For various reasons, it has been a bit of the Summer that Wasn’t. No visits to the beach with sandy puppers in tow or rosé-drenched apéro’s in a flowerly bower. In a certain sense, we knew it would be so–it was in the Planning as Remi is knee-deep, slowly pushing a three year long project into home, leaving me a loopy amount of time to reason and read. And so I have been taking in the words, taking in the words until I am full and restless. Quand c’est trop, c’est trop.
In this lull of in-between, I have let myself get trapped in amber, like a prehistoric fly. In my emptiness, I have built up a routine to create structure in all of this floppy space. A very relaxed version of métro, boulot, dodo. Dullness weighs my body down and thoughts cease to swing. Yes, there are elements of routine in Arles that have a perfume of gorgeousness about them but if I am not seeing them, well, I might as well be sleepwalking anywhere. Luckily my camera can rearrange my focus when I cannot.
The streets of Arles are solid but also shady and shaking. I have lived here for eight years now, quite some time for a nomad like me. I walk them in patterns and loops, where the dogs lead, I follow. That too can be dulling blind until the light shifts and on the wall in front of me and an angle aligns or a sign is revealed, one that I had somehow never seen. A bit of magic and blink are the must of these little gifts. It is a moment that inevitably makes me smile and snaps the amber quick to set me buzzing free.
“I rather would entreat thy company
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardized at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.”
To see the wonders of the world abroad,
Than, living dully sluggardized at home,
Wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness.”
–The Two Gentlemen of Verona, William Shakespeare
So no great adventures for the moment, friends, just little, local ones.
Thanks for being along for the ride.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hello Heather
Your use of amber displays the light of Arles so beautifully. Wishing Remi success in his project. I admire your patience. Meditation can help somewhat. There are some meditation tapes on you tube, I favour Deepak Chopra.
Helenxx
Beautiful post, Heather. We all have them – these periods of waiting, down time, being on hold. I wish I could say I always relax and enjoy the break from whatever it is I think I should be doing instead, but sometimes it's not easy. Intellectually I know I will sooner or later kick back into gear, move forward, get on with it, but in the pause I find myself getting nervous. It's an old habit I guess.
In any case,you could not be in a lovelier place for a little time out. Enjoy! XXXXXXX G
Oh I love this image, "suspended in amber" so beautiful. And yes, I agree with Robin that your little local adventures are big ones for us! Tell us, what have you been reading?
Hi Heather, the light and perspective that you are capturing in the 'local' moments will play out with a wonderous sense of distance for another human sometime later, someone in time will look on with wonder…what you do is create art in the midst of time.. you can't know where it will land but do it you must! Your heart is on the page, and we need that…Thanks for sharing!
I thought the green one or the soaring spire against the blue sky means "snaps the amber quick to set me buzzing free."
I'm learning to take photos from different angles from yours. I like the contrast and 'texture'.
No one could do amber better. Sometimes we must just sit and await something wonderful.
It will come, Heather! xx's
Aren't the little local adventures sometimes the best? I think that the quiet, the slow times, the times when you can do nothing but be still, are the ones that lead to the most growth and change in our lives. And now that I've been to Arles, I don't think I can ever tire of your gorgeous detail shots. I feel like I understand your point of view so much better now that I've seen the light on the textured walls and the shadows on the cobblestones. Enjoy these last days of summer, Heather. There will be time for grand adventure another day. XOXO
We too have had a summer at home. . .built ourselves a new flower garden, this week I started canning some of nature's bounty. . .on a few occasions I have thought we should be traveling, doing 'something', but then again it is good to have 'down time'. It makes me appreciate the adventures so much more when they begin again. Hug those puppers of yours, drink some bubbly and definitely keep these wonderful posts coming! Happy Weekend! xo J.
It's nice to have some dogs as company. They make excellent companions and friends.
Your little local adventures are big ones for us! Yes, the end of summer leaves me feeling sluggish, too – a good time, as you have demonstrated, to try to look around me with fresh eyes! Thank you for another beautiful post about your beautiful town – wish I was there to take it all in with you!