"After years in New York City, Georgia O'Keefe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, 'from the faraway nearby.' It was a way to measure physical and psychic geography together. Emotion has its geography, affection is what is nearby, within the boundaries of the self. You can be a thousand miles from the person next to you in bed or deeply invested in the survival of a stranger on the other side of the world."
~ Rebecca Solnit, from "The Faraway Nearby"
I'm sharing this quote for a couple of reasons. 1) I've always been a bit obsessed with Georgia O'Keefe. In art school I tried to emulated her style, with little success. She was bold and brave and loved the sky, as do I. Plus she lived to be almost 100. I swear one day I will make a pilgrimage to New Mexico, that's how much I love her. And I love how she ended her letters. I might just have to copy-cat that. 2) This past week was bonkers busy, with work and deadlines and me feeling a tad under the weather didn't help matters. But I still managed to put 40 or so Christmas cards and packages in the mail. Some were sent to old friends and new; across the globe and to downtown Saskatoon. With each address I scripted - especially the ones with destinations so far abroad - I wondered if I would ever see that person again. Circumstances wrangle us in so many ways, and while we come together for brief or long periods of time, in the end our paths won't always run parallel. But those who make a lasting impression will always carve themselves into my heart. That's why at Christmas, I'll always sit down with a stack of cards and a good pen. While the greeting may be brief, the intention runs deep. The holidays are about hope and blessings and goodwill (and good eats!), but for me I become a bit of reflector. What I wouldn't give to have every soul I've ever loved in my living room. But at Christmas, in a way, they are. The faraway nearby, indeed.
