On Tuesday night, I had a meaningful conversation with Ed, my dear friend of 30+ years. We both independently watched a quiet, heart-wrenching, and beautiful film called "Past Lives" by Celine Song, which my youngest sister Malyn recommended while I was in New York last month. The movie had a lingering effect on our souls and led us to discuss
Looking forward to watching Past Lives--thanks for recommending! I’ve watched a couple of A24 films, and they left me feeling a bit ambiguous...this one looks promising, though.
I think about this topic a good bit as I’m a few years into the “empty nest” and can’t believe how quickly the time with my children passed. And then there is my dad--74--and I realize how little time I have left with him (not that he’s ill, but even if he lives to be 100 it’s still less time with him than I want). On the eve of 48, I find myself living more intentionally, foregoing activities that I once would have embraced in place of more meaningful ones.
My son and I have talked a lot about the duality of his addiction and recovery--how he would not be the person he is today without the light and the shadows, something I understand full well given the darkness and the light in my own life. Life is beautiful. All of it. Because we can’t experience the beautiful without understanding the flip side of the coin.
Hey yup quit drinking and drugs going on my 8th month, it did not really change my outlook too much because i have always sought out the depth of the human condition from articles and people like you Stella..So now i do it straight .The battle is every day. i just finished recording an album probably come out November i asked Tina to do the cover art. I mention this because its very similar to what you do with photographs and prose. I love what you do. i wrote 11 songs/pieces of complaint, love, pain and a host of other stuff i cant even explain, but you know how it is. I also did this for Santiago (who plays on the album and has become a pretty good blues guitarist) to know his father and have a compendium to refer to for after i leave . Love this Stella!
There is no Light without the Shadow
Looking forward to watching Past Lives--thanks for recommending! I’ve watched a couple of A24 films, and they left me feeling a bit ambiguous...this one looks promising, though.
I think about this topic a good bit as I’m a few years into the “empty nest” and can’t believe how quickly the time with my children passed. And then there is my dad--74--and I realize how little time I have left with him (not that he’s ill, but even if he lives to be 100 it’s still less time with him than I want). On the eve of 48, I find myself living more intentionally, foregoing activities that I once would have embraced in place of more meaningful ones.
My son and I have talked a lot about the duality of his addiction and recovery--how he would not be the person he is today without the light and the shadows, something I understand full well given the darkness and the light in my own life. Life is beautiful. All of it. Because we can’t experience the beautiful without understanding the flip side of the coin.
Everything in this glimmers with truth. Thank you for writing it.🌿
Duality and fragility indeed, Stella. Thank you for a most thought-provoking read.
Hey yup quit drinking and drugs going on my 8th month, it did not really change my outlook too much because i have always sought out the depth of the human condition from articles and people like you Stella..So now i do it straight .The battle is every day. i just finished recording an album probably come out November i asked Tina to do the cover art. I mention this because its very similar to what you do with photographs and prose. I love what you do. i wrote 11 songs/pieces of complaint, love, pain and a host of other stuff i cant even explain, but you know how it is. I also did this for Santiago (who plays on the album and has become a pretty good blues guitarist) to know his father and have a compendium to refer to for after i leave . Love this Stella!
Thank you for the restack @Lyly Dhommar !