orienting to spaces and forms in a California landscape Growing up in the iconic desert resort of Palm Springs, my movement senses and spatial orientation imprinted within dramatic the vertical face and flowing canyons of Mt. San Jacinto.
It makes me think of the phrase “stomping ground” and how an intimate familiarity can inspire, a quality of place that perhaps only nature can do? The balance between knowing a place but also being able to be changed by it decades later is a true marvel. The Romance languages have two verb forms of ‘to know’: ‘to know of’ and ‘to know personally.’ The beautiful way you present the dynamic relationship we can have to our spaces makes me want to live life more fully!
Exquisite descriptions of the environment you grew up in and the impact it had on your awareness! I felt as if I was there with you in that time and space.
Dear Valerie, thank you so much for this gem of writing. What a treat to get this beautiful glimpse into a forming part of your childhood. So poetically described. A magnificent movement in itself! Much love to you!
You are such a great writer. Thanks to the mountain ring around LA, navigating that city as a child was obvious, effortless. The feeling of diving down HWY 111 towards your mountain induces instant feelings of anticipation/ joy...and when things get really nuts, I'll head towards the sunset and make a right at the coast that winds its way up to Big Sur. Were it not for these markers, I'd be lost. My inherent sense of direction is not developed. Pathetic. Thank heaven for California.
Lovely writing, Valerie! Another one of your many talents!
It makes me think of the phrase “stomping ground” and how an intimate familiarity can inspire, a quality of place that perhaps only nature can do? The balance between knowing a place but also being able to be changed by it decades later is a true marvel. The Romance languages have two verb forms of ‘to know’: ‘to know of’ and ‘to know personally.’ The beautiful way you present the dynamic relationship we can have to our spaces makes me want to live life more fully!
Beautiful article! Your writing brought the landscape and innerscape to life. Do I smell a custom fragrance in your future, creosote and challah?
Exquisite descriptions of the environment you grew up in and the impact it had on your awareness! I felt as if I was there with you in that time and space.
Dear Valerie, thank you so much for this gem of writing. What a treat to get this beautiful glimpse into a forming part of your childhood. So poetically described. A magnificent movement in itself! Much love to you!
You are such a great writer. Thanks to the mountain ring around LA, navigating that city as a child was obvious, effortless. The feeling of diving down HWY 111 towards your mountain induces instant feelings of anticipation/ joy...and when things get really nuts, I'll head towards the sunset and make a right at the coast that winds its way up to Big Sur. Were it not for these markers, I'd be lost. My inherent sense of direction is not developed. Pathetic. Thank heaven for California.