My grandmother sometimes called me Little Sarah Bernhardt who is the actress looking pleased with herself in the portrait above. I admit to feeling a little pleased with myself as I responded to all the readers who emailed me recently. I was surprised and delighted. And touched. Thank you so much.
The founding editor of Victoria magazine once told me that the best fan letter she ever received was also the shortest – it only read, “How did you know?” I think I can trump that as I’ve now been told by one reader, that for her, stopping my blog would be on par with the day I Magnin, that venerable and gentile department store, shuttered its San Francisco doors forever. Now I ask you, how could I do that to someone? Well, I can’t.
~
Last week I found myself pondering the deaths of Lee Radziwill, sister to Jacqueline Kennedy, and Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s eminent director. I admit to not knowing much about either. I did love Ms. Radziwill’s style and enjoyed some photographs of her over the years. And I enjoyed Mr. Lagerfeld’s long love affair with tweed a few years back. I especially liked the way he wove his tweed theme through the spring and fall collections too and in bright colors. Other than that, I think I was put off by the celebrity lifestyles they both lived. Of course, I am always saddened when icons of my youth and beyond depart but I couldn’t help ruminating about the famous Paris apartments they left behind.
Lee’s Paris digs were much heralded in fashion magazines, particularly the wall over her hot pink sofa, which was filled with the most lovely and stirring botanical prints. And many who follow the fashion world know about the eccentric Paris atelier that Mr. Lagerfeld shared with his beloved cat Choupette and his strange artifacts. I’m certain both places were also filled with the world’s most luxurious comforts including artwork, textiles, china, and crystal.
I’m not entirely sure why I dwelled on those quiet and stilled Parisian pied-a-terres. Both places will likely be cleaned out before too long and even sold with an eye to their past inhabitants, as in, “Lee Radziwill used to live here.” I think it could be that the apartments call to mind the brevity of life and that never-ending loop that is so oft-quoted – You Can’t Take It With You, You Can’t Take It With You, no matter how much stuff you have, You Can’t Take It With You…
No one is immune to the scars from life’s constant collateral damage and I realize each had their private personal pain and yes, they graced the world with a certain level of beauty. And of course, I never knew either personally. But if we really can’t take it with us, then shouldn’t what we leave behind be really, really good? And not just what’s going to be boxed up like clothes, books, and costly botanical prints. What about leaving behind the boost of confidence you once gave an insecure young co-worker that made all the difference to her career, the baking skills you took the time to foster in a little grandchild or the gentle loving care you gave your father at the end of his life? We certainly can’t take objects and things with us but oh, what we can leave behind…
Perhaps I still have a bit of Sarah Bernhardt’s drama inside me yet – I certainly sound dramatic right now. But this is what I thought of last week and I wonder if maybe you did too. I wouldn’t be surprised.
How did I know?
~
Let my Life speak for me…
Let my Work…
Let my Friends…
Let my Love…
Let my Life…
Let those things speak for me
(Found on Instagram)
6 Comments
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Donna Macdonald
Thank you so much Coraleen! It's a pleasure knowing you read my blog. Thank you again.
Coraleen Rawls
First, thank you for your blog, it is such a joy to read. I truly appreciate your stories, it makes the hectic days worth it when I see you have posted something.
I just saw that Google is not going to host your blog? How sad for them. Please do not stop writing, it would cause a break in the heart.
It is a pleasure to be able to read something that is gentle and often uplifting (especially with a cup of tea).
Please know that you are a gift. I look forward to many, many more of your writings.
Thank you, Cora at lifewellbalanced @yahoo.com