October 6, 2014 ET AL
I’m big on lists. The ‘to do’ kind. Love the organization of them, the goals and visions they encompass: write a novel, make a home, move to Italy; and the mundane: do the laundry, shop for groceries, go to the Post Office. And then there is the joy of crossing the accomplishments off the list and moving the remains over to tomorrow. But it strikes me now, as I collapse on the couch, that ‘to do’ lists are by nature always about wants and needs and nearly always, in the compiling of them, bring an element of chore-dom to one’s life, as opposed say, to making a gratitude list.
When I sit down to write something for our blog I sometimes have something particular in mind. More often than not I have no idea what I will write about. And sometimes, where there is much to write about, I feel slightly overwhelmed; the way I do when there is much to be done…hence the ‘to do’ list. So I thought it might be interesting to write a ‘done’ list.
1. Sunday 21st: packed up the entire kitchen in preparation for the new sink being installed in our absence.
2. Monday, flew to Dusseldorf for the opening of Joel’s retrospective exhibition.
3. Invented a drink (a strange thing for an alcoholic to do) at the invitation of the Intercontinental Hotel, which is one of the sponsors of the exhibition…and a mighty fine hotel it is.
4. The drink: champagne, pomegranate and lemongrass accompanied by a side garnish of crystalized ginger. The drink (which works well substituting fizzy water for champagne) was named “Retro” in honor of Joel.
5. Visited NRW Forum to see the final touches of the installation of J’s show which includes 260 photographs, his Elements video, his film “Pop”, and a documentary about Joel which Ralph Goertz, the curator of the show, made over a period of 3 years.
6. This list must include kudos and gratitude to Ralph who has that rare combination of skill, passion, vision and humility. He did a world-class job and I urge anyone who is going to be near Dusseldorf in the next 3 months to go see it.
7. Went to a morning dress rehearsal of a Strauss opera, the name of which I completely forget. Apart from the amazing staging and costumes, the most interesting thing about this rehearsal was the fact that 3 of the divas were not singing full voice, choosing to save the shattering of windows for Saturday’s premiere. For sure it ain’t over when the fat lady don’t sing. But you haven’t lived until you’ve witnessed 3 sopranos singing in a whisper while the veins in their necks bulge with the effort of constraint.
8. Bought 2 sweaters and a pair of boots.
9. Had dinner cooked for us by Ralph and his wonderful wife, Vera, in their home; an intimate evening of being taken care of while supping on fine food accompanied by much laughter.
10. Sat in a recording studio on my own and worked the board while reading 2 chapters of my novel, followed by recording a Skype interview with Julie Burstein in New York. This was a try-out for what will be a series of Podcasts called “A Question of Belief”. Julie then edited the recordings and we sent the link to Sarah, my editor in UK, who included it in the package along with the manuscript of the novel…all of which was then delivered to the first agent. Also in the package was a link to this blog, along with many of your comments. Thank you so much.
https://soundcloud.com/you-know-what-1/a-question-of-belief-with/s-ni6r2
https://soundcloud.com/you-know-what-1/chapters-1-and-2-read-by-maggie-barrett/s-m5y0p
11. Found out the blog didn’t seem to include a comment box (instructions can be found at the end of this post).
12. Suffered a mini-collapse the day of the opening and was kindly seen by a healer Joel had serendipitously met an hour earlier. This lovely man treated me with acupuncture, Chinese medicine and pulsing crystals, after having diagnosed me as suffering from exhaustion and weak kidney energy which is linked to fear (more about that, maybe, later). After half an hour, I bounced off his table, dashed to the hotel for a change of clothing (including one of those new sweaters) and went off to the opening where for three hours I worked the rooms along with my rock star husband. About 5 hundred people attended. And how strange, unlike in NY, to see people actually looking at the work and not at each other!
13. Took a hot bath and fell into bed at midnight.
14. Took the train to Berlin for the opening of J’s show in what we hope will be his new European gallery; The Springer Gallery.
15. The train, was due to arrive in Berlin at 3pm., giving us time to dash to the hotel and change before getting to the gallery at 4 when J was scheduled to give a talk. Oh, trouble on the tracks, two-hour delay. Aargh, no taxis on arrival, 20 minute wait. Ew, it’s the Berlin Marathon weekend….detours. Oh no, the taxi driver can’t find the gallery!!
16. Finally arrive, 2 hours late, to find the gallery packed to capacity with people flowing out onto the street, all of them waiting patiently. All of them rapt, as Joel, in his generous and poetic way, told them about his journey as a photographer, and what the evolution of the medium means to him.
17. Dinner and another bath before bed.
18. We awake to a sunny Sunday in Berlin and are taken by dear Robert and Heide, the owners of the gallery, to a beautiful house on the edge of lake where Christiane, a world class violin player, and her husband Tillman who, as well as playing, makes and repairs violas, performed a private concert for us. To sit in their practice room, the sun dancing on the water behind them, their music filling us beyond reason, their loving glances at each other as they played…I really don’t have words.
19. Flew back to Florence and then were driven home through our beloved land, so happy to see the cows and the sheep again.
20. Came in the garden gate and walked down our new stone steps, which had been built while we were gone. Came in the house and cried when we saw the new stone sink.
21. Also cried when we had to roll up the sleeves and unpack the kitchen!
22. Bed, sleep, oh beautiful sleep.
Of course, we’re not done! Meno male, as they say here, which basically means thank God. We won’t be done until we’re done and we’ll be done one day whether or not the fat lady sings.
There is much not included on this list. Like the visions we had from the train window of WWII soldiers fleeing through the forests. Like the generosity and warmth from everyone we encountered. Like not having to speak Italian or German (meno male) for a week. Like the strangeness of being in a country that is filled with order, cleanliness and high efficiency, unlike our lovely old crumbly Italy; like the slightly manic energy we experienced the minute we enter any city. Like the dinner with Alma and Stephan, two photography aficionados with infectious energy…not to mention the fact that, like me, Alma is both a dancer and a gardener and turned me on to Beth Chatto, the English gardener, known for mastering the art of growing plants that love stony, dry ground. And, like the fact that under these supreme Tuscan skies, amidst the beauty and peace and the twice daily chorus of the sheep, we found the energy this week to oversee stonemasonry, landscaping, laundry, the running of a 1000 errands, the making of beds for arriving guests and yes, the hanging of more curtains!
And the list goes on…the “done” ticked-off with gratitude, the “to do” a thread of facts and dreams that spins out as far as the eye can see. What a to do, indeed.
NB. Our apologies to those of you who wanted to leave comments but could find no place to do so. From now on, if you wish to comment, click on the title of the current post (e.g., this one you would click on ET AL) and it will reload with a Comments box at the bottom of the post. Enter your comment there and hit Post. This being said, we are still finessing this aspect as it still seems to be somewhat hit or miss. Please bear with us, as it is important to us to get your feedback. With thanks, as always. M & J.
