Heartfelt hugs to you both. How you created space to invite us in, on your walk is beautiful. I could almost hear the song 'Seasons of Love' from Rent playing in my mind, but like Suleika Jaouads, 'American Symphony', your love story - each of you and together, has its own rhythm and pace. Thank you for sharing the story of you and Jake, it's a privilege to be invited in.
Solvitur ambulando.... "it is solved by walking. On our first date on the first day we met Maxine and I walked for most of eight hours. Six weeks later after walking together every intervening day I proposed marriage while, yes, walking. The question paused the walk only briefly...
"are you serious?"
"yes"
"yes"
Today is the 16th anniversary of her passing. The walk continues.
Your welcome. Your article was a gift into my remembering. Thank you. Not knowing where the walk, talk, or writing will take us is the magic for me to being human.
On another note are you aware of the "Wander Society"?
That's a beautiful essay, Bess. I love the observation that without walking, there is no talking. Extending the idea a little further, I notice that young people don't walk any more. They are inside playing computer games. As a result, they don't talk. They don't make new friends (or lovers). The friends they do have are at the end of a wire on the other side of the world.
I think I’ve said before that Manhattan was a formative place for our marriage too. We had been married a year and we walked and we walked and we walked. Every Saturday and Sunday, we’d choose a different avenue and walk from our apartment in Rector Place in Battery Park City up to Central Park and get the subway home again. In year 2, we pushed our new child in his stroller up those same avenues. It was only when the biggest snowstorm in 100 years closed all the avenues that we moved to California and we had to buy cars because there was nowhere to walk in Almaden Valley for the 23 years we lived there.
Back now in Bristol England, in the city, we got rid of our cars and we can walk again. Yesterday was wedding anniversary number 31 and tomorrow is Cancerversary number 2. Yesterday we were dreaming of doing that walk in Manhattan one last time but you can't get travel insurance with terminal cancer. But you’ve reminded me that I should be walking more and I’ll be off doing my lap of the harbour this afternoon.
I wrote a short piece about living in the city and how it’s easier to meet people here:
I’ll never look at walking the same way again. Beautiful and profound. ❤️
Thank you, Susan
Heartfelt hugs to you both. How you created space to invite us in, on your walk is beautiful. I could almost hear the song 'Seasons of Love' from Rent playing in my mind, but like Suleika Jaouads, 'American Symphony', your love story - each of you and together, has its own rhythm and pace. Thank you for sharing the story of you and Jake, it's a privilege to be invited in.
This is truly one of the most adorable stories I have read in all my life. My deepest thanks to you for saying what almost cannot be said.
Lovely essay, thank you. With best wishes from a fellow walker.
Thank you, Ruby ❤️
Have you read The Salt Path? A lot of resonances here.
I read The Salt Path just after I was diagnosed and I felt like Moth must have been a distant relation. Our stories are so similar.
The path that they walk actually starts quite near to my house and I was so tempted to follow in their footsteps...
Wow that must have been a meaningful read!
I have not! But it looks beautiful thank you for the recommendation
You’re welcome! And thanks for your writing, it’s also beautiful!
How can I get in to GoFundMe. Can't give unless I can get in.
Solvitur ambulando.... "it is solved by walking. On our first date on the first day we met Maxine and I walked for most of eight hours. Six weeks later after walking together every intervening day I proposed marriage while, yes, walking. The question paused the walk only briefly...
"are you serious?"
"yes"
"yes"
Today is the 16th anniversary of her passing. The walk continues.
I should have made clear that Maxine and I had 40 years of walking together before her passing. Mostly we walked, she talked and I listened. Perfect!
Thanks for sharing your story Bruce. I love the walking proposal :)
Your welcome. Your article was a gift into my remembering. Thank you. Not knowing where the walk, talk, or writing will take us is the magic for me to being human.
On another note are you aware of the "Wander Society"?
That's a beautiful essay, Bess. I love the observation that without walking, there is no talking. Extending the idea a little further, I notice that young people don't walk any more. They are inside playing computer games. As a result, they don't talk. They don't make new friends (or lovers). The friends they do have are at the end of a wire on the other side of the world.
I think I’ve said before that Manhattan was a formative place for our marriage too. We had been married a year and we walked and we walked and we walked. Every Saturday and Sunday, we’d choose a different avenue and walk from our apartment in Rector Place in Battery Park City up to Central Park and get the subway home again. In year 2, we pushed our new child in his stroller up those same avenues. It was only when the biggest snowstorm in 100 years closed all the avenues that we moved to California and we had to buy cars because there was nowhere to walk in Almaden Valley for the 23 years we lived there.
Back now in Bristol England, in the city, we got rid of our cars and we can walk again. Yesterday was wedding anniversary number 31 and tomorrow is Cancerversary number 2. Yesterday we were dreaming of doing that walk in Manhattan one last time but you can't get travel insurance with terminal cancer. But you’ve reminded me that I should be walking more and I’ll be off doing my lap of the harbour this afternoon.
I wrote a short piece about living in the city and how it’s easier to meet people here:
https://raggedclown.substack.com/p/urbs-vs-suburbs
It’s a shame the four of us can’t easily go on a stroll. Oceans are such a pain.
Best title ever Bess
Agree. Bess has strong title game.