The Idea of Place

My husband knows I like to read his Princeton Alumni Magazine, the articles are good and I like the listing of houses/apartments to rent all over the world. I have rented many a place from this list.
 Often he passes it to me, before he reads it, IF he reads it.
Wonderful article about Toni Morrison Remembered. She taught at Princeton since 1989, and this article talks about a Keynote address that she gave, October 25, 1996, for Princeton's 250th anniversary convocation.
    I will not type the entire address, just some things that jumped off the page to me.
She is talking about, the place, simple love of a place, the spirit of a place. She quotes Wordsworth's eloquent use of conceit that certain sites, natural sites, held genni which"spoke" to the contemplative passerby.
Ms Toni also quoted Geoffrey Hartmann calling, "continuum of wisdom of the dead and the energy of the living." In other words, the spirit of the place is animated by a reverence for the past that is forever mitigated by the present. ( Big words, big thoughts)
  Reading this caused me to think about places I have been, and will go. Houses that hold memories, yet have long been gone from our lives. Things, stuff, neighborhoods, halls, schools, parks, museums, churches, and Anne Franks House!!!!(where I fell out) Princeton is dear to me, because that is where I fell in love with my husband and Princeton.
  Right now we are trying to get my mother, Mary, to come live with us in Atlanta. She doesn't want to leave her belongings or her home, her city, her memories.
I tell her, memories you carry with you, and if needed pack up some stuff, and bring it with you. Whatever would make the move a little easier, her collection of ear bobs, stools, photos galore.
She enjoys being here, we enjoy having her, it is just so hard to let go of things.
This story about Ms. Morrison's speech, reminded me, that the spirit of a place that holds your heart travels with you, past, present and future.
 I just finished a book, called Ladysitting, My Year with NaNa at the End of Her Century by Lorene Cary ( I think that is the author?? I need my magnifying glass but its in the next room!!) ( close enough)  I love the term Ladysitting, and I loved this book.
We have to make space for people, breathe in the air, and make space. Grief needs more life and air to take in , we have permission to let people and things go. This Nana in the book, told her family that they took such good care of her, it was hard to die, when you feel so much love. ( I think we did that with daddy) Rejoice, is a word, often repeated in this book, and I love it.( I just love random words)
 It was a delicacy of resentment ( I love that sentence, amazing use of words) ( even out of context)
" Yes God is real," Mahalia sings so!!! ( amen!)
  Delight and Time, the wide-armed, fragrant mimosa to climb in summer, the fireplace to stoke in winter. ( its about choices, all day long!!)
 Princeton, Toni, NaNa, Ladysitting, all intertwined.
Patti Smiths new book, I will have to take an entire blog to give it my all. I hope you, whomever you are have read her books. Next time.
My place, right now, is typing this blog, listening to my husband shred something behind me, and being so thankful that his hip surgery complete and good. The day is gray, birds are singing, dog snoring, kids and grandkids, mom and Benjie, all good. Friends near and far, have a place in my heart, and grief stays tucked in, on most days. It too has a place.
 The Idea of Place, you take it with you.