'esprit d'escalier'

A new phrase I learned-means the wit of the staircase. The comeback you think of afterwards.

In a nice case of linking, I read about this artist, Theresa Duncan and then found out she'd been writing about Hotel Chelsea, and too lamenting the loss and changes of a low rent creativity in inner city New York. Reading the Hotel Chelsea book whilst I was temporarily battling rental rises and gentrification was not great for the psyche... I am a big fan of landscape architects who preserve and reinvent public spaces, who find a way to keep the heritage, renew it, rebirth it/

What is poignant about Theresa Duncan is this glimpse of a literature, intelligent, dedicated writer and creator and entrepeneur, crackling with the wit of someone who has enjoyed the grunge years and new media, who has survived cross country moves and big teeming metropolis', and then she's ended her life. Was she running out of steam or ability to keep living her life the way she wanted? Inability to live in the now, however the now is?

Other readings of late:

• The Big Sleep-Raymond Chandler. Duckworth says it's his favourite novel and I understand why. He describes LA as a contemporary multicultural place (the book is publised in the late 1930s), creates a noir environment, memorable characters, great lines.
• Piano Lessons-Anna Goldsworthy. Insight into someone who's been a very high achiever, explains how her persistence with and love of piano saw her through the difficult early adolescent years and became a lifelong sustaining passion. Also links creativity with science.

So, back to the now. Trying to keep the contact with computer small.... daily walks along the beach, contact with the ocean, with water, with saying no to things and believing that I don't need to plan too hard or project too far ahead.