20 Comments

"Some days, the walking paths were a sea of sharp, clustered umbrellas, each fighting for the space to exist. Other days, threatening obstructions would jump into her path, breaking the consistent and predictable flow of human foot traffic. An asynchronous workman, a woman pulling heaps of newspapers, even a missing brick…colour blocks of yellow and grey as well as negative space…expected patterns were broken in her brain." Brilliant. You capture the experience of walking along a street in Hong Kong so well! I'm visiting there next week, so reading this was a good warm up. 😊

Expand full comment
author

So great to hear when my vision of HK resonates with yours! I'm so jealous you are going soon! Have a wonderful time.

Expand full comment

Thank you!

Expand full comment

Reading how Ivy creates her little safe space, ritual of cooking, the need to feel safe, I thought, she is going to observe from her little safe space, and two lines later she's the observer. It's great when prose flows like this. And re: plants... they die, they always die.

Expand full comment
author

My plants die 😂

Thanks for the comment, Alexander! Very cool that it was flowing like that there.

Expand full comment
Dec 9, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

I love how Ivy's mind and body move through the city as if there is no separation between her and it. You paint these images so beautifully while continuing to steer the narrative of her coping with loss. Lovely.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks so much, Ben. So fun to investigate the city in this way ☺️

Expand full comment
Dec 9, 2023·edited Dec 9, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

“She would leave feeling lighter, alone but one with the world.” - Wisdom of the day! I love looking at people. It is indeed like observing portraits and paintings coming alive. Everyone is so interesting and unique.

Expand full comment
author

I just went to see a portrait show and felt the same 🤗 so much to learn by observation! Thanks Nadia.

Expand full comment

That sounds so cool! I hope you had a lovely time.

Expand full comment
Dec 9, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

“They practice dying. They practice dying every time they take savasana at the end of the practice.” - This part echoed in my soul!

Expand full comment
Dec 10, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

Yeah, same. I had to stop and pause from those words.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks so much, Corie 🙏🏽 the crossroads with my other project!

Expand full comment

Love this one, Kate!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Mike! ☺️

Expand full comment
Dec 10, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

Yes, I'll echo other people's comments about leaning out the window. "A part of the painting, like a portraitist who includes themselves in the corner." Love that image - observing the bustle of a city can be as meditative as sitting in nature.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Troy 💜 agree there is a lot of natural in urban that is sometimes invisible if we just see the transportation and large buildings.

Expand full comment
Dec 10, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

"...the undulations near your collarbone can mend a relationship if someone takes the time to touch them." Sublime 🥰

I echo all the sentiments expressed here in the comments. As a reader, you really embody Ivy and the motions and routine she is giving in to. Another moving continuation of Ivy's story.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Nathan ☺️

I liked that line, too! Maybe I should have said clavicle. Good word.

Expand full comment
Dec 10, 2023Liked by Dr. Kathleen Waller

Hehe, clavicle is an excellent word. Certainly not used enough in everyday life 😄

Expand full comment