I am moving, box by box, up a narrow stair and round a tight corner, into my new home. Though my back be achy, my heart is singing. And Mrs. Peel likes the new digs.
When my muddy bootprints have been cleaned from the floor, and the kettle's on, and I can think in complete paragraphs, I'll have stories to tell, about cabbages and kings, and the kindness of strangers. And about light.
Thank you for keeping us abreast of your comings and goings and particularly for your writing. You are often in my thoughts and am glad to hear you are settling in. Cheers to you and Mrs. Peel!
Posted by: Charles in CA | March 26, 2013 at 05:51 PM
The imagery of one svelt loop? No doubt Mrs. Peel hears your heart.
Congratulations, Laurel, and fond hopes for happiness for you both!
Posted by: AitchD | March 27, 2013 at 12:05 AM
Lucky Boxes
Best to you and your travails with Mrs. Peel. There is much to living in small spaces and still finding things to grow in. Hope you've got some musical liturgy still within your bookshelf for future expressions.
Posted by: Kim | May 12, 2013 at 08:12 PM
Wow . . . was listening to "Coming Out" the other night and so enjoyed hearing you sing "Scotch and Soda" again. It still sends me . . . Hope you are well and happy. Namaste~
Posted by: Charles in CA | May 30, 2013 at 07:55 PM
Hi Laurel
Greetings from London. Our TV channel BBC 4 has been showing old Top Of The Pops from 35 years ago on a weekly basis. They started a couple of years ago with May 1976 and we are now up to June 1978. It has been enjoyable watching them again and reliving my youth!
They recently showed the Manhattan Transfer hit “Walk In Love” which I loved back in 1978 and even more so now. It is one of those songs where the tune, lyrics and voice come together to create something very special. I find it an incredibly evocative song which brings back many happy memories.
Watching your performance again I felt inspired to find out more about Manhattan Transfer and you on the internet which led me to your website which led me to your very eloquent blog. I have been reading many of your entries and enjoying them all. You have a real gift with words. There is a depth and originality to your writing which makes me think and your sense of humour and personality shine through. I have gained new insights on certain things from your articles.
I laughed when I saw that you have named your cat Mrs. Peel as, like you, I have loved The Avengers for many years. Which means that I must ask - when you take your cat out do you say the famous John Steed line “Mrs. Peel, we’re needed”...?
You have not written since 25th March when you moved into your new home. The previous entry dealing with the move was very touching but I see that you have had to downsize and lose possessions. I wondered if this was something that you chose to do or was forced to do through circumstances?
I see from previous entries that you broke your arm recently and I suspect that life has not been easy in many ways for a while?
I am writing to encourage you both in your life and to write some more on your blog. I see that you only get a couple of comments for each article and many have no comments. I know that a creative person needs feedback for that creativity and it can be hard to keep going when you wonder if people are reading what you say.
Through a performance you gave on British TV 35 years ago I have found and enjoyed your blog and how many others have read your words without commenting?
I have loved reading your words and want to give you words of encouragement in return. When I was a teenager at school I found a catalogue in the art room for posters which each had a wise saying on. These had a profound effect on me and I wrote all those sayings down and still have them today.
For example: “Life is a shadowy, strange, and winding road.” - Thinking about it, there is a truth in that. You gave a performance 35 years ago which I saw on TV at the time and enjoyed and then we went on our separate life journeys down strange and winding roads which gave you the wisdom to write this blog. Then those strange and winding roads brought me back to your original performance and then led me here.
“You have touched me - I have grown.” How many people can say that because of your songs and words? If you had not touched me with your words in this blog would I be writing like this to encourage you to write more?
And then, reading your article titled “Epiphany” and seeing the photos, I knew what words to give to encourage you. These are words which have kept me going through the years when times were hard and things went wrong and bad things seemed to keep happening for no rhyme or reason.
“The strongest trees are found in the most exposed places.”
You, Laurel, are a very, very strong tree.
Please feel free to contact me if you want. I have given my e-mail address in signing up to comment (I hope that you can see it). I only know you through your words and song but I find that I am worried by your silence especially as you promised to write more in your last article. I would like to know that you are okay and well.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Ainsworth
Posted by: Kevin Ainsworth | June 13, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Hi Laurel
Greetings from London. Our TV channel BBC 4 has been showing old Top Of The Pops from 35 years ago on a weekly basis. They started a couple of years ago with May 1976 and we are now up to June 1978. It has been enjoyable watching them again and reliving my youth! They recently showed the Manhattan Transfer hit “Walk In Love” which I loved back in 1978 and even more so now. It is one of those songs where the tune, lyrics and voice come together to create something very special. I find it an incredibly evocative song which brings back many happy memories.
Watching your performance again I felt inspired to find out more about Manhattan Transfer on the internet which led me to your website which led me to your very eloquent blog. I have been reading many of your entries and enjoying them all. You have a real gift with words. There is a depth and originality to your writing which makes me think and your sense of humour and personality shine through. I have gained new insights on certain things from your articles.
I laughed when I saw that you have named your cat Mrs. Peel as, like you, I have loved The Avengers for many years. Which means that I must ask - when you take your cat out do you say the famous John Steed line “Mrs. Peel, we’re needed”...?
You have not written since 25th March when you moved into your new home. The previous entry dealing with the move was very touching but I see that you have had to downsize and lose possessions. I wondered if this was something that you chose to do or was forced to do through circumstances? I see from previous entries that you broke your arm recently and I suspect that life has not been easy in many ways for a while?
I am writing to encourage you to write some more on your blog. I see that you only get a couple of comments for each article and many have no comments. I know that a creative person needs feedback for that creativity and it can be hard to keep going when you wonder if people are reading what you say. Through a performance you gave on British TV 35 years ago I have found and enjoyed your blog and how many others have read your words without commenting? I have enjoyed reading your words and want to give you words of encouragement in return. When I was a teenager at school I found a catalogue in the art room for posters which each had a wise saying on. These had a profound effect on me and I wrote all those sayings down and still have them today.
For example: “Life is a shadowy, strange, and winding road.” - Thinking about it, there is a truth in that. You gave a performance 35 years ago which I saw at the time and enjoyed and then we went on our life journeys down strange and winding roads which gave you the wisdom to write this blog. Then those strange and winding roads brought me back to your original performance and then led me here.
“You have touched me - I have grown.” How many people can say that because of your songs and words? If you had not touched me with your words in this blog would I be writing like this to encourage you to write more?
And then, reading your article titled “Epiphany” and seeing the photos I knew what words to give to encourage you. These are words which have kept me going through the years when times were hard and things went wrong and bad things seemed to keep happening for no rhyme or reason.
“The strongest trees are found in the most exposed places.”
You, Laurel, are a very, very strong tree.
Please feel free to contact me if you want. I have given my e-mail address in signing up to comment. I only know you through your words and song but I find that I am worried by your silence especially as you promised to write more in your last article. I would like to know that you are okay and well.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Ainsworth
Posted by: Kevin Ainsworth | June 15, 2013 at 09:23 AM
Miss you, Laurel! Hope all is well! If you are blogging elsewhere online, please direct us to it. Blessings!
Posted by: Linnie in Dayton | June 30, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Kevin, thank you.
Blessings, Laurel
Posted by: Laurel Massé | August 10, 2013 at 01:24 PM