Wow. This one hit like a bolt of recognition lightening.This is me, too: why not belonging has always felt like its opposite How did we come to be like this? Why are we drawn to places that are not our first place like most everyone else? Such a wonderful exploration and illustration of this belonging/not belonging magnet. How is that we can love both simultaneously ? Goodness. I’m so impressed you put this so clearly.
Thank you so much for these lovely words! I’m so glad it resonated with you, these are themes that have followed me around, but that really came to light once I emigrated. That line is actually stolen (if you can steal from yourself!) from my book that I just finished. It’s basically all about not belonging as belonging. Thanks again, Sabrina! Means to the world to know someone in a similar place (metaphysically!) is enjoying my words ❤️❤️❤️
I love this piece, it's so atmospheric (also the photographs are beautiful). My grandparents live by the seaside in England and I love to visit the beach in the winter when it has been forgotten by most of the world
Thank you so much! 🥰 ‘Forgotten by most of the world’ is the perfect description for this kind of place, it feels like a parallel, or disguised, world…
It is handy to have family members who live by the beach isn't it? 😅
Hi Jayne, your opening hooked me—such a longing of mine, attractive for the reasons you offer. I loved this for its evocative language and personal experiences. I admire your adventurous spirit. It's so appealing. Thank you!
This was so lovely. I love this idea, and it's been a mini-dream of mine for many Christmas/New Year periods and I'm determined that next year will be the year. The only difference for me is that I want to go somewhere cold and desolate (the Scottish Highlands, for example). Don't ask why, it's complicated!
Your poetic words, however, almost make me want to reconsider. Just that 11 second clip of the waves on the beach had me entranced.
Thank you so much, Daniel! ❤️ I think the waves themselves were the most eloquent thing about the post 😂
I fully recommened making this happen. Any time of year is good, but there is something extra … “signficant” about doing it over Christmas and New Year. And going somewhere cold means not being tempted to leave your writing cave so much!
Beautiful story here, Jayne! Thanks for sharing! It was cool that you mentioned running into your parents randomly; many of us who are “orphans” now would love to glimpse our parents again in our daily routine.
Thank you so much, Michael! It is funny that you should mention the orphaning. I've been thinking about that a lot lately (with terror), maybe that is why it came out in the post. I wish you could glimpse your parents again in this way too ❤️
I am so sorry... I swear I thought I'd done a comment last week as soon as I read this. You know me, I was wanging on about myself & my geographicals - that's probably fate not letting me post it because it was *all about me*. Your extrapolation out into our sense of self from these is so beautiful and the places you take us are always so evocative. Love you. xxx
A lovely and so so relevant post. I have this feeling when I come "home" to Madrid. I am soooooooo glad to be "home" yet when I go "home" to California, the familiarity, excitement, anticipation, and beauty of Northern California hit me way down deep. But I haven't lived there for forty years. I feel almost as comfortable and down to the bones here as I do there. I don't feel that way about returning to other places--New York City and Washington DC-- I've lived for a long time. Very strange.
I was interested to hear about your experience running into your parents on your "retreat." Did that take you out of the moment? Remove you from your aloneness or distract you? That must have been a strange sensation. For me, I would have felt pulled by wanting to play with them and wanting to work on my writing project.
Congratulations on finishing your book!! That is so exciting. Can't wait to hear about next steps and about your experience on a retreat at a parador. Te felicito.
Thank you, Andrea! I’m so glad it resonated with you. Your description also resonated with me, I felt at home in Madrid almost immediately, though it made no obvious sense to feel that way. Strange indeed…!
It was a bit odd having my parents there, and I did end up having dinner with them one night. At first (forgive us selfish children types!) felt a little annoyed like, ‘this is my time, get away from here!’, but I was able to find a balance with writing, the surroundings and the unexpected visitors!
Thank you for your congrats on the book! I shall tell you all the gruesome details when I see you next! 🫢❤️
We did the same thing checking in to a hotel in Donostia. When we showed our residency cards instead of our American passports, they were startled, then laughed about it. Heh.
Wow. This one hit like a bolt of recognition lightening.This is me, too: why not belonging has always felt like its opposite How did we come to be like this? Why are we drawn to places that are not our first place like most everyone else? Such a wonderful exploration and illustration of this belonging/not belonging magnet. How is that we can love both simultaneously ? Goodness. I’m so impressed you put this so clearly.
I’ll be thinking about this for a while. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much for these lovely words! I’m so glad it resonated with you, these are themes that have followed me around, but that really came to light once I emigrated. That line is actually stolen (if you can steal from yourself!) from my book that I just finished. It’s basically all about not belonging as belonging. Thanks again, Sabrina! Means to the world to know someone in a similar place (metaphysically!) is enjoying my words ❤️❤️❤️
I love this piece, it's so atmospheric (also the photographs are beautiful). My grandparents live by the seaside in England and I love to visit the beach in the winter when it has been forgotten by most of the world
Thank you so much! 🥰 ‘Forgotten by most of the world’ is the perfect description for this kind of place, it feels like a parallel, or disguised, world…
It is handy to have family members who live by the beach isn't it? 😅
Hi Jayne, your opening hooked me—such a longing of mine, attractive for the reasons you offer. I loved this for its evocative language and personal experiences. I admire your adventurous spirit. It's so appealing. Thank you!
Thank you so much for these lovely and generous words, Robyn! It is good to know you share this longing 🥰 And thank you for subscribing, too!
This was so lovely. I love this idea, and it's been a mini-dream of mine for many Christmas/New Year periods and I'm determined that next year will be the year. The only difference for me is that I want to go somewhere cold and desolate (the Scottish Highlands, for example). Don't ask why, it's complicated!
Your poetic words, however, almost make me want to reconsider. Just that 11 second clip of the waves on the beach had me entranced.
Thank you so much, Daniel! ❤️ I think the waves themselves were the most eloquent thing about the post 😂
I fully recommened making this happen. Any time of year is good, but there is something extra … “signficant” about doing it over Christmas and New Year. And going somewhere cold means not being tempted to leave your writing cave so much!
Beautiful story here, Jayne! Thanks for sharing! It was cool that you mentioned running into your parents randomly; many of us who are “orphans” now would love to glimpse our parents again in our daily routine.
Enjoy them while they are close by in this reality. Thanks for your response all the way from Spain!
Good advice 😊
Hehe, it's amazing how quick missives are able to fly back and forth these days!
Thank you so much, Michael! It is funny that you should mention the orphaning. I've been thinking about that a lot lately (with terror), maybe that is why it came out in the post. I wish you could glimpse your parents again in this way too ❤️
I am so sorry... I swear I thought I'd done a comment last week as soon as I read this. You know me, I was wanging on about myself & my geographicals - that's probably fate not letting me post it because it was *all about me*. Your extrapolation out into our sense of self from these is so beautiful and the places you take us are always so evocative. Love you. xxx
A comment from you is worth the wait! 🥰 Thank you for being the bestest cheerleader (comments or not, doesn't matter!)❤️
I blame my age… 🤣🤣
It really is 😂
A lovely and so so relevant post. I have this feeling when I come "home" to Madrid. I am soooooooo glad to be "home" yet when I go "home" to California, the familiarity, excitement, anticipation, and beauty of Northern California hit me way down deep. But I haven't lived there for forty years. I feel almost as comfortable and down to the bones here as I do there. I don't feel that way about returning to other places--New York City and Washington DC-- I've lived for a long time. Very strange.
I was interested to hear about your experience running into your parents on your "retreat." Did that take you out of the moment? Remove you from your aloneness or distract you? That must have been a strange sensation. For me, I would have felt pulled by wanting to play with them and wanting to work on my writing project.
Congratulations on finishing your book!! That is so exciting. Can't wait to hear about next steps and about your experience on a retreat at a parador. Te felicito.
Thank you, Andrea! I’m so glad it resonated with you. Your description also resonated with me, I felt at home in Madrid almost immediately, though it made no obvious sense to feel that way. Strange indeed…!
It was a bit odd having my parents there, and I did end up having dinner with them one night. At first (forgive us selfish children types!) felt a little annoyed like, ‘this is my time, get away from here!’, but I was able to find a balance with writing, the surroundings and the unexpected visitors!
Thank you for your congrats on the book! I shall tell you all the gruesome details when I see you next! 🫢❤️
We did the same thing checking in to a hotel in Donostia. When we showed our residency cards instead of our American passports, they were startled, then laughed about it. Heh.
😅 Feels good doesn't it?!