Just as the full gravity of Abraham Verghese’s character Shiva, finds his life’s path in Cutting for Stone, and tears are streaming down my face and as I’m cutting stencils to change directions on the paintings that I have begun, I think of my good friend Fred, who loaned me the audio book. I thought about his generosity with so many people in his life. At that exact emotionally charged moment, I receive this text message:
“Thumb and finger make a ring
to see the future through.
I can see the world through it, only the world and you,
Only you and the world alone.
If I should break this ring,
where will I find you in the world
though I find everything?
(Glyn Maxwell)
Where are you?
Love, FL
Sent from my iPhone”
Yes I do love my iPhone. I am pleased that the efforts of that crazy shaman in Santa Fe who tried to use the spiritual forces of New Mexico to short circuit my connection to home had his powers thwarted. Connectivity might very well be our new power, our new spiritual power. Connected to each other through energies that might be suspicious if viewed through the lens that corporations control this connectivity… But ultimately the amazing collaboration of the human mind created that connectivity. Because, possibly, we might approach the collective connectivity of the crow mind.
Or maybe we are already there.
So, Fred, I am in Taos, got here Tuesday, the 27th. I don’t have real internet just yet – but I am getting it – and I just got my iPhone back. Painting is coming quicker than I thought. But it did snow a lot the day before yesterday, so being snow bound is both a blessing and a curse in a new place. Initiation by fire I guess. I’m kinda used to my late night netflix … And will welcome it when it is back. But I have your wonderful book … Thank you, thank you… and listened only to part of it on the road, so I now have it in my lovely studio.
My little adobe house has to be the best one on the block. It has a fabulously deep bathtub. And perfect size studio with perfect sized walls to paint on, a comfy bed, sweet kitchen and a lovely porch that has an amazing late afternoon and sunset view. It’s a short but good solid walk to town. And a good size living room floor for my morning yoga.
Because one of the 11 residents had her flight cancelled last week and won’t be here until Monday, we all have yet to have a formal meet and greet session. It’s a little weird. Because we are all kinda in our little casitas knowing it’s better not to be socializing… Although I think each of us would welcome cup of coffee of a glass of wine here and there. Next week, I guess.
I ran into Cynthia Huff’s ex Terry, of local Terry’s Chimney Service. He was outside his wood stove place. His place is next door to the Verizon store. I was waiting for the Verizon Store to open. Their website said 9am, their door said 9:30, and they did not open until close to 10. I gotta get used to this!
It was nice to see Terry, a familiar face. We had a nice conversation and I’ll go back there to exchange numbers since at that point I have no working phone.
I am trying to illustrate my story “wild bore”‘ but I think I am abandoning that. I have 3 paintings in process… But I think they don’t feel as alive as I would like them too, I am going to change my approach. Don’t know how yet.
Chase Morrison, of Baker and Chase from the toy store that used to be where Maria’s coffee shop is now, lives around here. So I will see her this coming weekend. She introduced me to her friend Kari, in Taos, and Kari invited my to a SuperBowl party this evening. Which is very welcome after almost a week of just me.
Also, at Doc Martin’s a local bar that I could walk to has an open mike on Monday nights. And it’s starts early… Like 7pm.. So I will go there tomorrow and bring my guitar. I am working on getting my callouses back. Retrieving my songs from my questionable memory banks.
Sleeping has been hard. I have been super tired. I finally got a halfway decent nights sleep last night. The altitude is over 7000 feet, so it takes a little getting used to. The next 10 days are supposed to be in the upper 40’s and 50’s and sunny!!!! I know, I know, you guys are getting snow again. I’m sorry. But New Mexico had one of its biggest storms in a while the day after I got here.
Since I have been a little negligent in updating my blog, I figured this would be a good way to let you, and a handful of other curious friends know where I’m at.
This is the first painting I think is ok… But I probably won’t finish the series. Don’t know yet. I got 11 weeks left!! So I’d better get cracking.
Love, Val
Val Sivilli 