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.
I know that you will make the most of it. 🙂 For us, it has been all work and no play. Hopefully, we will get a break up your way sometime soon, it is much needed!!!
It most certainly is and what a lovely expression. Far more apt than the typical, "the grass is always greener on the other side."
Merci chere Karena but it is the light that is magic! I am just pointing and clicking… 🙂
You are very welcome–good to wrap your mind around a little Will, isn't it?
Well, if I won't, who will? 😉 And Arles was known for its ironwork and woodwork in the 18th and 19th centuries, so we have gorgeous examples of both everywhere.
Thank you, Pam, I'll pass that along! And of course, you will get here, it is only a matter of time and that you had a lovely Summer is all that matters…Yes, we are both restless after being here eight years, an eternity! I know that you understand.
Being sluggardized is dreary! But having such lovely places to visit like chez toi is a true boost, dear G. How lovely that you bought a few portable suns to carry around with you, what a gorgeous idea!
No, of course you don't have to explain that comment but how I wish that I could be so witty in the moment! I always think of such remarks two minutes later, when the conversation has moved on…
Thank you, Jenny and what a beautiful image of your dragonflies looking for what once was. Have you read "Flight Behavior" by Barbara Kinslover? If not, I highly recommend it! How wonderful it must be to have a garden to putter around in…
Merci Deborah, I really appreciated that and went back to work on going through my photos–my goodness there are a lot of them! And I actually had a photo of Remi's in mind for the image–a very long time ago he photographed exactly that–some sort of prehistoric insect trapped in amber!
And yes, when in doubt, best to consult a little MR. Shakespeare. 🙂