Wednesday, September 2nd Ever since I got off my 11-hour flight from San Francisco to Madrid, wedged in a narrow seat over the wing in cattle class, barely getting up or moving, my knees have been bothering me. They’re not a body part I’m generally aware of, no chronic problems that I know of, but
Gotta love all that hot water and all those bubbles. Read More »
Tuesday, September 1 Last night, I had my final visit with Michaela before she gets transported back to her home in Belgium to continue her recovery. My last two days in Berlin will be truly solo: no more trips to the hospital. This certainly hasn’t been the reunion Michaela and I anticipated, but we’ve both
A Museum That Spoke to My Soul Read More »
“I took a wrong turn the other day. A mistake, but it led me to the shop where I found the very thing I’d been searching for.” —Luci Shaw, “Wrong Turn” Tell me about a wrong turn you took and where it led you.
Monday, August 31 In my few remaining days in Berlin before I return to Spain for the Camino, I wanted to visit sites commemorating the Holocaust. As a Jew with ancestral roots in Eastern Europe, huge swaths of my extended family were murdered by the Nazis in World War II. Now I was in Germany.
In Search of Stumbling Stones Read More »
Sunday, August 30 This morning, when I was eating my morning oatmeal, I texted Michaela to check in. She was making progress in her recovery. She was starting to walk, could transfer herself from her bed to a wheelchair, and had made it to the bathroom unassisted. Plans to transport her back to her home
Why I Love Travel Blogging So Much and a Bit of Burlesque Read More »
Saturday, August 29 Yesterday, I signed up for an all-afternoon walking tour of the avant garde arts scene in Berlin. The prolific, ever-present art on the buildings and walls of Berlin has caught my interest, so a street art tour seemed like a good choice. So, I bought myself a ticket for a four-hour tour
A Lonely Night Out on the Streets Read More »
Friday, August 28 I slept incredibly well last night—the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months. I woke up at 8:30 in the morning after sleeping deeply all night without any sleep drugs or sleep aids whatsoever. I woke up refreshed, prepared to segue into my unexpected week as a solo explorer. Last night, while
Tear Down That Wall Read More »
The morning after my arrival in Madrid, I woke up at 2:30 AM, wide awake. Since I’d set my alarm for 4:00 AM to catch a 5:00 AM shuttle back to the airport, I simply got up. When I picked up my phone to check the time, I scanned my usual apps. Chuckled over the
Shit. There Went That Plan Read More »
After an uneventful flight from San Francisco to Madrid that featured a tasteless turkey sandwich served for lunch before we landed, I arrived in Spain at two in the afternoon. I’d only slept three hours on the flight because I believe in getting my body adjusted to the new zone as soon as possible. Madrid
I Hope Today Isn’t a Sign of Things to Come Read More »
“Give up all other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you.” —David Whyte Tell me about a time you felt completely alive.
A Time I Felt Completely Alive Read More »
“In order to do creative work in any of the arts and sciences you must go through long or short spells of not knowing what is going on, of being irritated, and not being able to find the cause, of being willing to work as hard as you can and what happens isn’t valuable enough,
To Really Commit to My Writing Read More »
“There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say, ‘Watch me.’”—Unknown Tell me about a time you said, “Watch me.”
“Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” —E.L. Doctorow Write a piece that takes place in the rain. Make the rain a crucial component of the story.
Let the Rain Pour Down Read More »
“Our listening creates a sanctuary for the homeless parts within another person.” —Rachel Naomi Remen Tell me about a time when truly listening to someone else—or having someone listen deeply to you—was life-changing and profound.
The Pure Power of Listening Read More »
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts.” —Soren Kierkegaard Tell me about a habit you cherish that helps you find your center, as walking did for Kierkegaard.
