Lux Lotus

On Exchanges

I keep reminding myself that if the life that I want is so radically different than the life that I am now living, I will have to do something to spark its genesis. Except I don't have any money other than what I earn myself, on the wheel, and my time is not dedicated primarily to leisure. So I suppose I could learn to love the one I have. There's something so beautiful and human about not just embracing flaws, and imperfections, but seeing them as a source of wisdom and pleasure. I think often of the teacup with the fissure repaired with gold, and wabi-sabi. Earlier today I examined a nasty burn on my wrist from February, from sliding a roasting pan into the oven, where the hot rack seared me. At first, I wished I could fill it in with gold. Then I remembered the beautiful meal, and the beautiful night, among friends, and I realize that I did.

On Joining PEN

Today I had lunch with Paul Morris at India House, and on the heels of a couple of terrifically engaging and intellectually stimulating conversations, I've accepted his invitation to join the Membership Committee of PEN, a wonderful organization that I've long admired for its vital work in protecting the free expression of writers the world over as a human right, bearing witness for those whose lives are now in jeopardy as a result of exercising that freedom, and celebrating worthy literature. I'm grateful to be thought of so well, and happy to rise to the occasion. I hope you'll consider doing so, too.

On Disclosures

It always makes me smile when someone is telling me a story of dramatic romantic entanglement, and I sort of make a face and they say, What? And I say, "Oh, I'm so old-fashioned. Hopelessly out-of-step, even. I could never be involved in that way with more than one person. I'd rather be alone than make a mess of someone's heart." Soon after, they inevitably say, shyly, Me too. 

How to Impress Me

To the fellow who sent a c. 1912 Russian banknote by post today,

(I thought you'd like it -– nothing is quite as glamorous as a Romanov.)

well done.

On Company

It's always something when a beautiful soul departs this world, even and sometimes especially one that flashed across one's own path like a firefly. On a quiet night of quiet stars, at home in New York, mixing an Old Etonian, the house cocktail, in honor of the finest one I ever knew. Mix one part gin and one part Lillet blanc...

On Making Time

If I stick to my desired rule of no more than two evenings out per week, I'm booked until Thanksgiving. That being said, I try to make an exception for seeing friends who have no connection to my work, and so took a very enjoyable trip to Midtown today for lunch with a very amiable, and dazzlingly brilliant Australian diplomat who calls Cipriani "Chip's," and amuses me to no end. "My boyfriend [our mutual friend] is going to accuse me of stealing his friends," he sighed. It's entirely the other way around. I also had the opportunity to tell him that our mutual friend is the happiest I've seen him in a decade, and that I credit him for the blossoming. He apologized for being sleepy at the impromptu dinner party we had at my place on Saturday night. "Darling, don't fret," I cooed sympathetically. "It was three in the morning."

On Remedies

Lately I've been fatigued by the quality of intellectual discourse at a moment's grasp. While I don't mind banal chatter, I prefer an altogether different ratio to the mix. As that's something I have no control over, with the exception of the extent of my participation and observation, I've decided that today is a good day for a break from social media and a visit to the Morgan Library for lunch, a cocktail and conversation, and a perusal of Churchill's papers.

On Conclusions

"Goodbye Rhinestones, Hello Rubies," my final column in a series that's explored twelve lessons learned, is at the Weeklings.

On Stories

My new column, "The Stories That We Tell Ourselves Can Re Revised," (12 of 13) is now at the Weeklings. And, Lux Lotus reader Amy Shearn said some very kind words at Oprah.com.

Postcards From Mazama

"Letter From Mazama," my new column (11 of 13), is now at the Weeklings, and the Methow Valley News has the scoop on this weekend's Mazama Festival of Books, with quotes from me.

Previously, "Letter From Mazama," and "Letter From London."