These thoughts and words are simply beautiful, Kate. It's a tough call, because your writing is always wild and wonderful, but I think this piece may be my favourite yet. The sequins, the dirt. Just perfect! I turn 45 this month and the one thing I'm sure of is that I become less sure of everything with each passing year. The world is more beautiful. It's also more cruel. And I have the privilege to be able to choose my place in it.
Hello Alia, your lovely words here have brought a little sunshine to my day, thank you — it’s cloudy and not yet ten degrees down south in Tasmania. I am glad you enjoyed reading. Yes to ageing without understanding. Perhaps it’s that we become better at noticing. But as you say, it is a privilege that we have the ability to choose where we are in this world. So much to feel grateful for.
And sending you birthday wishes for your special day. Kate :)
Thank you for an ode to age and ageing while still “burning”with desire for life, for colour, for romance, for discovering. Discovering that our lives are so profoundly wonderful that we can re-invent ourselves under a new light if wanted.
As a nearly 40 year-old woman your words have resonated so deeply this time. The allegory of the hardening exterior revealing our sturdiness to stay alive and powerful in the midst of every life challenge is so compelling. Even invisibly to the human eye, leaves can shake and while facing stress. Your words reminded me of this. Of the times when self interrogation and doubt happens and yet, we disguised under our well learnt costume of composure and resilience.
I am personally proud of my many re-inventions as they brought me here and other great communities where words and feelings are shared amongst the kindest people. However, it seems to me that I’m still covering , running from something? I wonder if you or other readers have these thoughts or emotions too(?)
W&W is one of my greatest companions as I grow older and wilder.
Thank you for your beautiful words here. I am so happy this letter resonated with you. You know this too, as a writer the greatest joy is connecting with readers. And how wonderful it was that we share a love of words and the wild and living honestly and fiercely.
I have been thinking about your feeling of ‘still covering’ from something, and I feel it too. What is it that lurks? Is it a fear of sorts? Or is it our true authentic self? I will continue thinking as I was into this next decade. Can’t wait to share this stage with you very soon.
Happy birthday, Kate! Each stage of life has been beautiful and challenging in its own way... but I am enjoying my fifties more than ever! Wish you the very best.
Thank you Rajani, for the birthday wishes and for reading. I am excited about the forties, the challenges and joys. Wishing you health and happiness too. And many beautiful poems. Kate :)
Hi Jake, so glad you enjoyed, thanks for reading and for your message here, means a lot. Hi to you and your family. Hope all is well and you are still climbing those big rocks! Take care, Kate
Happy birthday Kate. Tomorrow I will be turning 72 and I long for world peace. But I am content in my little world with comfortable shoes and the ability to walk my dog each morning, very early.
Wishing you a very happy birthday for tomorrow🎈I hope you have a lovely morning walk too. And perhaps a little more world peace would be wonderful too.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, I am very honoured to have celebrated 40 years. Take care, Kate
Hello Dave, thanks for the birthday wishes. Agree — you can never know what’s in store for tomorrow, but I am pretty happy with making it this far. The happiest of birthdays to you too for a few days ago. I hope your solstice dip was fun.
There's a quotation I love from Margaret Brown (aka "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"): "Why should a woman be mildewed at 40?" Thank you for your reflections on this milestone age.
Thanks for your honesty and calm acceptance of an anniversary that is an absolute horror for many to “celebrate.” Taken to its extreme, it has become a cliche and grist for episodes in movies and books. I’m glad you are feeling realistic but not blasé, and it’s great to see that your love of nature and powers of observation are undimmed. It’s a great joy to read about your family and your wonderful life. Many happy returns!
Dear Rafael, thank you for your kind words here and for your birthday wishes. I set my self a challenge when writing this story not to write about turning forty using cliches and anything too familiar. It took a little bit of journaling to get all of that out first and then find the heart of what I wanted to say. I used an exercise — let’s say if you were to write about turning forty without using the words — crisis and mid- life or wrinkles or time etc etc. It was fun and shook up my thinking. Glad you enjoyed and thanks so much for reading. Cheers, Kate
When I was a kid I used to daydream about living alone by the sea, on the outskirts of nowhere. But then college, work—basically Life—got in the way. I’m truly grateful for the way things turned out, especially the close and unique way that my wife and I have gotten along over the years. But the dream remains of living in rustic simplicity on the shores of some remote island or peninsula. I’ll never actually resettle very far from the comfort and convenience of city life, but I’m thankful for your exotic and detailed photos and accounts of your robust, rugged and simple (to a sedentary cat like me) model of existence. Sometimes I feel hemmed in by chronic illness, fatigue and the cares of this world, and your beautiful essays and photos let me escape for a while from the noisy, urban ant farm that is my home town. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who looks forward to your work. Thanks, Kate, for taking the time to document and share your wild and wonderful life!
Hello Rafael, how ‘life’ gets in the way of our dreams. But then, I guess, life is what happens when you’re dreaming. Living alone by the sea on the outskirts of nowhere sounds like bliss. But as you say, you wouldn’t have met your lovely wife living out there. I am very touched by your kind words here. Thank you. The best part about writing is when a reader shares what your words have meant to them. I am so grateful for your thoughts. All the best, Kate
These thoughts and words are simply beautiful, Kate. It's a tough call, because your writing is always wild and wonderful, but I think this piece may be my favourite yet. The sequins, the dirt. Just perfect! I turn 45 this month and the one thing I'm sure of is that I become less sure of everything with each passing year. The world is more beautiful. It's also more cruel. And I have the privilege to be able to choose my place in it.
Hello Alia, your lovely words here have brought a little sunshine to my day, thank you — it’s cloudy and not yet ten degrees down south in Tasmania. I am glad you enjoyed reading. Yes to ageing without understanding. Perhaps it’s that we become better at noticing. But as you say, it is a privilege that we have the ability to choose where we are in this world. So much to feel grateful for.
And sending you birthday wishes for your special day. Kate :)
Dear Kate,
Thank you for an ode to age and ageing while still “burning”with desire for life, for colour, for romance, for discovering. Discovering that our lives are so profoundly wonderful that we can re-invent ourselves under a new light if wanted.
As a nearly 40 year-old woman your words have resonated so deeply this time. The allegory of the hardening exterior revealing our sturdiness to stay alive and powerful in the midst of every life challenge is so compelling. Even invisibly to the human eye, leaves can shake and while facing stress. Your words reminded me of this. Of the times when self interrogation and doubt happens and yet, we disguised under our well learnt costume of composure and resilience.
I am personally proud of my many re-inventions as they brought me here and other great communities where words and feelings are shared amongst the kindest people. However, it seems to me that I’m still covering , running from something? I wonder if you or other readers have these thoughts or emotions too(?)
W&W is one of my greatest companions as I grow older and wilder.
Stay warm, xx
Dear Alicia,
Thank you for your beautiful words here. I am so happy this letter resonated with you. You know this too, as a writer the greatest joy is connecting with readers. And how wonderful it was that we share a love of words and the wild and living honestly and fiercely.
I have been thinking about your feeling of ‘still covering’ from something, and I feel it too. What is it that lurks? Is it a fear of sorts? Or is it our true authentic self? I will continue thinking as I was into this next decade. Can’t wait to share this stage with you very soon.
Wishes,
Kate x
Happy birthday, Kate! Each stage of life has been beautiful and challenging in its own way... but I am enjoying my fifties more than ever! Wish you the very best.
Thank you Rajani, for the birthday wishes and for reading. I am excited about the forties, the challenges and joys. Wishing you health and happiness too. And many beautiful poems. Kate :)
Thoroughly enjoyed Kate!
Hi Jake, so glad you enjoyed, thanks for reading and for your message here, means a lot. Hi to you and your family. Hope all is well and you are still climbing those big rocks! Take care, Kate
Happy birthday Kate. Tomorrow I will be turning 72 and I long for world peace. But I am content in my little world with comfortable shoes and the ability to walk my dog each morning, very early.
Wishing you a very happy birthday for tomorrow🎈I hope you have a lovely morning walk too. And perhaps a little more world peace would be wonderful too.
Thanks for the birthday wishes, I am very honoured to have celebrated 40 years. Take care, Kate
Happy Birthday, friend Kate.
My fortieth birthday was miserable, because my life was that way at the time, but my 65th, just a few days ago, was a delight.
You never can tell what's ahead!
(And we went for a swim in the ocean on the Solstice too. Fabulous!!!)
Love from Dave and Meg :)
Hello Dave, thanks for the birthday wishes. Agree — you can never know what’s in store for tomorrow, but I am pretty happy with making it this far. The happiest of birthdays to you too for a few days ago. I hope your solstice dip was fun.
Here’s to many more years!
Kate
Happy Birthday!
There's a quotation I love from Margaret Brown (aka "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"): "Why should a woman be mildewed at 40?" Thank you for your reflections on this milestone age.
Hello Kasey, thank you so much for the wishes and the quote, I love the idea of a woman being ‘mildewed’. I’m going to look it up ☺️
Thanks for your honesty and calm acceptance of an anniversary that is an absolute horror for many to “celebrate.” Taken to its extreme, it has become a cliche and grist for episodes in movies and books. I’m glad you are feeling realistic but not blasé, and it’s great to see that your love of nature and powers of observation are undimmed. It’s a great joy to read about your family and your wonderful life. Many happy returns!
Dear Rafael, thank you for your kind words here and for your birthday wishes. I set my self a challenge when writing this story not to write about turning forty using cliches and anything too familiar. It took a little bit of journaling to get all of that out first and then find the heart of what I wanted to say. I used an exercise — let’s say if you were to write about turning forty without using the words — crisis and mid- life or wrinkles or time etc etc. It was fun and shook up my thinking. Glad you enjoyed and thanks so much for reading. Cheers, Kate
When I was a kid I used to daydream about living alone by the sea, on the outskirts of nowhere. But then college, work—basically Life—got in the way. I’m truly grateful for the way things turned out, especially the close and unique way that my wife and I have gotten along over the years. But the dream remains of living in rustic simplicity on the shores of some remote island or peninsula. I’ll never actually resettle very far from the comfort and convenience of city life, but I’m thankful for your exotic and detailed photos and accounts of your robust, rugged and simple (to a sedentary cat like me) model of existence. Sometimes I feel hemmed in by chronic illness, fatigue and the cares of this world, and your beautiful essays and photos let me escape for a while from the noisy, urban ant farm that is my home town. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who looks forward to your work. Thanks, Kate, for taking the time to document and share your wild and wonderful life!
Hello Rafael, how ‘life’ gets in the way of our dreams. But then, I guess, life is what happens when you’re dreaming. Living alone by the sea on the outskirts of nowhere sounds like bliss. But as you say, you wouldn’t have met your lovely wife living out there. I am very touched by your kind words here. Thank you. The best part about writing is when a reader shares what your words have meant to them. I am so grateful for your thoughts. All the best, Kate
❤️