I had a fantastic time in Pilion. The peace and quiet, that’s what I liked most, and the nice smells and colours. The city doesn’t have many colours. Not those I like anyway.
But I have never felt at ease in the "wild". I am a city person. If I ever leave
Just as I was leaving for Pilion, three parcels arrived and I took them all with me. I am going to tell you about the first one today, and the other 2 are going to follow.
One of the first people to have started reading this blog, Just Sayin’ sent me the
I was stunned, at first by my friend’s gesture, then by the books themselves, by the artwork and the text, and finally, by what the books said to me.
The books are made of handmade postcards and letters which you can pull out of their envelopes and read, just like normal letters.
"How can I miss you this badly when we have never met?" asks
How can I miss talking to you when we have never met. When I have friends who I love and love me and I am not a lonely person. This is what I was thinking about in the village square. Am I missing you, or am I missing the computer, or am I missing the ability to communicate what I mean, in this medium, or is it all of the above?
I saw the flowers, and I told M. "Connie would have loved those" and then the kids were playing in the square and pretending to be fishing and I thought "Cathy’s boys will love it here" and I thought Barrett would have loved the endless sound of the water and Steve would have loved sitting back in this square and having tsipouro with us. And at some point I think I thought about all of you, just like I kept missing my sister and Blondie.
I might be autistic in my inability to communicate in the forms that people use to communicate. Which is not a bad thing, just different. But when I think about it I find that I am a good communicator, I just need my tools.
The other thing that these books did, is what my friend intended. I thought, I should do something about the things I write and cook and paint and take pictures of instead of just thinking about them. I might not do anything, but there is a possibility.
Sweet friend, thank you so much.
"Who has done his day’s work? who will soonest be through with his supper?
Who wishes to walk with me?
Will you speak before I am gone? will you prove already too late?"
Walt Whitman - From Song of Myself
My playlist for today
Moby - Lost Again
April 30th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
I saw Damien Rice on television in the show Austin City Limits (it showcases musical artists). He was great, I’ve just gotta go out and get his album now.
April 30th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Those books sound really cool. Too bad I hate to read. I’ll look them up when I’m at my fave bookstore in Tucson next Sunday.
April 30th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
I’ve been meaning to read those books for ages…just the concept, with the removable letters, is so winning. And I enjoyed both this post, and the one you did for Jack’s blogazine. Just wanted to let you know…:-)
April 30th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
I gave my mother a book on Egypt done up in similar fashion. It is published as someone’s travel journall, with flowers (supposedly pressed, in actuality drawn) between the pages, with drawings, diagrams, post cards (which can be removed from their envelopes), etc.
I thought it was a very cool concept. My mother loves all things Egyptian, so I knew it was a win on that side of things.
As for missing people you have never met, I have experienced similar feelings.
Intimacy (here, meaning someone knowing personal details of your life, your thoughts, and you knowing personal details about theirs, etc) isn’t acheived through face-to-face contact. It is acheived through communication.
I see hundreds of people in any given week. We may interact on some level, but I rarely communicate any personal details.
Here, in the blogosphere, we do nothing but share and communicate with each other. We know each other, without ever having met. We offer acceptance, support, and help as we can. Does any RL friend do more?
So, it is very real.. you know us, as we know you, through the words, the thoughts, and the parts of our lives we post on our blogs. And when you can’t communicate with us, you miss us, just like we miss you when you aren’t there to post on your blog and comment on ours.
April 30th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
I’ve never heard of that book either but it sounds really interesting. I’m a city person too: although I really like nature and gardens and everything, I get stressed out in the countryside.
I’m going to read what you worte on Toerson’s blogazine now
April 30th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I can’t wait to look this book up at the bookstore. Now I have a new quest. It sounds wonderful.
I am so happy that you thought of me when you saw the flowers…I know I would have loved them.
We are all a family and I know in my heart I miss you when I don’t see you for days. I worry that you are okay just like we lived next door. That is why I love the people I have met through blogging.
Hugs,
Connie
April 30th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
yay, i can comment again!
i don’t know if you were missing me at all, but i know i have missed not being able to talk to you here.
i was thinking earlier today about what your husband must think of your blog friends. my (soon to be ex) wife could not stand that i could meet people on the internet and talk to them and become somewhat friends with them. it was one of the many things that we fought about on a regular basis, but it sounds like you and M have a good understanding of these things
April 30th, 2006 at 7:24 pm
…odd, as i have been thinking
about this whilst away
in Whistler….my blogword
my little microcosm of friends…
and how connected i am to them…
how i can almost read their
posts with my eyes closed so
persistant is their voice and
need to express their vision and
experience of this trememdous
world…
love this post…i shall go
looking for these books!!
smooch!!!
April 30th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
The books sound amazing … I’m heading off to Borders to see if they have them.
It is amazing the friendships we have all made here in the blogosphere. I guess people here often know more about us than “real” people who we physically see from day to day, as we are able to share things on a different level here. I guess the relative anonymity make it easier to share. However, I think it would be lovely to also physically meet some of my blog friends.
Take care, my friend … Chloe
April 30th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
What a lovely and thoughtful post and once again, you have captured my thoughts exactly; I do the same thing when I go places and sometimes think I must be crazy. So we will share in our craziness and I hope to bring the boys before they are grown…and although you are a city person, we have both country and city here (although not a very large city, but Halifax is wonderful…)
xo
April 30th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
i am a big city girl too.
funny how our whole blogosphere is. it goes in cliques too. circles of friends dabbling in each other’s business. i check my blog and my friends’ blogs a few times a day to see what is going on in greece, canada, new hampshire, etc… i am a little addicted though
April 30th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
I remember reading the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy a few years ago and found them an excellent read. I think what matters is whether we are good communicators or not. The tools we use to express our ideas, feelings and experiences are simply a means to an end. If words reach out and connect the inner part of you to other people, it would be strange not to miss these people even if you’ve never physically met.
April 30th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
chloe,
thank you for this beautiful post. not only does that book sound like an excellent read, but you have given me more reasons to create my own blog.
May 1st, 2006 at 2:23 am
I’ve never heard of those books but they sound absolutely beautiful!
May 1st, 2006 at 11:43 am
Angel
the whole album is amazing. he is so sweet and always true to what he is doing.
Zona
you know, there’s not much reading involved!
kimananda
thanks for checking the other post as well. Jack’s new site is wonderful and i’ll be contributing from time to time.
Crag
you put it so eloquently, i cannot agree. the question, is though, why do we express ourselves in writing better?
Devil
it is a very very interesting trilogy. and fun too. you won’t put the books down until you’ve read all 3 of them. promise you. xx
Connie
we are all a big big family, you are right. Find the book and let me know. I think you are going to love the story and the art. The art is sometimes dark, but it suits these 2 strange and lovely people.
moondog
i thought if anonymous people leave rude comments i am just going to either delete them or post them with their information i get through my Statcounter. And i had also missed your comments, so it wasn’t worth it.
M. is very okay. He is a very relaxed person. I don’t know if i would have been so relaxed about him blogging into the night and talking to people. But he is. He is wonderful. He is happy i have found more people to talk to.
Maddy
oh you had been away! tell us. did you have a nice time?
I had emailed you before i left but then i found what i needed (your address). xxx
Cathy
half city half country is what suits me best i think. tame nature.
Meow
bcause you begin by being relatively anonymous, you go on to be relatively eponymous, so it’s a slow revelation. I wish we could meet too. Australia is not that far is it
Gina
i am too!
“Stephanie is sick!” I told M. this afternoon. “Who’s Stephanie?” asked he. And i was annoyed. “Stephanie from Boston, silly”
And i check blogs all day too. Especially if i know someone is in the middle of something! xxxx
Walter
you are absolutely right. it would be strange not to miss people i talk to every day. all my blogfriends have become very important to me. i depend on them for advice, opinions, jokes. they matter like my tangible friends matter.
my only regret is i am not able to download any of you yet!
Nikki
go Nikki go! start a blog, it’ll be fantastic!
Maja
they are beautiful. the girl is supposed to be living in your part of the world too.
xx
May 1st, 2006 at 12:44 pm
I often think what would Chloe tell me or what would I be advised.
Then I ask you a question and its different to what I thought but I like your not predictable
May 1st, 2006 at 2:19 pm
really? but it would be nice to validate your idea for once. Just tell me in advance and i’ll pretend i don’t remember you telling me.
May 1st, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Well before leaving us to a much bigger town than Athens you shell try this town and I promise you - you will stay for good.
xxx
May 1st, 2006 at 2:54 pm
A really imaginative post, Chloe. I enjoyed my visit. I have been to Athens twice in the past and found it a remarkable city.
May 1st, 2006 at 3:09 pm
I felt the same way when I was disconnected before. I didn’t know if it was just because it was part of my daily routine, or because the other peoples’ lives I read about have become more a part of my own than I realize, or ever imagined.
It’s nice to have you as a friend, Chloe. ^_^
May 1st, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Hi Chloe, sorry for not being around more often.
Ι’ve just read your report about the wild life, I was about to write you a comment “Isn’t August the time for snakes?” and then I read the part in which you mention that M. really got to see one of them. Wow.
I saw one last summer at holidays, I cannot tell whether it was toxic or not, but I got very afraid, as my son wanted to go nearer to take a better look. I didn’t want for him to feel in danger, but I didn’t know a way to keep him away of the danger. Very stupid situation.
How lovely thoughts your friends are having…
Be well and all the best from both of us, to the 3 of you
May 1st, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Distance is such a factor with friends in RL. Have lost many of my friends to distance.
Thankfully with bloggers there is nothing like that
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:13 am
“How can I miss you this badly when we have never met?”
Thats deep !
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:59 pm
I thought I posted here already???
Well I forgot what I said now.
So I’ll just say hi.
HI!
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Chloe - i am locked out of my
e-mail !!!
didn’t get your e-mail
new one is
persistingstars@yahoo.ca
smiles!
May 3rd, 2006 at 5:38 pm
I love those books
That is, the middle one I felt was abit ‘out of tune’ as it were, but the first and the last - the artwork and the whole sentiment, it’s very special!
May 3rd, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Those books are on my favorite books shelf… I have the whole series, plus the rest of Nick Bantock’s books. I met him about a decade ago. Fascinating fellow. I am glad you discovered these. When I was a practicing librarian I recommended them to many people - especially those who like epistolary novels…