Deborah Bogen

"I'm writing in Paris" certainly sounds good. That was part of the plan But here I am in one of the world's greatest cities and between the churches, the museums, the food, the parks, the people on the street - I can't seem to write a thing. There's too much to experience and wonder at.

But haven't most of my best-laid plans come undone? And hasn't that usually worked out well? "Trust the process and keep a notebook handy" are perhaps the wisest words for writers. For this one anyway.

In my dream world all the cities have Metros where people can scowl at each other as they fly from place to place so that geography loses its death-grip on art and culture and we can all hear each other read...often. So, let me sign off with one more bit about trusting process:

Me: "Funny, I seem to be working on poems."
Jim: "Yes, that usually happens when you decide to quit writing poetry altogether."

May your day be full my friends. A bientot!  Read More 

When I first heard Judy Collins sing 'who knows where the time goes' I liked it - I just didn't get it. I was maybe 19 and there was no such thing as time. There were days - occasionally weeks and very occasionally deadlines. But mostly there was now.

That started changing when I got pregnant. I wanted the baby so much. I wanted it now. It seemed absurd to me that I had to wait - just like everyone else -- the whole 9 months to have my heart's desire. I dreamed the baby, ate for the baby and grew intimate with the baby as mothers do who feel the first motion, the later kicks, the even later very dramatic somersaults. The heartbeat - I never tired of that and I learned something about time. It can involve waiting.

The early years with kids seem slow (will we never be beyond night time feedings, diapers, playground trips?) then fast (who is this more-than-half-grown person impersonating my daughter?) I had two and then when I married Jim we each got two more. We laugh now but sometimes then we cried, or paced or worried.

Then 16 years ago today (happy birthday Zoe!) we got the call announcing our grandson. He was not the first grandchild, but he is the one who got me thinking about this today. These days time is a long slippery ribbon stretching from new year to new year. As soon as we put away Christmas we start to think about the summer and it comes - even this year - quickly.

So - I confess - Jim and I begin to think about the last years, and although we do hope for years we no longer assume "years." And since that is a fact we are doing those things people say they will do "when they are old." Because I know that sometimes time involves Not Waiting we leave next week for a month in Paris - a whole month even though the dollar/euro exchange rates takes us a little beyond crazy. I am afraid to mention it at times as it seems so self-indulgent when many friends are working hard to keep jobs they find frustrating - but this is our time to do this. I want to forget about marketing and PR and books and spend a lot of time walking and seeing. Seeing is one thing old age gives us. Better seeing and better listening. In my case even better appreciating. More from the streets of Paris then...be well.  Read More