Cambridge by way of London

“By hook or by crook, I hope that you will possess yourselves of money enough to travel and to idle, to contemplate the future or the past of the world, to dream over books and loiter at street corners and let the line of thought dip deep into the stream.”

                                                                                                         Virginia Woolf

Having spent the morning doing some planning for my July trip to Cambridge, I appreciate having the ability (read money) to travel, to dream of idling on long expanses of lawns or loitering---books under arm---around centuries old doorways at Homerton College where I will be staying for two weeks.  I am looking forward to the lectures and discussions during the two Literature Cambridge classes---Woolf's Rooms and Reading Bloomsbury; to contemplating the future and the past through the course readings; and as always, meeting others interested in Woolf, Vanessa Bell, and all things Bloomsbury.

I have just now booked my hotel in London, the Morton in the heart of Bloomsbury.  Before training up to Cambridge, it will be lovely to spend a few days in this London area where I spent my sabbatical......letting the line of thoughts dip and drift, remembering walks, and re-visiting old Bloomsbury haunts, beloved bookstores and libraries, and leafy gardens and squares.

Valentine Day Write In

·       “when things have got to such a pass, I don’t see how the least politically minded can keep out of it."        Vanessa Bell

  

      I spent Tuesday morning of Valentine's Day with other Orinda Progressive Action Alliance members writing post cards and letters to our local congressional members, our U.S. Senators, and others who are committed to stopping the insanity of the current administration.  This was just one group table. In all there were four tables and over forty members writing. It was heartening to hear some people say that they had never been really politically minded before, but now felt compelled to take a stand and do something.  A sincere thanks to our local independent bookstore, Orinda Books, for providing a space for us to meet.

Four Years Can Be a Very Long Time

”It is I think the only hope of the world that such people make themselves felt.”

                                                                                                       Vanessa Bell

In a 1936 letter to her son Julian Bell, Vanessa Bell wrote about individuals wanting to do something.....needing to make a contribution in some way..... to the efforts to fight Franco's fascism during the Spanish Civil War.

With Trump, his band of corrupt advisors and extremist appointees, his outrageous and destructive policies and executive orders, four years can indeed be a very long time.  

 What are we to do then in times like these, when our democratic principles, our democracy is under siege? It seems that we must remember, and constantly remind ourselves that we have seen this type of insanity before on the world's stage.  It's a darkness that throughout history rises up, and must be continually fought and defeated. We must organize, mobilize, and whenever and wherever possible speak out and  take direct action.  We must persist and resist......and know that through our collective efforts we can make ourselves felt, we can make a difference.

After a long illness......

Virginia Woolf once wrote, ”Consider how common illness is how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings, how astonishing, when the lights of health go down, the undiscovered countries that are then disclosed what wastes and deserts of the soul a slight attack of influenza brings to view, what precipices and lawns sprinkled with bright flowers a little rise of temperature reveals, what ancient and obdurate oaks are uprooted in us by the act of sickness…..”

I have indeed been uprooted physically and emotionally by these past three months of back pain. Where is my old life?  When will I be able to garden again, pick up my grand-daughters, regain a sense of sustained vitality?  I have wondered,  is this the new normal, a new yet circumscribed life?  And then, the thought occurs, is this forced convalescence all bad?  The ability to sit silently, identify, and watch the birds at the fountain or at the feeder brings such joy and has much to recommend.  The time (before only stolen moments from endless days of busyness) to read and consider, write without hurry, to work with my hands and mind fully engaged, in essence to follow my inspiration and create......now expands before me daily and I am soothed and uplifted.  Likewise, the Orinda oaks outside my window with their strong branches and deep roots, their strength and perseverance, and their ability to withstand sustained drought, strong winds, and beating rain, are a balm to my soul and provide a constant and quiet inspiration.