Monday, September 26, 2011

Until She Knew Enough

Montemarcello, 2011

A quiet boat, soft wood planks, and photographic reflections in still water. The first person to speak to me is outside the building just north of the old Sausalito Caffe Trieste.

He is a proud man with grey hair standing beside a younger man. Both of them before a quiet red espresso machine. He, the older man, the one who is clearly in charge, says good morning, and I say good morning too. He tells me they will be serving coffee, soon. I ask him when and he tells me next Monday at 7:00 AM. I smile and say great, implying I will return, and I will. Then he says ciao, as if he were placed here in my day to ease my transition from Liguria back to Northern California.

A block away I notice I've held my smile. The sun is warm on my hair. It is a beautiful day for return. Cibo has photographs from a cooler season in Italy displayed in my favorite room, the glass room with old paint wearing thin upon its cement floor. There is a pigeon in the room. He steps lightly, knowing he shouldn't be here. His manners are appreciated. The day feels good. I don't long for other places.

Close to noon, in the public library, I find a poignant Hemingway quote from The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Now he would never write the things that he saved to write until he knew enough to write them well, and I wonder who is orchestrating this grand plan.

25 comments:

  1. How eerie. I just sent you an email wondering where you were,are, might be.

    And now here you are.

    I still don't know where you were but I know where you'll be next Monday.

    Welcome back.

    xo Jane

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  2. Hi Jane, I tried to reply to your email and was sent a lovely "mail delivery failed" twice. Your email address doesn't like me... I was in Lerici, a sweet little Italian town in Liguria, on the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks for thinking of me. xx, Denise

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  3. I, too, wondered where you were, off writing I imagined.

    This is such a softly worded essay, a gentle re-entry.

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  4. I also wondered where you'd wandered. :) Glad you've returned.

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  5. So beautiful- both your words and picture.
    I'm terribly jealous. Enjoy your travels.

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  6. I was also away. It's really nice to be back and reading "Chez Danise" again. I want to go for coffee next Monday;-)

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  7. Beautiful post. That quote, too. It put a little twist in my viscera. Not entirely comfortable, but much appreciated. Welcome back.

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  8. So happy to be back here and find you've also returned. How I've missed your words and poetry. The Snows of Kilimanjaro is one of my favourite stories too.

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  9. missed you. glad you did not bring your laptop on your travels, but that you saved some "things to write". Bentornata!

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  10. such a lovely re-entry. Liguria! I figured you must have been on a nice long journey. welcome back!

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  11. At once, gentle and quizzical.

    Huong

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  12. Beautiful....beautiful...and even more beautiful....teresa

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  13. lovely to have you back.

    italy...in the autumn...and hemmingway.

    you know how to travel, d.

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  14. welcome back. i love these lines, "A block away I notice I've held my smile. The sun is warm on my hair." hope you are happy to be home.

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  15. I'm so glad you're back too. I missed having some place special to visit, chez Danisse.

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  16. So nice to see you back in this space! I love your style.

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  17. oh how nice to have you back - I have been wondering where you have been. Italy - how wonderful.... Annie x

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  18. welcome back! Wonderful to read your words again.

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  19. Thank you, everyone, for such a warm welcome home.

    Shae, I understand completely. I felt a twist too.

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  20. clever as ever.
    i'm reading up on ya...
    n♥

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  21. ... or is it..
    catching up on ya?
    too late!
    n♥

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  22. n, I think either one works. Nice to see you.

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