28 Wednesday Oct 2015
Posted in Green Life, Travelin'
Tags
Whole heart world’s end. (I just wanted to say that.)
A few years back, we learned of a park called World’s End located in Hingham, south of Boston. Of course we had to go.
Of course I had to bring my camera. The good one. Film.
Of course we couldn’t resist the tiny shells. Or the ‘lil kids, who also weren’t resisting tiny shells.
And, headed home after an afternoon of exploring, of course we wouldn’t resist fried seafood, despite our thirty-year-old digestion. Who would?
01 Thursday Oct 2015
Posted in What Is It, With Friends
Tags
One of the things I appreciate most about long-term friendships is that we get to grow and change together.
We’re sold the idea that friendship is telling secrets at summer camp, laughing over the fryer at that first job, playing video games in the college dorm, or drinks with buddies at the bar. Thank goodness that’s not all. I’m glad the experience isn’t so simple or static or one-dimensional.
Even when it makes me sad or wistful, I’m glad that the long-term friendships in my life have included moving boxes, commiserating over disappointments, tales of exhaustion and woe. I’m glad they’ve included the willingness to feel embarrassed, learning how and when to give space, and listening as carefully as we are able.
Our individual worlds seem so small, but when we combine forces -live our lives together- they feel large.
26 Wednesday Feb 2014
Posted in With Friends
Tags
I didn’t go to college to bank on the residuals.
The plan (as set by culture/expectations/my own desire to live a “good life”): gain admission to a competitive (but not too competitive!) college, graduate with new skills and insights, find employment that matches those skills (hey, what happened to the insight?), enjoy surprising success and satisfaction . . . as a writer (easy, right?), give back.
The story beneath the story, the unsuspect-able truth? My most valued takeaway from that “competitive college” isn’t skills, or even insight, it’s community. For me, opportunity isn’t about inching closer to a big pool of cash. And it’s not just my craft (writing) that feeds me, I crave and thrive in employment that pays the heart.
My path is a curious one. It wanders.
Opportunity is that train of connection that leads to adventure. It’s one day inviting an interesting stranger to coffee, followed by a shocking connection with that endures. Five years pass and here I’m lounging in a warm Cape Cod kitchen, laughing with friends made at stops along the way.
I often view “choice” as leading directly to “result.” Thank goodness life can be so much less linear than one predicts.
03 Monday Feb 2014
Posted in Green Life
Tags
It is said that winter is a time for slowing down. For thinking, planning which seeds to sew. Silence and introspection.
It is the time of death . . . and waiting for life renewed.
Also, winter presents opportunity. Texture. A time to wander and be . . . and simply observe.
Quiet.
30 Monday Dec 2013
Posted in Green Life, Learnin'
Tags
I’m the kind of person, a city bus pauses in front of me and snaps opens the door, I want to get on. Even if my course for the day is set, and especially if the bus is one I’ve never taken. Where’s that bus headed?
Around a corner, over the bend, I’m curious to follow the trails other animals (humans included) set. Marked and annotated, paved, tread-bare. Unfortunately, a fall season stuffed with work, personal, and social responsibilities and engagements offered few opportunities to engage in little explorations.
This December, I fell sick enough to put a temporary halt to my ordinary dashing about. Days of sleeping and alternating between watching old TV favorites on Youtube and feeling monumentally bored finally gave way to something new.
We followed the paved Mystic River Route trail along a fast roadway in Medford, discovering, at dusk, an ornate green, metal bridge leading to an old New England-style shopping district, docks on the river, and a delicate amphitheater dedicated to human rights activist and writer Lydia Maria Child.
I’d completely misremembered this poem. Thought it was “through the woods” and “grandmother’s house”!
05 Monday Aug 2013
Posted in Green Life, With Friends
I can’t say exactly how a “staycation” differs from a normal weekend, local-wander, or just hanging out. It’s got something to do with intention, I think.
With the rare fortune of getting to see friends for more than just a few hours. Sharing home-prepared meals and more than one occasion of frozen treats.
Sharing stories, dreams, challenges, and silly moments.
What’s a catbeard you ask?
A staycation most definitely includes local treasures: in our case, a short drive to Broadmore Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. Peaceful exploring and spying on turtles; less-peaceful attempts at dodging mosquitos.
There’s something about a continuation of effort, but without the burden of expectation.
Appreciating what we have, in the moment that we have it.
Can you spot the twigs and leaves in Lauren’s hair?
Can you spot the gummy candy?
11 Monday Feb 2013
Posted in Boston Moments, Home
A blizzard will most certainly reset a person’s weekend plans.
Instead of crawfish at a friend’s Mardi Gras party and a charity dinner hosted by Haley House called the Souper Bowl (yes, pun intended), we enjoyed sleeping in, snowshoeing at Arnold Arboretum, reading, shoveling with neighbors, and -because we were lucky enough to have power throughout- cooking/baking. Lots and lots of cooking/baking.
The hard part was standing up again!
How did you take advantage of the opportunity to do a little less?
21 Monday Jan 2013
Posted in Boston Moments, With Friends
I’ll admit it: warm winter days make me nervous.
Like so many people, I fret about the Earth and our human impact, but I try not to be that person who grumbles global warming when other folk sigh what a beautiful day this is! Because it was a beautiful day when my partner and I joined friends and their young’ins up at Ponkapoag Pond in the Blue Hills for hiking, exploring, and cheese-eating.
Phoebe Sinclair Writes 