spinning ceaselessly...
dancing barefoot--patti smith
I am a huge Patti Smith fan. Her writing, poetry, music and generous heart. Not to mention the stories. Holy cow. Bread of Angels reads like a series of incantations. The secret sauce of becoming a better writer? Improve your reading.
Wrapping up her Horses Tour and book events I was lucky to catch her in Washington DC at the Lincoln Theater — located on “Washington’s Black Broadway”— when these were the only venues allowing black patrons.
Hurrying to book a hotel and grab a few friends to join us I assumed this was a book reading. The evening was so much more.
When I saw the guitar and keyboard I was verklempt. Patti played the music we all wanted to hear, told stories, read from her book and lightened our hearts with her prayerful hope and remembrances.
Maybe you need to hear the next part. For all intents and purposes we are in the finishing stretches of 2025. Perhaps we can’t see the chaos around us while spinning around its center but I thought this weekend away was a celebration. Celebrating the end of traveling, writing, meeting deadlines, editing videos, writing talks, negotiating, fighting to take up space blah blah blah. What greeted me wasn’t the warm exhalation of kumbaya that I had imagined.
Re-entry into normal life meant a few things. I had to hand over the reigns. Let someone else drive (thank you Randy), be present for friendship (bless you Shirley) and hold space for my husband Steve. Maybe when he travels he doesn’t appreciate me standing next to him riddled with anxiety reminding him to get a move on — relentless forward progress being my annoying motto.
The process of relaxing is a thing for me. It takes a day or two post event or meeting. But instead of wearing it like a badge of honor — this year begins with a slowing down. At least after I drive 1000+ miles to surprise my mom for Christmas…
Sorry Tay Tay, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.
Here I go and I don't know why
I spin so ceaselessly
Till I lose my sense of gravity — Patti Smith, Dancing Barefoot