an interesting weekend comes and goes, with a 'eureka' moment for me.
we drive to canada in the vw beetle - it's visiting day at summer camp, and we finally get to see the kids! katz's pastrami sandwiches and magnolia cupcakes in tow, we head out ... and generally encounter driving rains, hail, and all manners of cloud cover on the way up north. a highlight: an enormous (and enormously inspiring!) windfarm south of chateaugay, new york - sleek, seductive, gorgeous, and efficient. really superb!
we overnight in ottawa, and are greeted by gilda and morris, from montreal, midday saturday. we have the most glorious day in canada's capital: riding bikes canalside, eating an exquisite lunch at benny's bistro, basking in the sunshine, relishing the best gelato (ever!) at pure, and even taking in the prime minister's residence and the home of the governor general of canada! a picture perfect day.
quite exhausted, we end up taking it easy, and actually canceling our plans for dinner with robbin and larry from toronto on saturday evening (how very sad!). jane is zonked, and i take the unilateral decision that it's best for her to rest and not overdo it ... we have a long day on sunday. robbin and larry are gracious as always, although we feel cheated to miss out on an evening of catching up with them (lucky we get to see them on sunday).
camp visiting day is great! the kids look sun-kissed, and they're all on autopilot, being so used to their summers in quebec ... close friends, spirit, energy - it's heaven for them (and us too!). so amazing to see them in this environment - without computers, cell phones - just fresh air!
we stop for (yet another!) gelato and head south, crossing the border - with jane receiving her customary 'grilling' at customs and immigration --- 'born in iraq, ma'am?'. oh the joys of being a dissident! we decide to take the back roads, assuming that we are heading towards saratoga springs, where we'll spend the night - and late in the evening when i ask jane how far to our destination, she tells me 'we're a few minutes away'. shortly thereafter we see that we are in utica, new york - about two hours from where we're supposed to be! human GPS is definitely not working!
what does become clear on the drive is that jane, well on the mend physically and mentally, now has to really kick it into high gear. she seems to be stuck somehow, unmotivated. i give her the pep talk of a life time, vacillating between gentle prodding, vehement screaming, and true encouragement. unfortunately, i often end up being the messenger that gets shot, so i walk a dangerous path in these tenuous times. ultimately, she needs to somehow get through this and feel 'inspired' - yes, that's what i would really wish for her. we are done with the 'wellness', back into the routine, eating well and exercising - now it's time for some emotional and spiritual fulfillment. i'm leaving that up to her, as when i 'push' it becomes about me pushing, and doesn't seem to be helpful. i think that ultimately, the drive back is an epiphany for jane and she realizes that she does need to find that sense of wonder now. she needs to see a future that will elevate her in every way.
we overnight it, finally, and wake up the next morning late ... a quick round of exercise and we're on the way, stopping in austerlitz for lunch with old and new friends. homeward bound once more, we make it back to new york and unwind, collecting our thoughts (and our whites and colors too!). we meet jeff and rochelle for a drink, as they entertain us with their stories of european adventures ... and bump into all manner of friends at the local italian eatery! a lovely way to round out the weekend ...
back on track and ready to go!
we drive to canada in the vw beetle - it's visiting day at summer camp, and we finally get to see the kids! katz's pastrami sandwiches and magnolia cupcakes in tow, we head out ... and generally encounter driving rains, hail, and all manners of cloud cover on the way up north. a highlight: an enormous (and enormously inspiring!) windfarm south of chateaugay, new york - sleek, seductive, gorgeous, and efficient. really superb!
we overnight in ottawa, and are greeted by gilda and morris, from montreal, midday saturday. we have the most glorious day in canada's capital: riding bikes canalside, eating an exquisite lunch at benny's bistro, basking in the sunshine, relishing the best gelato (ever!) at pure, and even taking in the prime minister's residence and the home of the governor general of canada! a picture perfect day.
quite exhausted, we end up taking it easy, and actually canceling our plans for dinner with robbin and larry from toronto on saturday evening (how very sad!). jane is zonked, and i take the unilateral decision that it's best for her to rest and not overdo it ... we have a long day on sunday. robbin and larry are gracious as always, although we feel cheated to miss out on an evening of catching up with them (lucky we get to see them on sunday).
camp visiting day is great! the kids look sun-kissed, and they're all on autopilot, being so used to their summers in quebec ... close friends, spirit, energy - it's heaven for them (and us too!). so amazing to see them in this environment - without computers, cell phones - just fresh air!
we stop for (yet another!) gelato and head south, crossing the border - with jane receiving her customary 'grilling' at customs and immigration --- 'born in iraq, ma'am?'. oh the joys of being a dissident! we decide to take the back roads, assuming that we are heading towards saratoga springs, where we'll spend the night - and late in the evening when i ask jane how far to our destination, she tells me 'we're a few minutes away'. shortly thereafter we see that we are in utica, new york - about two hours from where we're supposed to be! human GPS is definitely not working!
what does become clear on the drive is that jane, well on the mend physically and mentally, now has to really kick it into high gear. she seems to be stuck somehow, unmotivated. i give her the pep talk of a life time, vacillating between gentle prodding, vehement screaming, and true encouragement. unfortunately, i often end up being the messenger that gets shot, so i walk a dangerous path in these tenuous times. ultimately, she needs to somehow get through this and feel 'inspired' - yes, that's what i would really wish for her. we are done with the 'wellness', back into the routine, eating well and exercising - now it's time for some emotional and spiritual fulfillment. i'm leaving that up to her, as when i 'push' it becomes about me pushing, and doesn't seem to be helpful. i think that ultimately, the drive back is an epiphany for jane and she realizes that she does need to find that sense of wonder now. she needs to see a future that will elevate her in every way.
we overnight it, finally, and wake up the next morning late ... a quick round of exercise and we're on the way, stopping in austerlitz for lunch with old and new friends. homeward bound once more, we make it back to new york and unwind, collecting our thoughts (and our whites and colors too!). we meet jeff and rochelle for a drink, as they entertain us with their stories of european adventures ... and bump into all manner of friends at the local italian eatery! a lovely way to round out the weekend ...
back on track and ready to go!
No comments:
Post a Comment