It’s Sunday morning. Sleeping in for me is now 7:30 AM since during the week I am up at 5. Calvin is already up and I can smell the freshly ground coffee. I enter my “new/old” kitchen with its cheery buttercup yellow cupboards. Light streaks across the golden heart pine floor. The room glows. My hand curls around the green ceramic mug that holds my coffee. It’s the same color as the walls. Warmth flows from it into my hand. My eye is caught by the color of this week’s $3.99 Trader Joe’s bouquet. A small treat that brings pleasure all week long. The budget bunches of flowers last longer than ones that cost much more. I’ve often wanted to have regular deliveries of flowers to my house, as I love the sight and smell of them. The cost in the scheme of other obligations was prohibitive. I’ve satisfied my desire within the constraints of a now limited income. Trader Joe’s gets fresh flower deliveries seven days a week. Each small bunch of blooms conveys a subtle color scheme. This week I choose orange. There are calla lilies and gerbera daisies, intermingled with splashes of purple and magenta from supporting players.
My apologies to all my readers who have an affinity for Staten Island and were offended by my saying it’s not my vibe. The comment was rather snarky and I should have been more thoughtful about how I worded my truth that it’s not my preferred borough. I have my reasons for that as others have reasons to make it their favorite. We don’t all have to agree.
“Staten Island was not our vibe”……did I read you wrong? I wondered, sad that you missed one of the most beautiful nature filled with deer, turkeys that visit, birds goldfinches cardinals woodpeckers bluejays, etc. foxes muskrats hawks bald eagles, and gorgeous waterfowl and peepers that sing that spring is here in their mating song in the ponds and lakes of the breathtaking Green Belt, our forest. Here it is all available to enjoy that which nature has to offer, for all our very worldly diverse immigrant population that love living and loving here. We even have a Moses mountain, to hike and climb on, ocean to swim and fish in, and a long boardwalk to stroll on. BayStreet , Wagner College Campus. the Art Lab at the rescued Seaman's homes where now live the Staten Island Art Museum, Children's Museum and a theatre venue. The functioning lighthouse on Lighthouse hill overlooking the ocean and the Island, the Chinese Gardens in our borough’s botanical gardens, and one of the highest points on the east coast ,Todt Hill with spectacular views of the Verrazano Narrows and Coney Island. The old Victorian beauties stand by the ferry, as a reminder of what a Great Borough Staten Island was and still is. You joined the other NY’s “not our vibe” as they coined us the forgotten borough. It is just fine Staten Islanders will keep our oldest Richmond town, older and more authentic than Williamsburg VA. We are here, Staten Island, a missed adventure, like none other. Plenty “vibe” here…ol gal and cool partner, but I for one being your follower sad to know now, that it was not for you! I was taken aback, “not our vibe”.And…..there also is plenty of organic microbial debris to use as background, all around the
shipyards and docks, where many wonderful tugboats and hip restaurants reside. The Hudson Valley, beautiful in it’s own right, but Staten Island… The jewel in the Crown of NYC.
Your writing slows down time in a delightful way. Regarding Ms Accidental, it reminded me how I learned to be kind to myself and forgive my former selves, as unrecognizable those versions are today, yet important stops along my continued evolution. Evolve On!
I’ve followed you on Instagram for many years and enjoyed watching your evolving style. I didn’t know your backstory and I liked reading How To Be Old.
As I read your words, your story, I find a sense of peace. I am yet again thankful for the internet, social media, and the public spaces we have, where people who don't know each other can still find connection, community, and inspiration in the midst of the darkness, bitterness, and anger than can accompany these spaces. It proves that what we find here on the pages of the internet can run parallel with our in-person lives, not contradictory to it. So, thank you! Reinvention in my life is part of, as Matthew Kelly frequently reminds us about, becoming the best version of myself. Every 5 years or so I feel the urge to change something, something grand yet often only seen by those closest to me. This time is no different. Working in dementia care, having been a care partner for both of my grandmothers, the reinvention comes this time in my career, not to change professions, but to change within it. I need to be creative, to play, to dream again. I got lost in the medical and clinical world that dominates my field, and I fell into the spiral of certification chasing instead of knowledge exploration. Shifts are happening, bit by bit. I am excited to see where life takes me this year. Who will enter, what will be created, and how it will help me to become the best version of myself. Questions only to be answered by the passage of time.
I myself am on a new path as a creative, having lost my job. It’s very scary but has also freed my stifled creativity again. Reading your blogs and viewing your photographs inspires me to embrace this unexpected chance at a later point in my life. Thank you.
I'm so happy for you and Calvin that you are exploring not just a new place to live but experimenting with the new forms of art you are creating.
Towns on both sides of the Hudson such as Dobbs Ferry, Rhinebeck, Hudson, and Cold Spring (and more whose names escape me as I type this) are loaded gentle charm and often influences of former Manhattanites whom you will get to meet. I predict that part of your new experience will be "warm and fuzzy."
An affordable suggestion on flowers:
Years ago when I worked in Manhattan as a banquet manager my life was understandably loaded with floral arrangements and bouquets. I found the French preference for monotone arrangements quite stunning. For example, you pick one vibrant color such as white (or orange or purple), you add as many forms of green as the florist might be carrying, a few pieces of curly willow and you populate the rest of it with various flowers of the dominant color you've chosen. These arrangements can run under $20 and last two weeks. A few basics to make them last longer: Use a larger vase or fill the small vase to the top. Change the (filtered) water daily, wash this stems and remove any spent flowers or greens -- this only takes minutes but you have some mighty inspiring flowers within your view.
This really resonated with me today as I've been trying to decide if it is time to move on from a small business I started 10ish years ago. It's inspiring to see how you've moved on from Accidental but can still enjoy the pieces of it that made you happy. Thank you.
A great read Lyn and thank you. Reinvention is a daily thing for me.... every time I open the wardrobe and choose my ‘look’ for the day, I’m someone new/old. Like you, my sunglasses are my absolute accessory - have several different pairs to accommodate the new me. I love the instant mystery they bring to myself. You and Substack have inspired me to start my own blog on this platform. A reinvention of a bigger kind for me and an exciting one, to be stepping into a writing adventure. I always felt your previous Icon life was valuable in a very positive way and applaud your switching up the perception of ‘old’ and fashion. It made a difference. This with Calvin, your best beloved, is brilliant.♥️
You go dear cousin of mine!!! Proud, and how fantastic that our Calvin can no express another side of his creativity and spirit! Can’t wait to see you. Much love and continued blessings to my sister from another mother, our dear Helen Rosie. She’s smiling. 💚❤️
My apologies to all my readers who have an affinity for Staten Island and were offended by my saying it’s not my vibe. The comment was rather snarky and I should have been more thoughtful about how I worded my truth that it’s not my preferred borough. I have my reasons for that as others have reasons to make it their favorite. We don’t all have to agree.
“Staten Island was not our vibe”……did I read you wrong? I wondered, sad that you missed one of the most beautiful nature filled with deer, turkeys that visit, birds goldfinches cardinals woodpeckers bluejays, etc. foxes muskrats hawks bald eagles, and gorgeous waterfowl and peepers that sing that spring is here in their mating song in the ponds and lakes of the breathtaking Green Belt, our forest. Here it is all available to enjoy that which nature has to offer, for all our very worldly diverse immigrant population that love living and loving here. We even have a Moses mountain, to hike and climb on, ocean to swim and fish in, and a long boardwalk to stroll on. BayStreet , Wagner College Campus. the Art Lab at the rescued Seaman's homes where now live the Staten Island Art Museum, Children's Museum and a theatre venue. The functioning lighthouse on Lighthouse hill overlooking the ocean and the Island, the Chinese Gardens in our borough’s botanical gardens, and one of the highest points on the east coast ,Todt Hill with spectacular views of the Verrazano Narrows and Coney Island. The old Victorian beauties stand by the ferry, as a reminder of what a Great Borough Staten Island was and still is. You joined the other NY’s “not our vibe” as they coined us the forgotten borough. It is just fine Staten Islanders will keep our oldest Richmond town, older and more authentic than Williamsburg VA. We are here, Staten Island, a missed adventure, like none other. Plenty “vibe” here…ol gal and cool partner, but I for one being your follower sad to know now, that it was not for you! I was taken aback, “not our vibe”.And…..there also is plenty of organic microbial debris to use as background, all around the
shipyards and docks, where many wonderful tugboats and hip restaurants reside. The Hudson Valley, beautiful in it’s own right, but Staten Island… The jewel in the Crown of NYC.
Your writing slows down time in a delightful way. Regarding Ms Accidental, it reminded me how I learned to be kind to myself and forgive my former selves, as unrecognizable those versions are today, yet important stops along my continued evolution. Evolve On!
I’ve followed you on Instagram for many years and enjoyed watching your evolving style. I didn’t know your backstory and I liked reading How To Be Old.
I’ll certainly look forward to your future posts.
I aspire for my husband and I to be as cool and inspiring as you both are when we grow up. He is 60 and I am 54. :)
As I read your words, your story, I find a sense of peace. I am yet again thankful for the internet, social media, and the public spaces we have, where people who don't know each other can still find connection, community, and inspiration in the midst of the darkness, bitterness, and anger than can accompany these spaces. It proves that what we find here on the pages of the internet can run parallel with our in-person lives, not contradictory to it. So, thank you! Reinvention in my life is part of, as Matthew Kelly frequently reminds us about, becoming the best version of myself. Every 5 years or so I feel the urge to change something, something grand yet often only seen by those closest to me. This time is no different. Working in dementia care, having been a care partner for both of my grandmothers, the reinvention comes this time in my career, not to change professions, but to change within it. I need to be creative, to play, to dream again. I got lost in the medical and clinical world that dominates my field, and I fell into the spiral of certification chasing instead of knowledge exploration. Shifts are happening, bit by bit. I am excited to see where life takes me this year. Who will enter, what will be created, and how it will help me to become the best version of myself. Questions only to be answered by the passage of time.
I myself am on a new path as a creative, having lost my job. It’s very scary but has also freed my stifled creativity again. Reading your blogs and viewing your photographs inspires me to embrace this unexpected chance at a later point in my life. Thank you.
Lyn,
I'm so happy for you and Calvin that you are exploring not just a new place to live but experimenting with the new forms of art you are creating.
Towns on both sides of the Hudson such as Dobbs Ferry, Rhinebeck, Hudson, and Cold Spring (and more whose names escape me as I type this) are loaded gentle charm and often influences of former Manhattanites whom you will get to meet. I predict that part of your new experience will be "warm and fuzzy."
An affordable suggestion on flowers:
Years ago when I worked in Manhattan as a banquet manager my life was understandably loaded with floral arrangements and bouquets. I found the French preference for monotone arrangements quite stunning. For example, you pick one vibrant color such as white (or orange or purple), you add as many forms of green as the florist might be carrying, a few pieces of curly willow and you populate the rest of it with various flowers of the dominant color you've chosen. These arrangements can run under $20 and last two weeks. A few basics to make them last longer: Use a larger vase or fill the small vase to the top. Change the (filtered) water daily, wash this stems and remove any spent flowers or greens -- this only takes minutes but you have some mighty inspiring flowers within your view.
Wishing you the very best!
Angelina Hunter
This really resonated with me today as I've been trying to decide if it is time to move on from a small business I started 10ish years ago. It's inspiring to see how you've moved on from Accidental but can still enjoy the pieces of it that made you happy. Thank you.
I love every bit of this. I appreciate your evolving relationship with Accidental. She’s a perennial beauty in all her incarnations.
A great read Lyn and thank you. Reinvention is a daily thing for me.... every time I open the wardrobe and choose my ‘look’ for the day, I’m someone new/old. Like you, my sunglasses are my absolute accessory - have several different pairs to accommodate the new me. I love the instant mystery they bring to myself. You and Substack have inspired me to start my own blog on this platform. A reinvention of a bigger kind for me and an exciting one, to be stepping into a writing adventure. I always felt your previous Icon life was valuable in a very positive way and applaud your switching up the perception of ‘old’ and fashion. It made a difference. This with Calvin, your best beloved, is brilliant.♥️
Love you accidental o just Lyn 🥰🌹 always beautiful
Nice to see that we get to exhale and enjoy simple pleasures as we age!
Loved the journey 🤗
You go dear cousin of mine!!! Proud, and how fantastic that our Calvin can no express another side of his creativity and spirit! Can’t wait to see you. Much love and continued blessings to my sister from another mother, our dear Helen Rosie. She’s smiling. 💚❤️
Love this - welcome back, full circle and next level