On a weekend morning, we’d find ourselves on the patio of this Greek restaurant under a tin and iron terrace lush with vines. Back then, Salt Lake City had just won the Olympic bid. Back then, a thriving underground scene was painting that town black and neon and studded.
I do wish I had a better handle on time these days. It seems I ALWAYS feel crunched for it, guilty if I "waste it," wishing it wasn't so damn squirrely. And while I'm not aiming for those endlessly carefree days, I do think shooting to return temporarily, from time to time, would be good for many of us.
I’m the same way - I’m either crunched for time or get so immersed in writing/reading/researching I will literally lose track and an hour (or two) goes by without recognition. Then I feel guilty, like I wasted it. I do work hard for those temporary carefree times, whether it’s spending an hour browsing at a local record store or lingering over coffee/chat with someone important in my life.
Thank you, Sherry! One of the things I love about reading (and writing) is that opportunity to be taken (be taken back / take people with me) to places I (they) might not have otherwise been.
I was, of course, thinking of your own piece on an eatery as I worked on later drafts of this, having enjoyed yours and the way it pulled is in and took us there thoroughly, and of you as one of the "you"s in the final paragraph, lingering in the setting sun with me. 🥰
It was a time. And, you described it so well, I just had to dig through my fridge to make myself scrambled eggs, the closest I could summon. Just missing the tangy feta and olives and mostly your company… Hoped to commune with you soon.
Same!! I of course was thinking of you as I wrote this one. I thought about calling you to get the details of the place as you remembered it. But I really wanted to capture the one that lives so vividly in my memory even if some of the details lived only there.
Your imagery is so alive- earth tilting, sun sidling! I read it a second time- over breakfast. Years ago I decided to do what I could to lower my carbon footprint. What I’ve come to realize is that this is a very elegant way to live. Time slows, creativity is enhanced (and required), but it isn’t a sacrifice. It is simply a lovely way to move through the world, more a dance than anything else.
More a dance than anything—gorgeous! I love this, Skipper. It makes me think of the years of my vanlife that were the most “wild” (as in me in spaces mostly human free for weeks on end into months) and the simplicity of it and, as you say, the elegance.
"And us with our tastebuds so new they still had the tags on them." Beautiful, Holly. This piece has some of the most compelling passages I've read by you (a high bar). Maybe a slightly new voice coming through? I loved it.
Yes! I love that you noticed this, Jeffrey. Writer friends are the absolute best. I have felt a shift in my recent writing—a sense of freedom to be more of me on the page is maybe the best way I’d describe it. A relaxing of something. A letting go of something else. And I love it too. I so appreciate you.
Thank you, Keicha!! I really appreciate you being here and sharing.
I’ve been feeling wistful for those days soon. And I’ve been having this internal debate about how to get back that feeling of timelessness (or maybe it’s just time stretched out like taffy)—just occasionally (I think it’d be good for us all). Any ideas?
Your comment made me wonder if it's a feeling of timelessness I'm feeling wistful about, or the feeling of connection with people I love and enjoy being around that I'm really longing for. I think it's the latter. Or, maybe it's some of both. For me, this means making more time for coffee shop hangs
Yeah that’s such a good point. I think, for me, both— the timelessness and the feeling of connection from just spending relaxed time with people I love—are thwarted by this overwhelming busyness I want to figure out how to get away from a bit. Thanks for helping me direct my thinking on it.
Your comment made me wonder if it's a feeling of timelessness I'm feeling wistful about, or the feeling of connection with people I love and enjoy being around that I'm really longing for. I think it's the latter. Or, maybe it's some of both.
For me, this means making more time for coffee shop hangs, leisurely walks, and dinners with friends.
Oh, how the days never felt rushed or even incomplete. Scrumptious memories here, Holly. The Equal packets made my teeth ache a little, but who am I to talk given the Sweet and Low in the iced tea? Sugar was always better, though. I love how you personified Hey. It seems like you had fun writing this one!
I remember a time when time was easier to come by. When the nights were long and wild and shared. I enjoyed those times, despite how little a knew, and how much impenetrable stuff yearned inside me.
Your beautiful and relatable prose brought me back to that time, Holly. Thank you, friend. :)
Wonderful, Holly
Thanks, Anna! (You were among the specific readers I thought of while writing this one.) ♥️
And boy did I relate!
Days gone by, the 90s, and time the luxury we could ever hope to possess. Beautiful, Holly.
Thank you, Christa!!
I do wish I had a better handle on time these days. It seems I ALWAYS feel crunched for it, guilty if I "waste it," wishing it wasn't so damn squirrely. And while I'm not aiming for those endlessly carefree days, I do think shooting to return temporarily, from time to time, would be good for many of us.
🥰
I’m the same way - I’m either crunched for time or get so immersed in writing/reading/researching I will literally lose track and an hour (or two) goes by without recognition. Then I feel guilty, like I wasted it. I do work hard for those temporary carefree times, whether it’s spending an hour browsing at a local record store or lingering over coffee/chat with someone important in my life.
My younger years looked wholly different from yours, but your writing is so strong here, I almost feel like I was there.
Thank you, Sherry! One of the things I love about reading (and writing) is that opportunity to be taken (be taken back / take people with me) to places I (they) might not have otherwise been.
🥰
Excellenté! I was there with you, Holly. It was wonderful.
Thank you, Jeanine! I so very much appreciate you joining me. 🥰🥰🥰
I’ll take the lemon-herbed potatoes, the tangy subshine, the feta, most everything except the cheap beer. Just beautiful.
Same! No more cheap beer for this gal.
I was, of course, thinking of your own piece on an eatery as I worked on later drafts of this, having enjoyed yours and the way it pulled is in and took us there thoroughly, and of you as one of the "you"s in the final paragraph, lingering in the setting sun with me. 🥰
Smiling.
It was a time. And, you described it so well, I just had to dig through my fridge to make myself scrambled eggs, the closest I could summon. Just missing the tangy feta and olives and mostly your company… Hoped to commune with you soon.
Same!! I of course was thinking of you as I wrote this one. I thought about calling you to get the details of the place as you remembered it. But I really wanted to capture the one that lives so vividly in my memory even if some of the details lived only there.
Oh those days. Glad you were a part of them!
You've done it again, Holly! You sweep me away with your words and the memories they evoke.
Thank you, Paulette!
And you know you were there in my mind in that last paragraph!! 😍😍😍
Sweet! "See" you soon.
Loved this one so much! Such a great read.
Thank you, Karli!! I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰
You did this sooooo much better than I did!
What? Eat time? Otherwise, can’t agree. 😉
And thank you!! Oh the discussions among writer friends and the things that come from them.
I was referring more to making a broad diaspora out of the 90's...which...I'm in awe of your powers of bringing it to life!
Thank you!!! That means a helluva lot coming from you!!
yummmmm
Thanks, Sara! 😉
Your imagery is so alive- earth tilting, sun sidling! I read it a second time- over breakfast. Years ago I decided to do what I could to lower my carbon footprint. What I’ve come to realize is that this is a very elegant way to live. Time slows, creativity is enhanced (and required), but it isn’t a sacrifice. It is simply a lovely way to move through the world, more a dance than anything else.
More a dance than anything—gorgeous! I love this, Skipper. It makes me think of the years of my vanlife that were the most “wild” (as in me in spaces mostly human free for weeks on end into months) and the simplicity of it and, as you say, the elegance.
Thank you much for being here.
"And us with our tastebuds so new they still had the tags on them." Beautiful, Holly. This piece has some of the most compelling passages I've read by you (a high bar). Maybe a slightly new voice coming through? I loved it.
Yes! I love that you noticed this, Jeffrey. Writer friends are the absolute best. I have felt a shift in my recent writing—a sense of freedom to be more of me on the page is maybe the best way I’d describe it. A relaxing of something. A letting go of something else. And I love it too. I so appreciate you.
Now I’m on a memory-powered diner tour, and not prepared for the ride. Xo
Memory-powers diner tour! I love it!!
Thank you for being here, Elizabeth. 🥰
Your gorgeous writing has left me both smiling and feeling wistful for days gone by.
Thank you, Keicha!! I really appreciate you being here and sharing.
I’ve been feeling wistful for those days soon. And I’ve been having this internal debate about how to get back that feeling of timelessness (or maybe it’s just time stretched out like taffy)—just occasionally (I think it’d be good for us all). Any ideas?
Your comment made me wonder if it's a feeling of timelessness I'm feeling wistful about, or the feeling of connection with people I love and enjoy being around that I'm really longing for. I think it's the latter. Or, maybe it's some of both. For me, this means making more time for coffee shop hangs
Yeah that’s such a good point. I think, for me, both— the timelessness and the feeling of connection from just spending relaxed time with people I love—are thwarted by this overwhelming busyness I want to figure out how to get away from a bit. Thanks for helping me direct my thinking on it.
Your comment made me wonder if it's a feeling of timelessness I'm feeling wistful about, or the feeling of connection with people I love and enjoy being around that I'm really longing for. I think it's the latter. Or, maybe it's some of both.
For me, this means making more time for coffee shop hangs, leisurely walks, and dinners with friends.
"What now...?"
Oh, how the days never felt rushed or even incomplete. Scrumptious memories here, Holly. The Equal packets made my teeth ache a little, but who am I to talk given the Sweet and Low in the iced tea? Sugar was always better, though. I love how you personified Hey. It seems like you had fun writing this one!
I know! I have zero interest in Equal packets these days, and I only used them in those dry cappuccinos, but I sure loved them!
Thanks, Elizabeth. I did enjoy writing this one. ;)
I had to look up dry cappuccinos. I've never heard this term! I wonder where it originated...and I'm positive it hasn't migrated to where I live now!
I remember a time when time was easier to come by. When the nights were long and wild and shared. I enjoyed those times, despite how little a knew, and how much impenetrable stuff yearned inside me.
Your beautiful and relatable prose brought me back to that time, Holly. Thank you, friend. :)