Making Plans

Things are starting to fall in place for my Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  I have almost all my gear, I’ve read practically an entire library of books on the Camino, and now I’m in the process of booking places to stay while in Paris and St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port (the community where I start my walk). I know where I want to stay in St.-Jean…a little place called L’esprit du Chemin’ seen here at the right (photo taken from this web site).

Paris, however, is more difficult. I’m looking for someplace relatively close to the train station (Gare du Nord), clean but inexpensive (not that anything is really inexpensive in Paris!). Anyone have any suggestions?

Ten Years Later

At the end of 1999, to mark the passing of the millennium, Joe, myself and our three kids wrote down what we thought we’d be doing ten years into the future. On New Year’s Day of this year, we pulled out our predictions and read them to one another. While I won’t share what everyone else wrote, here were my thoughts in the dying days of 1999:

It is of course hard to even fathom what life might be like for my family and myself ten years from now. I pray that we’ll all still be alive and healthy and that we have more happy days than sad.

I hope that none of my children has been at war, or is now at war, or will ever have to be at war.

I like to think that Alan, now 22 and Iris, now 20 have found some purpose in their lives – something that drives them and makes them feel good about themselves; something that they know in their hearts is worth sharing with humankind. I hope Jamie, while still only 16, will soon find that too…if he hasn’t already. I suspect he has, although maybe even he doesn’t know it yet.

I also suspect the amazing sense of humour that all three of my children were born with thanks to their father has fully blossomed for all to enjoy. As I write this in 1999, I can’t wait to know you kids ten years from now!

Ten years from now I will be 50, and probably rather puzzled at how it is that more than half of my life is over. If I’m lucky I have another 30 or 40 years left. If I’m really lucky I’ll get to spend all those years with Joe…someone who I have no doubt is still the most complicated man I’ve ever met but someone who has stretched me and allowed me to grow in ways he’ll never know. I love you dearly Joe and hope that your sense of peace and faith has continued to grow. I hope that some of your amazing qualities that our children couldn’t see when they were younger have become apparent to them, or will as they themselves grow…your sense of integrity, your firm belief in what’s right and wrong, and your understanding of why so much is to be gained by working hard for what you want.

I hope that the piano is still a big part of my life and that in some way, I am able to impart to others how much music can feed the soul, spirit and mind.

Most important, I hope that I was (and am) a good mom. I hope you kids remember above everything else that I love you more than life itself. If by chance I’ve passed on when you’re reading this, believe that I will do everything in my power to be with you from whatever place I find myself, in whatever way I can. Happy 2010!! 

Reading this now, it strikes me what a hopeful and optimistic person I was back then. Sadly I think I’ve lost some of that in the last 10 years. Truth be told, I feel a bit battered and bruised from raising three teenagers. Some people who were important to me are no longer in my life, without me understanding why (my sister-in-law for instance, who died after mixing two cleaning products…now what was the purpose of that?!).

While I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions, I would like to set a goal for myself of finding that hope and optimism again. Not that it’s totally gone, but it has lost its shine just a tad. Maybe that in part is what my Camino will be about.

Hmmm, I didn’t mean my first post of 2010 to be such a downer! I really am excited about what this year might bring and in fact what the next 10 years might bring.  Happy New Year everyone and may the good guys win!

P.S.

One more Audrey story to tell you about.

A Date With Audrey

Audrey Hepburn has got to be one of the most elegant and graceful actresses of all time. I was reminded of that fact over the week-end when I rented two of her films: Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I don’t think I’ve watched those movies since I was a kid.

Oh my! Her clothes! Of course she had Hubert de Givenchy designing most of them for her, but still…I think she would have looked exquisite in a flour sack.

I read a funny story about the first time she met Givenchy. He thought he was getting a visit from the famous Katharine Hepburn. When young Audrey arrived on his doorstep he tried to dismiss her, not realizing who she was. He was forgiven for his mistake and the two became life-long friends. 

With my whistle wetted, I’m now anxious to re-watch her other films. Roman Holiday and Sabrina are high on my list (Sabrina has the added bonus of co-starring Humphrey Bogart). Then of course there is Gigi and My Fair Lady. Are there other Audrey fans reading this? If so, what is your favourite film that she made?

Taking a Breather

I am back at work after four days and five nights of intense holiday revelry and indulgence. It was pretty much non-stop visiting, eating and drinking, so it’s actually a relief to be sitting here sipping lemon water (trying to give  my poor system a much needed break from what it has been subjected to lately) and taking a breather from writing my company’s annual report. I actually like working between Christmas and New Years – it’s quiet and I am able to get a fair bit accomplished.

I must apologize to some of my friends and family for not calling you over the week-end and for being rather remiss at keeping up on my blog postings. The time really did go by in a blur. I hope everyone had a good holiday and I’ll be in touch soon!

Let the Merriment Begin

I’m just leaving work to make the tourtiere for tonight’s meal, spiff up the house a bit, and wrap the last present or two. Christmas has arrived in spite of my ambivalence about it this year and now I am ready to surrender and let it unfold as it will.

Merry Christmas everyone.

The Perfect Present

My kids have been stressing lately…stressing about the fact that they don’t have money to buy Christmas presents this year. It’s rather disheartening, since each year since they were toddlers I encouraged them to make presents or give ‘Gifts of Time’ instead of running off to the store with their piggy banks.  Some of my most cherished gifts from them are ones that they made themselves and I’ve told them that many times, but somehow the message still hasn’t gotten through to them.

Anyway, Iris was fussing, so I told her the best present she could possibly give the family would be to cook us a meal. She decided that would do just fine, so we set a date (it was last  night), she drew up a grocery list, and once the ingredients were purchased she set to work in the kitchen.

The results were delicious. She made a curry dish that included squash, potatoes, peas, chickpeas, coconut milk, and a number of other treats. Side dishes were rice, another spicy veggie and nut recipe, and a salad. It really was the perfect present.

Next Alan is going to take a turn in the kitchen. I can’t wait to find out what will be on the menu that evening. And Jamie? He still wants to go out and buy presents, and I’m still working on trying to convince him otherwise. We’ll see what transpires.

Christmas Has Arrived!

It’s finally starting to feel like Christmas around the Binger household. We managed to cut down a tree and put it up yesterday, just in time for guests arriving for dinner. It’s certainly not nearly as beautiful as Jozien’s tree, which I think is the nicest Yukon wild Christmas tree I’ve ever seen, but it will serve us just fine this holiday season.

Along with a couple of our own friends, two of Iris’ friends joined us for dinner last night (on the menu was Alaskan king crab that we purchased at a recent charity auction). I have to say as teenagers I could have strangled the whole lot of them, Iris included, but last night I really enjoyed their company. Thank goodness they all eventually do grow up!

Since When Did I Become A Fashionista??

I am a girl who has spent much of my life in a plaid shirt and blue jeans. While I love beautiful things, I never took the time to venture very far into the fashion world. In fact I could be downright disdainful about what I saw as the superficial nature of the fashion industry. Over the years I’ve come to better appreciate the artistry in a piece of well designed and constructed clothing, but I still would never spend gads of money on it. Almost everything I own that is of enduring quality I have either hand-made or purchased second-hand.

But for some strange reason, I seem to have become somewhat of a fashionista at work. Some co-workers will start up conversations with me about designer bags or shoes, or they’ll stop me in the hall to ask me about what I happen to be wearing that day. And…people are starting to give me things out of the blue!

For instance, a co-worker recently came to me with a dress and jacket that her grandmother had purchased 40 plus years ago. This sage-green creation is stunning, with exquisite craftsmanship. It is made of silk and has all hand beading down the front of the dress. The photos I am posting here just don’t do it justice. And it fits me like a glove. My co-worker said when she rescued the dress from her gramma’s things (I guess it was headed for the dump) she thought of me and knew it would look good with my red hair and pale skin.

I will wait until I can travel down south to have it cleaned, as the local dry cleaners said they wouldn’t clean it for fear the beads would fall off. I can’t wait to find an occasion to wear it! When I am done with it I will give it back to my co-worker, since she has a two year old daughter whom I suspect will one day appreciate owning something that was worn by her great-gramma.

Stupid camera! Can't get a decent shot.

The second rather astonishing thing to happen to me took place yesterday. My husband teaches English as a Second Language to adults. One of his students used to sell women’s costume jewelry in Europe. Even though this student has never met me, he sent home to me through Joe not one but eleven sets of jewelry! I am flabbergasted by his generosity. I would like to share some of the pieces with my friends but I don’t want him to think I don’t like them, so I’ll need to tread carefully. Isn’t life amazing?!

The Silver (er Red Silk) Lining

In my post from earlier today, I neglected to mention the silver lining to my current situation. Yes, there is always a silver lining to any situation. In this case the adage should be changed to a red lining. A beautiful, lipstick red raw silk lining.

You see, my flu-induced (and temporary I am sure) weight loss has allowed me to fit into one of my favourite skirts that I haven’t been able to wear in years. It’s one that I made more than 20 years ago after returning from an extended trip to India and Nepal. I saw the fabric in a store in Rajasthan and couldn’t pass it up.

Unfortunately, when I made the skirt I didn’t take into account the fact that hiking the Annapurnas and dealing with your typical Montezuma’s Revenge for days on end meant that I was at an abnormally low weight, even for a svelte 26 year old. So it wasn’t too long before the skirt was just too tight on me. I’m sure that will be the situation again very soon so I thought I’d take advantage of my temporary smaller than usual body mass, and the fact that it’s the Christmas season, to wear my skirt to work today. If that doesn’t get me in the festive spirit nothing will!

Not a great photo but it's rather difficult to take a long shot of oneself without a camera with a timer!