In 2019, we went to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.
I don’t want to gloss over anything in that sentence. We were traveling – oh the glorious days of travel. Van Gogh, after Cezanne (I live in Aix en Provence, so I want to, and am slightly obligated to profess this) is one of my favorite artists. Amsterdam – it never ceases to amaze me the places I’ve been able to see – truly.
So, that Spring of 2019, the museum was having an exhibition “The Joy of Nature”, featuring David Hockney alongside Vincent Van Gogh. David Hockney has always expressed a fascination with Van Gogh. They both paint in full movement with visible brush marks. Hockney says, “When you’re drawing one blade of grass you’re looking and then you see more. And then you see the other blades of grass and you’re always seeing more.”
That’s what I want – to always see more! This is the joy of learning from those who went before us. Then taking that knowledge and expanding it, creating beyond it, becoming that blade of grass for someone else.
A few years ago, I created the book, “I’m not too busy.” It’s all about taking the time to see everything and everyone around us. I illustrated each page with blades of grass. If you’re not paying attention, you will miss that the grass is growing on every page, until you reach the end, when it is in full bloom.
I don’t want to miss anything. I want to enjoy every moment.
We were walking back to our hotel after a full day in the city. Seeing, eating, exploring, laughing, drinking – there’s a lot to do – and of course by the end of the day, your feet do get tired – your whole body gets tired…but as I put each foot in front of the other, it occured to me this simple thought, “I’m walking in Amsterdam.” I said it over and over. I was no longer aware of my feet, but my steps. Each step was magical. I was in a new country, a new city, a new life, wasn’t that amazing???
When I’m done typing here, I’m going to go for a walk around our house. (Covid restrictions do apply). But I will not say, I am in quarantine. I will not say, but we could be going places – doing things – why can’t we… NO… I will say, the sky is blue, the grass is green, not every blade, but most – and I will look at them all, and joyfully know, “I’m walking in Provence!” (And isn’t it amazing!)
