Back in the 90's, I remember staying up all night talking with my housemate, M. I don't remember what we talked about but I remember when light broke through the many paned windows of our sun room he looked looked at me, smiled that crazy beautiful grin of his and sang "look at the sky, it's the color of love" from Sade's song Kiss of Life. Just one of those small inconsequential yet magical moments that happen in life.
For a short while, I loved M. Enough to break up with someone else I'd loved for four years to pursue him. M never loved me. He introduced me to his close friend, who I ended up loving for six years. Until he decided he didn't love me anymore.
Those loves are long behind me now.
But I still love a gorgeous streaky sky.
And Sade.
Sometimes I'll be driving along, be taken by the sky above and that lyric pops in to my head and out of mouth.
Soldier of Love, Sade's new record is coming out today. It's been ten years since the last one. A long time to wait. Can't wait to hear it.
I am not that girl who crazes long stem roses, boxes of chocolates and diamond do-dads for Valentine's Day. I struggle with Hallmark holidays and many of the other holidays society tells me I should celebrate but I really have no business with them.
Love is a many splendoured thing. Complicated, coerced, soaring, crashing, sweet, hot, one sided, imaginary, epic, eternal, legendary, lost, found.
For days, I've been happily thinking of my favorite movies about love, looking up poems, playing with heart shaped cookie cutters, feeling the presence of love in my home, passing some on wherever I can.
Why not devote a whole week to all things related to love, or the heart?
I'd love for you to join me.
No rules. When it comes to love, rules rarely apply, now do they? Just express your love however makes your heart sing.
I wrote about Melody Gardot last year when I first discovered her music and was totally captivated by her voice and her story. CBS Sunday Morning did a piece on her last week that I think is worth sharing.
I have a major closet clear out on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list. I've definitely chipped away at my towering collection of coats and other wearables but there is much more editing to be done.
Now, MAV, proclaims she is "addicted to giving things away." I and some of my closest friends are addicted keeping everything and anything for a future use.
Finding a nice balance, a flow if you will, between bringing new things in and allowing them to flow back out into the world is something I am striving towards. Often when I begin to clear out, I get gripped with this weird hoard-y impulse and never cut close enough to the bone. When I open my packed dresser and realize there isn't much in there that I actually want to wear, I feel frustrated. And then when tempted to buy something new, I feel guilty because I don't "need" anything new, knowing I have tons of so-so items at home to choose from.
If you too are struggling with too much crammed into your drawers and closets that you have a uninspiring relationship with, I encourage you to visit MAV's post and ponder the insightful questions she asks when going through her belongings. Reading them made me realize, many of the clothes I have stored away are of no use to me or make me feel weird, fat or dumpy.
Wouldn't having only items I love in turn help me feel more love about myself?
Last month, I was getting ready to go somewhere and moaning about my lack of clothes I love. Sweets , someone who has a rating system for everything, made this astute observation -"based on a scale of 1-5, 1 being pajamas and stuff you wear around the house, 2 the chef clothes you work in, 3 things you wear to go out in and 5 special occasion- you have alot of 1-2 and some 5's but you really need some more 3-4 items."
So... basically my husband is telling me "hey, you're basically shlubby most of the time unless we're going out someplace fancy, can you kick it up a notch?
In the dope rhymes of A Tribe Called Quest, I answer the query, "Can I Kick It? Yes You Can!"
This rhythm really fits like a snug glove Like a box of positives is a plus, love As the Tribe flies high like a dove .......
Can I kick it? (Yes, you can!) *7X* Well, I'm gone (Go on then!).....
Boy this track really has a lot of flavor When it comes to rhythms, Quest is your savior Follow us for the funky behavior Make a note on the rhythm we gave ya Feel free, drop your pants, check your ha-ir Do you like the garments that we wear? I instruct you to be the obeyer A rhythm recipe that you'll savor Doesn't matter if you're minor or major ...
Magpies are talkative birds that have an eye for shiny things. I consider myself to be a magpie. This is a collection of all the shiny, wonderful things I would normally carry around in my pockets. Scraps of paper, bits of string, shooter marbles and diamond rings.
