A Moment of Grace
I’m in the midst of hatching another crazy scheme. I feel a little excited. Earlier in the day I was beginning to feel a bit on the anxious-I-need-to-make-money side, but I feel suddenly like something’s afoot.
Earlier I was on the phone with someone very dear to me, bemoaning that I need to find a job, and how scared I was, and how loathe I was to do it because it sucks out my VERY SOUL, wah wah wah. She asked tenderly, “Well, what would you rather do?” I answered, “Make a living from my art.” She then pointed out gently that in ten days I am leaving to go on tour for a week. “I just want to point out,” She added, “That you already are.”
These are the things that anxiety, worry, uptight thinking will blind you to: THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT having a snack on your couch! I’ve been so worried about what I have to do before and after the tour that I am not actually acknowledging that the tour is a BIG effort towards my dream life. For one whole week I’ll be doing music full-time. This is quite an honor. I keep forgetting that even the smallest efforts matter. A tour is not a small effort—-it’s a biggee, actually. It takes a lot of time and effort and energy to plan it. I’d like to publicly thank Nathan and Coppelia for both hatching the road plan and laying it down brick by brick.
All this talk of lists, and noticing what you have, and small actions toward creative dreams are all so friggn’ important, but it still takes work to remember. Thank the sweet stars when you DO remember! It’s a moment of grace.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m going out to brunch with Graham and an old friend in Brooklyn. Then I am going to take a walk in Central Park and do the Holden Caulfield tour of The Natural History Museum. Later, I will go get a drink at the Algonquin Hotel, where Dorothy Parker often charmed the pants off people with her wit; where Anne Sexton lived during the run of her play Mercy Street; Where My Fair Lady was written. I’m going to eat cupcakes and ice cream and I am going to blow out the candles and make a wish, which I have a feeling might come true.
Earlier I was on the phone with someone very dear to me, bemoaning that I need to find a job, and how scared I was, and how loathe I was to do it because it sucks out my VERY SOUL, wah wah wah. She asked tenderly, “Well, what would you rather do?” I answered, “Make a living from my art.” She then pointed out gently that in ten days I am leaving to go on tour for a week. “I just want to point out,” She added, “That you already are.”
These are the things that anxiety, worry, uptight thinking will blind you to: THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT having a snack on your couch! I’ve been so worried about what I have to do before and after the tour that I am not actually acknowledging that the tour is a BIG effort towards my dream life. For one whole week I’ll be doing music full-time. This is quite an honor. I keep forgetting that even the smallest efforts matter. A tour is not a small effort—-it’s a biggee, actually. It takes a lot of time and effort and energy to plan it. I’d like to publicly thank Nathan and Coppelia for both hatching the road plan and laying it down brick by brick.
All this talk of lists, and noticing what you have, and small actions toward creative dreams are all so friggn’ important, but it still takes work to remember. Thank the sweet stars when you DO remember! It’s a moment of grace.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m going out to brunch with Graham and an old friend in Brooklyn. Then I am going to take a walk in Central Park and do the Holden Caulfield tour of The Natural History Museum. Later, I will go get a drink at the Algonquin Hotel, where Dorothy Parker often charmed the pants off people with her wit; where Anne Sexton lived during the run of her play Mercy Street; Where My Fair Lady was written. I’m going to eat cupcakes and ice cream and I am going to blow out the candles and make a wish, which I have a feeling might come true.
posted by Summer Pierre at
6:47 PM
5 Comments:
Happy, happy pre-birthday... very cool that you stopped by and read my blog. i've been getting more random attention lately, and its a little bit unnerving because when i set it up - it was really just geared toward 10 or so friends across the country that i correspond with. Now i wonder if i won't offend people stopping by...!! (oh well) :)
Again - i'm reading your blog - and jealous of your freedom...
drop me your email address, as i've got more to say than shoudl fill up your comments here - ksgos@hotmail.com
have a wonderfully aweseome birthday - and hope the touring goes well.
- Kate
Happy Birthday!
I whole-heartedly agree with your ruminations on what a Birthday should be like..
So, I hope you use the magic phrase often, and it gets you into the best kind of mischief!
The tour thing IS huge, period!
Congatulations & well done, on having the talent and focus to make it happen.
Enjoy the cupcakes!
Keep on hollowing out your inspiring little nook in the web.
-Sally Jane-
Hello Summer,
It feels a little weird saying Happy Birthday to someone who I know a little more (from reading her journal) than she knows me but I do wish you the very best and, indeed, a Happy Day! :)
What I like about you is that you seem to be humble with your art. Not shy, not insecure, just humble. I once had the priviledge of meeting Van Morrison, my musical superhero. He is fiercly private but what I always thought to be arrogance turned out to be humbleness. He is a humble man who is passionate about one thing only: his music. He really doesn't seem to care about money or fame, and that his passion also made him a wealthy man is simply because he is so bloody good at it.
I am moving to New England soon so please do let us know if you ever tour in that area; I would love to come and see you!
Take care, Kerstin
happy birthday in advance as well
:)
hope you have a great one
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Summie!
You will always be my little baby Tummuh, drinking her bottle two-handed in the back of that Costa Rican bus.
XOXOXOXO,
Meggles
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