Respire Encore
The title of this post is from the French singer-songwriter Clara Luciani and her 2021 album, "Coeur". In English, it translates to the words, "Breathe Again". After the fortuitous year that 2020 was, I wanted to build on the momentum and breathe again.
As I begin this post, the Yule Log crackles on screen to the strains of the Carol of The Bells.
It's Christmas morning in NYC.
I can't believe that 2021 is coming to an end.
It seems like only yesterday that the bells struck 12 to usher in the start of the year.
With my friend Holly Danger's livestream in my ears, the ball dropped in an emptied Times Square and the rest of the house was asleep. Opening the mini bottle of Martini & Rossi Prosecco at 12:01 on January 1st, the new year had begun.
The year would get off to a bumpy start.
I held down the fort for the first quarter of the year as one of my co-workers was out on leave. Doing the work of two people with my desk downstairs becoming my office. I was a big part of making sure that the clothing bin collections were proceeding as planned. I began to find my stride after the first two weeks. But there were days where the combined strain of taking donations and handling Refashion would get to me on multiple occasions as the months would go on.
As the first month ended, a long awaited moment of joy. The snow fell at the end of January but I was on screen with my Made To Do This colleagues. We had a virtual reunion and I took a victory lap for my book, A Poetic Journey. One by one, we reveled in each other's successes in the last year. I would need the momentum of the night to get myself through the remainder of winter.
The photo was taken by Katie Morland on the night of January 31st. To this point, all of us hadn’t shared a screen together since the last call for Made To Do This back in April of 2020. It was a lovely evening to see everyone again and it turned out not to be the last reunion on the cards for this year.
The days would get longer and winter became spring. Just in time for the first social engagement in nearly a year's time. An April evening at the top of of the Beekman Tower. At the edge of Manhattan and Queens to celebrate our friend Teresa's birthday. With a table full of people, food and drink it felt like the days of old but with new precautions being taken. I felt so awkward being outside my room door even in the familiar company.
In the midst of all this, my chance to get vaccinated. The two doses taken over six weeks. An added bonus, I got to see my colleague and coworker in person for the first time since last March instead of on screen. With dose number two in me, a rare sense of optimism that the world would open up again after being homebound for so long.
Another sign of hope came in the spring too. I decided back in January to rebook the trip to Italy that was cancelled in 2020. It will be slated for September 2022. Minutes after completing the booking process, I came across a Travelzoo ad for Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. I brought up the idea of a stay in Montauk as traveling locally didn't seem like such a risky proposition. I didn't expect it to come back around.
Spring turned into summer.
And I would return back to a familiar setting, stage 2 of Rockwood Music Hall. To see my dear friend Erin Hall performing as I hadn't seen live music since February 2020. But in a room filled with familiar faces, time stood still. With the extra benefit of the bar being less crowded than usual after the show.
The first half of the year would end with a wedding.
Our friends Louisa and Trevor were virtually married in May 2020. Now it was time for the real thing. We drove out to Long Beach, Long Island. On the last Sunday in June, two became one. A sunny day for an outdoor wedding. The next day, my sister and I along with our friend Willa drove to Montauk. From our Air Bnb, a four day stay with plenty of time by the sea. An escape found at the end of the world.
In July, a moment that I didn't expect to see happen. During one of our Ready To Do This calls early in the month, it was mentioned by Wendy that she was coming to New York. My friends Wendy and Tina would be in NYC attending an event by the author Gina de Vee. I asked if we could meet up without hesitation. There I was on the 31st walking into the lobby of the Soho Grand Hotel at 7:30am. And time stopped when I hugged Wendy. Her magic is even more powerful in person. Tina would join us later in the morning and though we spent 90 minutes together, this would be the happiest moment of the year. I wish that I could've had more time.
This photo was taken by Wendy Harrop on Saturday, July 31st. She and I met at the Soho Grand Hotel prior to her and Tina beginning their day at Gina DeVee’s workshop. With the Soho Diner being right next door, it was the perfect spot for Saturday brunch, even if it was before 9AM. Tina arrived through the front gate and we were able to get the photo of the three of us. The beaming smile on my face is something that doesn’t show up in normal circumstances. But considering the company I was with, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
Two days later, it was time to head back to work at the start of August. As in back to the PDC for the first time since March 15th, 2020. After spending a year manning the phones from my desk in the den, it was time to return to the old routine. Commuting to a new warehouse, five days a week. The pandemic was still going on as the last measure of life before returned. But I would be back with my co-workers in person once again. The events of the last year had weighed heavily on my mind in coming back to work full time in the office.
Summer's last days would lead to the next destination. My sister emailed me upon landing to say she arrived in Los Angeles. At 2:17 AM, she asked me to put in PTO for 12/2-12/6. With the words: "We're going to Puerto Rico. We're doing this." As it was four years since the last trip, I didn't need to think twice about the request. My first flight since December 2019 was on the horizon.
The month of October marked a milestone. With Ready To Do This over, I needed to do something to lift my spirits. I would go live on Instagram to celebrate A Poetic Journey's first anniversary. With a printed copy of the manuscript in hand, I went live for an hour and 20 minutes. Only realizing the fact when I turned my head back and saw the clock. I had plenty to celebrate as my copy of The Poet Who Broke Her Back arrived and I saw the collaboration with Rebecca Kenny in print. But the month of November had something big in store.
The 12th of November.
Launch day for the multi author book, "Authentic". The first publication from my friend Tina and her newly opened publishing imprint, The Key Publishing House. She reached out to me back in June with the news of her getting a publishing certification and the idea of the book. I, in wanting to get published enthusiastically, came aboard. One of 21 authors from across the world coming together to tell our courageous stories. Through my doubts and inexperience, "A Found Poet" was born. The chapter I wrote attempts to establish how my resiliency would lead to my creativity being discovered. I didn't expect to see the book become a bestseller, let alone top the charts in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. The coup d'grace, holding Authentic in my hands.
At the end of a hectic year and a quiet birthday, a needed getaway. The early hours of December 2nd brought us to a happy place, terminal 2 of JFK Airport. I could feel the warmth of San Juan from the moment I stepped off the plane. My sister's friend Carmen waited for us at the airport. After lunch, we drove to Rincon on the western corner of Puerto Rico. The next four days were a mix of abundant sunshine, sea and tranquility as my phone didn't have service. I was as off the grid as I could get. And it felt good to watch the sun rise and set while letting everything go. I didn't want to leave and a double whammy hit upon arrival back in NYC, post trip letdown and a lack of holiday spirit.
What's left in the last week of this year? The launch of my friend Tina's first solo book, Love(d).
As 2022 looms on the horizon, writing this post has shown me how much I've had to exhibit resiliency and flexibility over the past year. While also being reminded that life is much more fun when you look beyond the box you've been in all these years.
The plans for the new year so far include: a change of job, publishing my first and second poetry books in paperback with a possible curated poetry anthology on the cards. And fingers crossed that I'll end next summer aboard a flight to Italy. I'm sure there will be more to do and celebrate in the next twelve months.
From me to all of you, I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
As this is the last blog post of the year concludes the late, great Broadway lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim plays us out. The words below are from his 1971 musical Follies and the song is called "I'm Still Here":
I've run the gamut, A to Z
Three cheers and dammit, c'est la vie
I got through all of last year, and I'm here
Lord knows, at least I was there, and I'm here
Look who's here, I'm still here
