dorothy returning from Oz knowing that there’s no place like home.

Roman Holiday

4/20/2019

Final morning walk in Florence~

4/18/2019

Traveling solo v.v. with others

4/15/2019

IPhoto is back working thanks to the younger generation. I thought the cause of the breakdown was too many pictures, but no, ‘it just happens’. We’ve been on the move with little time for writing. Again, need I say it is very different having traveling companions.
• I go where I want on whim v.v. discussing plans ahead of time.
• I walk fast v.v adjusting to the pace of others.
• I walk with an intentional destination in mind v.v. stopping to window shop.
• I have no one to talk with v.v. chatting and pointing out sights.

Being a solo traveler isn’t better, it’s just different. I prefer solo unless it’s with people I love. That’s the way it is this week.