This blog is my first plunge into social media. It’s like trying to summon enough courage to dip my toe into a river with crocodiles just below the surface. I’ve been writing a memoir, Whole of Life, about getting older (oldish?) in a culture where women my age are invisible, unless you’re Elisabeth Warren giving the old men running for president serious competition. I also discovered a chip on my shoulder when I turned sixty-five (I’m now seventy-five), and made a vow to myself not to miss this stage of life. All of it. You have to be tough to just say no to facelifts, tummy tucks, or dyeing your gray hair without envying the attention women get who have not taken that vow.
I just finished the first draft. I’m ready to read the manuscript through to see the true arc of the story, what’s underneath the story I thought I was writing, what needs to be told that I missed, and what I didn’t have the courage to write. This is terrifying. There are times when I want to stop the whole damn thing and go back to my regular life, but I can’t. The story now has a life of its own, and it’s on my path.
I’ve claimed two months out of my regular life to go to the South of France with my husband and documentary filmmaker, Tom Weidlinger, to work on a second draft. Tom will be editing his film, The Restless Hungarian. On December first, we will journey to the medieval village of Le Broc, and stay in an apartment in a medieval castle. Because I am a visual artist, a writer, and a psychologist, just knowing this has sparked every neuron in my right brain. Images of Hieronymus Bosch’s creatures and Bruegel’s peasant villages swim in my mind, accompanied by the music of the psaltery, dulcimer and lute.
Because I have learned that every significant venture out into the world is also an inward passage, I am enormously curious about what writing, drawing and painting this experience will inspire. It has already inspired me to write this blog, and I would like to share it with you. I don’t know what will emerge, but I promise every two weeks or so you will receive musings, insights, inspirations, and images that I hope will also spark your creative neurons.
How wonderful. Look forward to being included in your journey. ruth
Children Playing by Brueghel has been my favorite painting my whole life. I’m now 64. Looking forward to reading about your journey.
A friend just sent the link to your new blog…
Me, 73, living in the S. of France permanently (have been here 14 yrs now) with my Irish husband (I’m American) …and thinking (obsessively) about many of the same things you mention. I too am an artist but badly lapsed as we run an all consuming antique French linens and other things business…but I am trying to creep back to it and reconnect with my true artist self…
We live just outside the old town of Pezenas an hour west of Montpellier. Where is Le Broc?
I’m ashamed to say I still color my gray hair.
Cordially,
Todd
Brava!
Thank you Sharon! This work is important to all of us! Keep going!
My dear friend, I send you my love and best wishes on this journey.
I love seeing your story starting to emerge!! I am so proud of you, and am looking forward to your honing your story.
Hi Sharon, Just so very happy to see you here in the bloggosphere! I am looking forward to what falls into your creative spirit and knowing you, it will be grand adventures with a few very interested detours. ?? Best of all to you?
Your musings will be most welcome – I do need my creative neurons to be activated
Sharon,
You are brave and inspiring and I look forward to being in dialog with you about your journey to finish this memoir. Hopefully, this will stir up my own thoughts, voice and dreams about my own aging. Thanks for your inspiration. Pat
My dear wise woman, thank you for including me in this journey.
When meeting you, my wise woman journey had just begun and some 10 + years later it is raw and in my face in a way I never imagined.
Of then my minds eye turned to your art or your tender face and shows me the way back to….well, back to me. And back to you. And back to this human experience here and now.
Blessings to you dear one. And to all.
Dear Sharon,
I think this blog, writing the book and making this adventure: the trip to France is just great. I’ll be happy to read your blog and wish you all the best.
Sharon,
You are soooooo wonderful. I look forward to your blog and the book!!!! May your trip to France spark your Inner muse even more! You will be greatly missed!
I received your email and didn’t know who you were, but I was intrigued, so I looked you up. I commend your bravery in taking on this project, and hope to follow in your footsteps someday. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings in which you have found yourself. I look forward to reading more of your writing.
Good for you, Sharon.
Thank you! Can’t wait.
Your endeavor put a smile on my face. Looking forward to witnessing the unfolding. Thank you so very much for your posting. Much love to you, Lucia
This is great sharon. Best of everything on this adventure
I would like to continue hearing about your project! So far, I am pulled in, eager to hear what comes next.
Dear Sharon,
Since you have had such an enormous influence on my self awareness these past 20+ years I cannot wait to further my self development through your experiences. I am so excited to discover through you what the next 20+ years might have in store for me.
Sending my love and best wishes to you and Tom. Safe journey.
Lots of love,
Amy
I am so proud of you! You have so much courage and have shaped my life so much! I can not wait to see how this beautiful project blossoms, and comes to life. I am still young but I have a strong feeling your story will impact my future as much as you have my past and present, I feel such a kind ship with you as an artist and as a being. I hope to see you again soon and look so forward to read your book and blog.
Much love, and many happy returns.
– J
Congrats and we’ll met mon Ami!
Dear Sharon,
Great start. I very much look forward to being in the loop as this new journey unfolds.
Barry
Yay Sharon, I love your courage and your adventurous spirit! Will look forward to your chronicle…Just back from our annual trek to the Arizona rez, ( it was my 22nd trip, and Mark’s 28th…) and of course it was a miraculous, spectacular experience, full of twists and turns and lovely encounters…
Safe travels, i am happy to know you will be in my homeland for the next couple of months…Lots of love and respect, Catherine
I love and miss you. This website is water for my soul. Hugs.
Dear Sharon, How wonderful that you are on this journey with your dark wings of wisdom to guide you! Thank you deeply for sharing with us. Your unapologetic authenticity gives us younger women great courage to look forward to our older and wiser selves. Because of you, I am giddy with each new gray hair I find and have a completely different version of beautiful. Your story is a gift to us all. May things unfold exactly perfect. Much love and blessings.