be inspiring and inspired

Two of my gal pals mentioned during the past few weeks that they wanted to see me decorate my street-facing living room window… It took a bit of hunting and effort, but the result has been worth it (a very Tim Burton-inspired Hallowe’en motif).

I was also able to find autumn-colored leave bouquets (that can be pulled apart to make a garland of leaves framing the window) and suede leaf-shaped placemats that can be adhered to the glass using contact paper as a follow-up design theme to carry me through until December.

(This isn’t a one-time thing—it kicked off an ongoing creative activity for me. After Solstice/Christmas, there’s Valentines Day, then Mardi Gras, and then I have a cute idea for hanging blown-glass fish and a couple of stained-glass mermaid figurines for non-specific decorations to create kind of an aquarium motif… It’ll definitely be a monthly activity for the next six months at least!)

Last Saturday I coordinated what ended up being an excellent “Girls’ Night Out” that included a neighbor and a new friend met online (both of these women are also recent returnees to New Orleans who are interested in getting back into the swing of things again). Tonight the online friend is joining me to go to Eric Lindell’s show. All it takes is deciding what to go to and extending the invitations with the address/show time details.

A casual friend (who’s passion in life is dancing) posted something earlier this evening indicating that she was feeling disappointed. I took the chance and sent her a note; the following is a summary of the exchange between she and I thereafter:

Me: May your disappointment pass quickly and be replaced with even greater joy… Hang in there!

Friend: Thanks a bunch… That’s just what I needed!

Me: Anytime, beautiful lady. While life often turns on a dime, remember that it’s the dancers who find a way to move with grace through it all.

Friend: You brought a tear to my eye! Thanks! You just made me remember how gracefully things can be handled.

It’s a small thing, but it’s a start.