Huh, this is so interesting. Not going to attempt to pacify you with cliche and I have no equivalent experience to share. Just wanted to say that it’s a really thought-provoking piece, and I for one can totally understand why it would twist your melon.
This is really fascinating. The part about the woman who saw a lifetime of investment in people and places vanish along with her husband has the quiet devastation of an old Twilight Zone episode. It is one thing to navigate such an experience, but to be able to step back and delineate it so thoroughly and with such candour, and push back against it, demonstrates a particularly robust sense of self I think. Great piece of writing.
Thank you! It’s a difficult thing to try to describe and am fully aware that it can come across as a bit “my diamond shoes are too tight”, but fame is a strange beast. It can give you what you want, but never what you need…
The photo of you by the mirror looks so sad. I know what you mean by the blurring of yourself next to B. I also find that as we age, friends circles decrease; my friends radar reduces to those I WANT to spend time having a drink with, going shopping, chilling. Just being able to laugh and people watch as the world goes by is precious with friends. We experience similar if I am at a Photography related Thing, me stepping back which also now knocks on more to those 'other' situations as David is the face they know, whereas I rarely appear as Me - and when I do, it is first confusion as to 'and you are...?' Or it is apologies... didn't recognise you... so sorry.
Personally I love the fact you have pursued your Art, it is exciting for you to create and I look forward to seeing your new pieces each time.
We know you as Gia. B came later, and we are proud to call YOU friend, and B (for us) is the plus-one.
I recognised your examples 😑 and I can only hope that she has got a remewed circle of friendship ring herself, as the years have gone on.
After all, we have ones Self to love and nurture and appreciate as time goes on. Introspective is good, but maybe in our own ways we are also Someone Elses light on the World.
This is just about the awesomest comment I’ve ever had on anything- and I started my blog 20 years ago! Thank you!! (I wasn’t in the US with him.)
Huh, this is so interesting. Not going to attempt to pacify you with cliche and I have no equivalent experience to share. Just wanted to say that it’s a really thought-provoking piece, and I for one can totally understand why it would twist your melon.
Most woman are unseen except in their designated role .Wife Mother Nan.
We don’t exist as independent entities with
our own hopes dreams fears bright smart.
That would be too scary
for the Male of the species a bloody
woman shining brighter than them . We make it
worse for ourselves by doing an OH Ashley
if any Handsome man wanders by.
Fools that we are . Your husband is a good looking bloke hence his appeal in lots of ways
you complement him well.
Your friends see you my friends see me.
So go where you want be who you are
which is not just Mrs Brian. Is it.?
Take the positives good seats on planes .
I will make a confession now I have a Brian
Cox doll in a plastic bag in my wardrobe
many moons ago I watched one of his programs
I felt that I could nearly understand entropy
was enthralled one of my bastard kids bought
the doll convinced I had developed a crush
I had not I liked the idea of the fact that I
could attempt to understand the subject .
So laugh girl when you look in the mirror
see yourself then wrap him in a plastic bad
and stick him in the wardrobe.
Lots of love to you and yours
This is really fascinating. The part about the woman who saw a lifetime of investment in people and places vanish along with her husband has the quiet devastation of an old Twilight Zone episode. It is one thing to navigate such an experience, but to be able to step back and delineate it so thoroughly and with such candour, and push back against it, demonstrates a particularly robust sense of self I think. Great piece of writing.
Thank you! It’s a difficult thing to try to describe and am fully aware that it can come across as a bit “my diamond shoes are too tight”, but fame is a strange beast. It can give you what you want, but never what you need…
The photo of you by the mirror looks so sad. I know what you mean by the blurring of yourself next to B. I also find that as we age, friends circles decrease; my friends radar reduces to those I WANT to spend time having a drink with, going shopping, chilling. Just being able to laugh and people watch as the world goes by is precious with friends. We experience similar if I am at a Photography related Thing, me stepping back which also now knocks on more to those 'other' situations as David is the face they know, whereas I rarely appear as Me - and when I do, it is first confusion as to 'and you are...?' Or it is apologies... didn't recognise you... so sorry.
Personally I love the fact you have pursued your Art, it is exciting for you to create and I look forward to seeing your new pieces each time.
We know you as Gia. B came later, and we are proud to call YOU friend, and B (for us) is the plus-one.
I recognised your examples 😑 and I can only hope that she has got a remewed circle of friendship ring herself, as the years have gone on.
After all, we have ones Self to love and nurture and appreciate as time goes on. Introspective is good, but maybe in our own ways we are also Someone Elses light on the World.
Much love x