(Re)Connection
It's been a minute....
Hello Friends,
Am I back?
I am back.
It’s been a minute, I know.
My pause on writing here, sharing with all of you, was only supposed to be a couple of weeks, way back in July, as I transitioned from Scotland back to the U.S. for a short stay. But the world events have been relentless. Soul-crushing, if I am being honest, and my reaction to them made it hard for me to feel like there was a “good time” to share here again.
But I have come to the conclusion that there is no good time at present, and that I very much missed my writing practice and connecting with all of you. My practice is something that takes me out of time, has me focusing on the now, being in the present moment, and I think that is so much better than worrying, or God save us, doom-scrolling. So, here I am. Back in your inbox, “planting seeds” in my [second] spring, and tending to my writing garden. I sincerely hope this finds you safe and peaceful at the very best and you can pass some calm time reading my missives. Thank you so much for being here.
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
As the northern hemisphere officially passed into autumn with the equinox on September 22nd, I find myself sitting out my favorite season this year, and I am being blessed with a second spring (and summer) in my new (temporary) home in Melbourne, Australia. As I am writing, I am looking out at the massive tree tops that surround me and can see just a sliver of the Yarra River, which is only a few steps from my front door. The sky is stunning cerulean - bright and pure - no clouds, just an expanse of blue dotted with the swift moving, mad energy of the parrots that are abundant in my neighborhood. A mixture of bright red, deep blue, yellow and orange, these birds are a riot of color and sounds, racing and chasing each other through the skies. I find myself watching and listening to them often. A good pause that is not my phone.
Melbourne, like some of my other favorite cities, is one of those that if you “wait five minutes, you will get an entirely different season” and I have experienced that many times already since arriving on September 1st. But spring is definitely “springing” with lots of flowers blooming, great produce at the local farmers market, and quick rainstorms and bright sunshine. I am happy to be back here, in the land of delicious coffee, lovely and friendly people, an abundance of art and culture and wonderful nature.
JULY-SEPTEMBER: FIRST UP, SCOTLAND
I know we last left off with me in Scotland, at the beginning of summer, with a visit from my dear friend, J the first week of June and it shocks me to see the calendar turning to October this week. Reflecting back, spending (over) half the year in the UK was a joy, with Scotland being my home for most of that time, which was rich with glorious experiences including making wonderful new friends, deepening relationships with existing friends I had made on previous visits and, of course, breaking my in-person-meetup-fast with an epic visit from J. Wonderful, indeed.
My last 6 weeks in Scotland went by way too fast but it was also the delicious slow living of summer: quite sunny and pleasant. Long days of work, wanderings and walks in the beautiful city concluded with evenings in the garden with my neighbors, chatting, as the light stayed bright well after 9 pm. It was so hard to pack my suitcase and bid adieu to my favorite place in the world on July 19th but I have some plans in the works for a more permanent return, fingers crossed. More on that coming in 2026.
If you might be planning a trip to Scotland, and Edinburgh in particular, please do let me know, I would love to be a resource. Autumn is SPECTACULAR. I have spent the last two years in Edinburgh in September and October and it is slightly painful to not be there this year but as I mentioned above, I am focusing on the being more present, in the now, and Melbourne is pretty wonderful. But that said - if you are thinking of going, please go in autumn! And let me know how I can help.
BACK TO THE U.S. - FIRST STOP: PHOENIX, AZ
Flying from Edinburgh, making my way to the US for the first time in a year, my first stop was Phoenix, AZ. While I did not miss the U.S., I always miss my son, Zach. Zach is the Director of Production for Scottsdale Performing Arts, which is an incredible arts organization with a very beautiful campus and a plethora of experiences. His job is big one, and he is very good at it (proud mom moment) and it keeps him super busy but summer is the down season, given the heat, so a good time for us to be together. Phoenix in July is a tough one though. Lacking the high elevation, and the abundance of monsoon rains of my favorite desert city, Tucson, Phoenix can be downright oppressive in summer. However, the Fates smiled on us, and the weather was relatively temperate, with many days out of the 10 I was there, under 100 degrees (which is unheard of in July). The mornings, between 6 am - 8 am, were under 80 degrees, which made for very pleasant walks without feeling scorched. Zach lives in a very nice part of Scottsdale - old neighborhoods with tidy patio homes, lots of cactus, wrens and gamble’s quail running about, and excellent views of Camelback Mountain. Spending 10 days with Zach is a gift anywhere and we spent our time doing what we love: cooking, eating great food, days at museums and bookstores, talking, watching films and just being together. I am very blessed to have this lovely relationship with my son and I cherish it.
There are some very nice places to enjoy on a visit to Phoenix, and while I will always recommend visiting Tucson first, here are some places to bookmark should you find yourself in Arizona’s capital city:
Scottsdale Performing Arts - there is a lot “on” here, especially with the recent renovation and expansion of their outdoor campus. A great place to see all kinds of performances and cultural events.
Phoenix Art Museum - we spent a wonderful afternoon here on my recent visit and we have visited in the past. They always have very interesting installations, as well as semi-permanent artist features.
Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, this is a World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark nestled in the desert foothills of the McDowell Mountains. This is a MUST experience combining history, incredible architecture and the magic of the desert.
“Deeply connected to the desert from which it was forged, Taliesin West possesses an almost prehistoric grandeur. It was built and maintained almost entirely by Wright and his apprentices, making it among the most personal of the architect’s creations.” - from the Taliesin West website.
The Biltmore Hotel - another Frank Lloyd Wright production, this hotel is tucked back into the historic Biltmore neighborhood between Scottsdale and central Phoenix and is a wonder. Even if you don’t stay overnight, go for a snack and drink and soak up the atmosphere.
Andaz Resort - Weft + Warp Art Bar + Kitchen - this is Zach and my favorite upscale spot to have dinner and enjoy the gorgeous views of Camelback. They have an awesome happy hour.
JOYRIDE - tacos and nachos. This is my favorite spot for nachos anywhere in the world. Seriously.
Pizzeria Bianco - Chris Bianco is a LEGEND and was responsible for the James Beard foundation including pizza in their awards. It was so fun for Zach and I go to the original location in downtown Phoenix on this visit. We first went together in 1999 for his birthday and had not visited together since. Time is a construct.
Bagelfeld’s - a truly bonkers good bagel spot born during the pandemic. Some of the best I’ve had anywhere.
Chula Seafood - IYKYK - a hidden gem of a spot for luscious seafood in the desert. 2 locations in Phoenix!
Desert Botanical Gardens - the beauty of the desert.
Precious desert takeaways: the uniquely delicious smell of desert rain - the creosote bush releases oils when the rain hits its leaves producing an earthy scent I can never get enough of. The sidewinding movement of a Gekko. The chortle of a Cactus Wren which always sends me back to my son’s childhood and us making our home in Tucson. The rust colored dirt on my shoes from the desert floor and catching a glimpse of the long feathered tail of Roadrunner out of the corner of my eye.
PORTLAND, OREGON
Much too soon, it was time to say goodbye to Zach and head on to Portland, to spend the month of August. Flying into Portland is always a pleasure on a clear day (or a moody day) and experiencing the views of majestic Mt. Hood. As the plane landed, I felt myself getting excited to spend time with friends, do some work and “housekeeping” (as in change out my suitcase) and prepare for Australia.
Right away, on this visit, I had the distinct feeling of being a “visitor” rather than a homecoming. Not in a bad way but a kind of an easy, lovely way. I had an epiphany during this visit to Portland that subject is much bigger than this space, to share in today’s post, but perhaps I will write about it in the future. In short, I very much felt that Portland was no longer home for me. And the epiphany was I don’t know that it ever truly was home. There was nothing contentious or negative in this idea/wondering if Portland had ever been how I truly identified home, despite moving there very intentionally in 2006, and living there on and off since. Just this strong feeling that took up residence in my head and heart and has stayed.
In reality, I had not lived in Portland for the last 2 years, so not surprising that it did not feel like home at this point. I would spend a month (exactly) on this visit and August of 2024 saw me here for even less time. Since 2021, I spent less than 6 months a year in Oregon, bopping in and out, staying for a few months, purging my large storage unit and periodically editing down my life, while doing some in person work and planning my next international destination. But during this 2025 visit, I had the clear thought “it’s time for a permanent change plan” and making that decision was actually quite easy. I settled in for the month, and there was a sweetness that came over me - a sweetness of experiencing Portland like a visitor.
Adding to the feeling of being a visitor, I was lucky to be staying in a beautiful house in a neighborhood that I not only never lived in before but had really spent no time in: Mt. Tabor.
When I arrived to the house - a charming and classic PacNW craftsman - I was overcome with memories of visiting Portland for the first time in 2005 and thinking “I am going to live here”. This neighborhood personified everything that made me want to move to Portland in the first place: a wonderful, walkable, quiet oasis full of lovely houses with grand gardens in the front and peeking out of the backyards; lots of people walking their dogs; friendly neighbors; and the very best - a huge park with giant old growth trees, green grass, plenty of trails, a large reservoir - all on a volcanic cinder cone.
The entry to Mt. Tabor park was about a 7-minute walk from the house and I went every morning I was staying there. My companion, Scout, a sweet mixed breed dog with an excellent temperament and energy, was only too happy when I put on my walking shoes and clipped on his lead to head out early in the morning for a climb to the top. Mt. Tabor has some amazing views: of the city of Portland on one side and views of Mt. Hood and Mt St. Helen’s on the other. Scout and I would also end the day, with a post-dinner walk up Tabor, a bit shorter and most days we would find folks enjoying the long summer days of light with picnics scattered throughout the park. My experience was very wholesome and light - those are the words that kept coming to mind - and it generated a feeling of calm for me (that is frankly, very unusual in the US right now). Very close by was the Sunday Farmers Market in Montavilla and I spent every Sunday stocking up on greens, luscious seasonal berries and nectarines, and local farmers eggs. The month went by both slowly, as hot summer days tend to do and very quickly and I found myself savoring each day rather than anticipating where I was going next.
No big city is without its issues these days but I did not experience the Portland currently being described by this (unhinged) US administration. So, if you plan a visit, the food scene is still rocking, there are beautiful parks and forests, great bookstores, the quirkiness of ‘Portlandia’ is very much alive and well; and you have the stunning Oregon coast just a little over an hour west and a prolific wine region just 45 minutes out of the city. Lots to enjoy.
Here are some places I very much enjoyed on this visit:
Grana Pizza - I was oh so tempted to just go to decades-long favorites like Apizza Scholls or Ken’s Artisan Pizza (both still rocking) but my intuition said to give Grana, which is new to me, a go. Wow - my pizza was DELICIOUS. Some of the best ever.
Bamboo Sushi (the one on SE 28th) - 4 TIMES I went. And I don’t regret a one. Still a winner.
Providore Fine Foods - for an excellent selection of wines; melons (IYKYK - melon season in Oregon is nuts); snacks; bread; cheese and other selected goods.
Wellspent Market - (at their new-ish location on SE Division) - I’ve adored this shop for years and their new location is very sweet. Delicious sandwiches, epic selections of olive oil, an abundance of Japanese snacks, fine wines & sakes. They are right next door to Lauretta Jean’s so make sure to grab some pie.
Powells on Hawthorne - One of my favorite things about Portland has always been the bookstores. Powells downtown is legendary but if you don’t feel like heading into the city their Hawthorne location is pretty great.
ON TO AUSTRALIA
With my suitcase packed, I had an evening flight on my last day in Portland and I was given a lovely send-off from my friends Jenny & Jim of Fossil & Fawn, spending the afternoon enjoying wine (please get their orange wine - I am obsessed!) excellent conversation and tasty snacks in their very chic, modern home in the popular NW 23rd neighborhood. As winemakers, they offer a unique and intimate wine tasting in their urban space and I highly recommend booking an experience with them should you visit Portland. Enjoy epic wines with the best of hosts and then wander the streets of NW 23rd, full of restaurants, cafes and shops. A perfect Portland afternoon.
I bid adieu to Portland on August 29th and hello to Melbourne 18 hours (and a day) later. As I said in my open “spring is springing” here in Oz and I feel as though I’ve been given a second opportunity to plant seeds this year. I will be here through the Southern Hemisphere summer and there is lots on in Melbourne in the way of music and shows in the parks, plays, concerts, and an abundance of outdoor activities. I’m taking writing classes again at Writers Victoria - furthering progress on something else I have in the works (more on this in 2026) as well as working with on a new leg of my business.
I am thrilled to be here and feel very grateful for this international life I’ve created and continue to just make up as I go. As things continue to escalate in the world, I remind myself daily that there is no certainty other than we all eventually leave this world and I want to make the best, and most of it that I can, while (hopefully) impacting the people I love and connect with in the most generous way possible.
Thanks so much for sticking with me. I’m wishing you peace, wherever this may find you.
A POSTSCRIPT
‘CALM IN THE CHAOS’
I’ve recently discovered this incredibly helpful lymphatic drainage-exercise practice and it has worked wonders in elevating my energy while calming my nervous system and clearing any foggy head symptoms.
*you don’t need to have neck pain to reap the benefits. I’ve started doing this routine daily.
P.P.S. There will be some different types of posts in October. Some seasonally (northern hemisphere) appropriate storytelling that I’ve had much fun writing. Stay tuned.
In closing below is passage I have been contemplating, daily, as the news continues to be grim. It gives me hope for the world and humans so I thought I would share:
“The way of the cross is a complete reversal. It means the worst thing in your life, your cross, turns into the best thing that ever happened to you. By forcing you into surrender, into ‘death’, [your cross] forces you to become nothing to become as God*. Because God* too is no-thing.
At this time as far as the unconscious majority of humans is concerned, the way of the cross is still the only way. They will only awaken through further suffering, and enlightenment as a collective phenomenon, will be predictably preceded by vast upheavals. This process reflects the working of certain universal laws that govern the growth of consciousness and this was foreseen by some seers.” - Eckhart Tolle - The Power of Now
*feel free to substitute with Source or the Universe if God doesn’t work for you
Catch up on popular past posts here:
That was a fun read! I think of you often. Enjoy Melbourne!
So good to "see" you again. ❤️