I tuck my chin in towards my chest and squint against the dust swirling around me. The Mistral winds have arrived out of nowhere. They sneak and slide, having all but pushed Summer, that swanning girl, out the door. Instinctively, I reach up and pull my scarf tighter around my ears.
It is my old Hermes scarf, my favorite that has travelled with me all over the world. Objects come into our lives, some disappear mysteriously, others stay. I try not to be too attached but there are pieces that give comfort. They tell me of who I once was and remind me of where I am now.
No one wanted this particular scarf, bought on ebay for 50 Euros. Already, it was trouée, a whole in one corner and touched by a slight ink stain. It was exactly what I was searching. Something I could wear hard without the guilt of ruination. Nothing precious and yet appreciated. A little glamour, linking back to another life before of glorious Manhattan to carry into the desert of the unknown.
I held it over my mouth during a sandstorm in Mali. Covered my head with it in Samarkand, folded the worn parts under to look chic in Udaipur. And in one of my favorite moments des mes voyages, I wrapped it over my hat with a firm bow under my chin while crossing the Serengeti, clinging to my sweetheart on the top of a barreling truck, exposed to the wind. Smiling so hard it hurt from the excitement of being.
The Mistral carries a different tune but flaps my scarf with the same song. The dogs run out ahead along the quay of the Rhone and I follow quietly in my quiet life. So soundless with nothing but the howl of the wind that I could wonder if I really did have those adventures or only dreamed them. My hand reaches up instinctively again to be sure, to secure this object, now frayed, luxury lost but memory-filled. A talisman.
PS. Thank you to all who responded so honestly and thoughtfully regarding my previous post.
I have a very exciting follow-up to it, coming soon…
PPS. – Thank you for all of your amazing responses! We are out of town and I will respond correctly next week…
Why are my Hermes scarves neatly folded in a drawer? You've inspired me to take these "precious" gifts and wrap myself up in their elegance and warmth and beauty and just enjoy! Thank you so much.
Oh I loved this! We are up in the Luberon and only have internet upon occasion but I will look forward to finding out more of your adventures when we get back next week for you are clearly a woman after my own heart! And yes…the boots…mine are a pair of men's tod's (bought second hand and in my size) that I have worn out…nearly…but not yet!
Heather, your post made me smile. I thought about all of my exciting (some would say crazy) adventures around the world – camping in the desert in Tunisia after battling a dust storm; traveling along the Nile in a felucca; hiking in Romania; spending a week in a hut in the Amazon River Basin in Ecuador and fishing for piranha; traveling in an armed convoy through Yemen's dangerous Marib province and exploring Egypt's Valley of the Kings on donkey, just to name a few.
But never, never would I be so brave as to take with me one of my much loved and treasured Hermes silk scarves in my ever-growing collection. Not when they're more than 400 bucks a pop!
They're safely stacked on top of one another on an upholstered shelf in my walk-in closet, waiting for me to select one of them, as I do at least three times a week, and wrap one around my neck.
No, I'll leave the traveling the far corners of the world with a beautiful silk up to you.
My beaten up hiking boots are my traveling partner. And they have some stories to tell!
Indeed, so nice to have the appreciation of the spectacular Hermes and also the simple things in life..
I admire your writing enormously, hopefully you know that, so coming from you…whew! Thank you…
George, there is a woman in Arles who is considered "une folle" because she wears lace mantillas and the like on a regular basis. All of her Labs have Hermes scarves wrapped around the collars…turns out she was an editor at Elle…there is nothing better than using these objects hard. If you look at the origins of any of the companies, well, that is what they were meant for…
Such a gorgeous story, David. Thank you for the reminder of the goodness for goodness sake(s) that still exists…That afternoon sounds like dry champagne.
Mumbai, your responses always blast me! I loved this so very much. It is so true and so perfect.