A serial memoir. Can I tell you about the time I lived for half a year out of a backpack?Can you tell me about your own walks in life so we can shape our stories together?
Thank you!’. I grinned when that came to me—the similarities between peaking out on life while traveling through the physical world and the stack world. So glad to have you along, David! 😊
Yes! Exactly. Just curious about how interpretations, meaning and insight change and evolve through the years. I know for my own memoir it was important to always write in the present tense, not interjecting my current experience/knowledge on the girl back then trying to find her way. And it sounds like that is very similar to yours, ie. keeping our past selves in the dark somewhat so we can feel their yearning. What an incredible resource to have all those past logs, and I think it would be interesting occasionally to hear a past self impression, especially if it is strikingly different than the current narrator’s… though it sounds like she was more concerned with logging events than describing her internal landscape, longings, etc. Anyway, it’s a beautiful read and I’m very much enjoying traversing through time as your story unfolds.❤️
My phone isn't letting me highlight the quote, but I especially love that paragraph about quieting yourself for fear of being misunderstood. You can really pack a punch!
Savoring this journey with you as you travel backwards into its memory. I do wonder, how would Holly’s storytelling back then differ from Holly’s recollecting now?
I love this note, Kimberly. Do you mean you're curious to know if I remember encounters differently and am surprised by what I find when I come to the logs? Would you like to see samples taken directly from the logs incorporated in? To know what the younger me made of encounters, of herself, as compared to how the me who is narrator does?
Other than, say, a letter or passage I'm more or less quoting, the narrator and narration of the current recollecting is quite different from the narrator and narration in the log. The narrator telling the story then is very much saying this is what happened. Period. She's looking to describe interactions and people in detail but not searching for (I think doesn't feel qualified or empowered to search for) a deeper truth or meaning as to why she's telling the story.
Ha. Not sure if my questions make sense. I'm just really intrigued by this comment and want to explore it a little more if you're willing.
Love this: "But for me, to watch from the window of a bus or train as the world goes about its living, unaware of your gaze, is an intimacy." I adore road trips for looking out the window, seeing how the fauna and flora change, watching people in their own windows, seeing the movements. It's soothing and gratifying.
Thank you for writing this lovely piece about traveling and life. Nice to meet you by monitor-light. And thank you for recording it, so I could listen instead of read. My eyes are always in pain (some days worse than others) and it’s always nice when I can listen to something instead of read it. Your voice is lovely.
I grew up in Virginia, not far from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I have done road trips with my dogs, camping or sleeping in my car. I haven’t done hiking though! My next trip is a few weeks away - I’m driving from my new home in Kansas over to Virginia to see my grown-kids, then up the coast to Nova Scotia, where I will be for a while. My family comes from there and I want to explore it and take it in. I was thinking of driving over to Ottawa too, to meet family I haven’t met yet. But I am not sure that will work, because it looks like Nova Scotia has a lot for me to enjoy, including a fiddle festival, and I am a violinist!
Thank you ever so much for reading and commenting. I’m so sorry to hear about your eyes in pain. But I’m glad you enjoyed the recording. Accessibility is one of the main reasons I record the vast majority of my pieces.
Your trip sounds wonderful. I hear Nova Scotia is beautiful and the fiddle festival sounds delightful. Will you bring your violin?
Thank you for your joy about my travels! I can’t wait to read more of your travels, too!!
I am trying to decide how many of them I can fit in the car. Can I fit my primary violin, my viola & my electric violin? I don’t know. Will it be overkill? Will the weather be too extreme and ruin my instruments if it gets too cold at night in my little tent with my dogs?
Lots to figure out. I have previously slept with my violin case in my sleeping bag. I don’t recommend it. That was a very cold, super uncomfortable & sleepless night. 🤣
Definitely taking at least my violin. Hopefully the other two, too. Have to see what fits in my car alone with dogs cages, tent, food, dog food, etc … lots of stuff to take !
Oh, I do know this dilemma well. You'll figure out what works. But I do wonder about not trying all three on your first go. When you're first trying it all out, you may find (or it's been my experience) that your capacity of focus narrows. And this is, for me, one of the most wonderful things about the vagabond of it all. But it's also a bit frustrating if you have too much to try and manage. Generally, less is more is a wise thing to keep in mind when deciding what to set out with. (I only listen to my own advice on that in some categories, mind you.) At any rate, I'm delighted that your ability to make music on these wonderful instruments will be a part of your journey in whatever way that ends up happening.
“But for me, to watch from the window of a bus or train as the world goes about its living, unaware of your gaze, is an intimacy.” Shivers, Holly. Excited for this!
I haven't yet--sorry-- but I've got your chapters on hold until I have a few moments to savor them. Right now I'm packing and stewing and getting ready to turn my cottage over to new owners and move on to my own new adventure. I'm sure yours is much more interesting! ❤️
Ramona! What an exciting new chapter (and I’m sure one that is fraught with so many emotions). Can’t wait to learn more about your next adventure! Congrats on selling the cottage. And I think all you do and write is interesting. :)
I'm excited to have begin ! Great image of reading other 'stacks as being like watching scenes from a train window.
Thank you!’. I grinned when that came to me—the similarities between peaking out on life while traveling through the physical world and the stack world. So glad to have you along, David! 😊
Yes! Exactly. Just curious about how interpretations, meaning and insight change and evolve through the years. I know for my own memoir it was important to always write in the present tense, not interjecting my current experience/knowledge on the girl back then trying to find her way. And it sounds like that is very similar to yours, ie. keeping our past selves in the dark somewhat so we can feel their yearning. What an incredible resource to have all those past logs, and I think it would be interesting occasionally to hear a past self impression, especially if it is strikingly different than the current narrator’s… though it sounds like she was more concerned with logging events than describing her internal landscape, longings, etc. Anyway, it’s a beautiful read and I’m very much enjoying traversing through time as your story unfolds.❤️
My phone isn't letting me highlight the quote, but I especially love that paragraph about quieting yourself for fear of being misunderstood. You can really pack a punch!
Ah, Katharine. Thank you! I so appreciate you reading and commenting. :)
Savoring this journey with you as you travel backwards into its memory. I do wonder, how would Holly’s storytelling back then differ from Holly’s recollecting now?
I love this note, Kimberly. Do you mean you're curious to know if I remember encounters differently and am surprised by what I find when I come to the logs? Would you like to see samples taken directly from the logs incorporated in? To know what the younger me made of encounters, of herself, as compared to how the me who is narrator does?
Other than, say, a letter or passage I'm more or less quoting, the narrator and narration of the current recollecting is quite different from the narrator and narration in the log. The narrator telling the story then is very much saying this is what happened. Period. She's looking to describe interactions and people in detail but not searching for (I think doesn't feel qualified or empowered to search for) a deeper truth or meaning as to why she's telling the story.
Ha. Not sure if my questions make sense. I'm just really intrigued by this comment and want to explore it a little more if you're willing.
Thank you!!
Yessss!! How could I not think of Nina Simone!!?? Great one!
Well, you have me Counting Crows in response to my mentioning Nina Simone. :)
And thank you!!
OMG!! I never heard of “Hard Drive” and - WOW! - it’s amazing!! I love everything about it! Thanks for including it here. 🥰
Me too! Her stuff has found my way into my regular playlist ever since Jeffrey shared it!
Love this: "But for me, to watch from the window of a bus or train as the world goes about its living, unaware of your gaze, is an intimacy." I adore road trips for looking out the window, seeing how the fauna and flora change, watching people in their own windows, seeing the movements. It's soothing and gratifying.
Soothing, yes, that's just the right word. It's a lullaby of sorts--the rhythm of it all. Thank you, thank you, Nadia! How are you?
I hope you are staying strong. 💖 i have been having some good days, so I hold on to that.
Thank you for writing this lovely piece about traveling and life. Nice to meet you by monitor-light. And thank you for recording it, so I could listen instead of read. My eyes are always in pain (some days worse than others) and it’s always nice when I can listen to something instead of read it. Your voice is lovely.
I grew up in Virginia, not far from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I have done road trips with my dogs, camping or sleeping in my car. I haven’t done hiking though! My next trip is a few weeks away - I’m driving from my new home in Kansas over to Virginia to see my grown-kids, then up the coast to Nova Scotia, where I will be for a while. My family comes from there and I want to explore it and take it in. I was thinking of driving over to Ottawa too, to meet family I haven’t met yet. But I am not sure that will work, because it looks like Nova Scotia has a lot for me to enjoy, including a fiddle festival, and I am a violinist!
Thank you ever so much for reading and commenting. I’m so sorry to hear about your eyes in pain. But I’m glad you enjoyed the recording. Accessibility is one of the main reasons I record the vast majority of my pieces.
Your trip sounds wonderful. I hear Nova Scotia is beautiful and the fiddle festival sounds delightful. Will you bring your violin?
Thank you for your joy about my travels! I can’t wait to read more of your travels, too!!
I am trying to decide how many of them I can fit in the car. Can I fit my primary violin, my viola & my electric violin? I don’t know. Will it be overkill? Will the weather be too extreme and ruin my instruments if it gets too cold at night in my little tent with my dogs?
Lots to figure out. I have previously slept with my violin case in my sleeping bag. I don’t recommend it. That was a very cold, super uncomfortable & sleepless night. 🤣
Definitely taking at least my violin. Hopefully the other two, too. Have to see what fits in my car alone with dogs cages, tent, food, dog food, etc … lots of stuff to take !
Oh, I do know this dilemma well. You'll figure out what works. But I do wonder about not trying all three on your first go. When you're first trying it all out, you may find (or it's been my experience) that your capacity of focus narrows. And this is, for me, one of the most wonderful things about the vagabond of it all. But it's also a bit frustrating if you have too much to try and manage. Generally, less is more is a wise thing to keep in mind when deciding what to set out with. (I only listen to my own advice on that in some categories, mind you.) At any rate, I'm delighted that your ability to make music on these wonderful instruments will be a part of your journey in whatever way that ends up happening.
“But for me, to watch from the window of a bus or train as the world goes about its living, unaware of your gaze, is an intimacy.” Shivers, Holly. Excited for this!
Thank you, Maddie! :)
Can't wait for more, my dear! In the arms of a Frenchman? Ooolala! ❤️🔥
Indeed. Brief but sizzling! But not till Montreal ;)
I haven't yet--sorry-- but I've got your chapters on hold until I have a few moments to savor them. Right now I'm packing and stewing and getting ready to turn my cottage over to new owners and move on to my own new adventure. I'm sure yours is much more interesting! ❤️
Ramona! What an exciting new chapter (and I’m sure one that is fraught with so many emotions). Can’t wait to learn more about your next adventure! Congrats on selling the cottage. And I think all you do and write is interesting. :)
I also love that track by Counting Crows!
Superbly written post, Holly! Such a distinctive voice you have.
Thank you, Jeffrey!! And Cassandra Jenkins has made it into my regular playlist. So thank you for that. :)
Right?! It’s such a lovely viewpoint. And thank you!
And mostly hi, Nadia!! I’ve been wondering how you’re doing. How are you? So wonderful to “see” you on the screen. 🩷🩵