August 4th

Tomorrow it’s back to New York. Really? …

The week on the Isle of Skye was sheer delight: perfect weather, great hikes, great company, outdoor dining and wining, music making of all sorts, sleeping in front of a giant picture window looking north out to sea, the beach only feet away… heaven… My favourite? Probably my solo hike to Rubha Hunish, the northern point of Skye, where you literally walk to the end of the world (after climbing down a 300′ cliff, just to make sure you merit it…) Skinning dipping in the Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle was a close 2nd – the best creek dipping I’ve ever had, I think… And feasting outside every evening at the great stone table on the edge of the beach – with sun and no midges – scotland in july?? is it possible?? yes, once in a blue moon…

It was, of course, merely postponing the inevitable, but for a whole week I barely thought of life’s complications – De Queen of Denial, that’s me, now that mum’s gone… and of course I’ve paid for it this past week in cotherstone, dealing with overdue bills, back taxes, lawyers etc etc… Sam has reappeared, which is wonderful, but a truly mixed blessing – I’m sooo happy to see him (and vice versa) but since I can’t take him back just yet, I was kinda hoping he’d found another home… what to do, what to do? let’s see where we’re at mid-september – I’ll come back and get him if necessary…

sweet aunt liz has been in hospital for the past 5 weeks – not doing so good… but she’s finally back in Barnard Castle at least, so she won’t be so far away – she’s been in Durham all this time – mum’s old haunt… who knows if she’ll ever come home… time, the grim reaper…

and what’s waiting for me back in nyc? again, who knows? one foot in front of the other, take it as it comes, cherish the joy, make light of the sorrow… I wrote a new tune at the Boathouse in Skye… big city, here I come – well, briefly, before heading upstate to work on Gertrude Stein with Colombari…