All day we spoke of loving Loving beyond reason Reason for feeling obsessed Obsessed but not overly so So we gaze at one another Another day to explore Explore each other and the land Land, that just feels sacred Sacred because of beauty’s kiss Kiss me now before the light changes! Changes are coming to us now Now as we move into the future Future is on my adult woman face Faces, turn to each other Each other, the place we have always Always sought to find Find in this moment, all All of the longing fulfilled Fulfilled in a passing flash Flash of aqua blue collar brushing Brushing your long red blonde hair Hair in a braid flowing along your back Back in time we were different Different from this kind of loving Loving now fills our senses Senses coming to, in a life of waiting Waiting for you…You…You… You who speak so freely of me to me Me who soaks in your subtle poetry Poetry, calling the day into focus Focus that reveals hidden angst Angst in losing you too soon Soon, too soon, one of us will be gone Gone from the mortal coil of flesh Flesh, yours, is now beside me, reminds Reminds other lovers to look: Look into the eyes of your beloved! Beloveds as rare as whole seashells Seashells from Byron’s grotto Grotto for Shelly’s monsters and my mermaids Mermaids which do sing each to each Each of us must listen for their voice Voice, calling from the upper balcony Balcony, in view of Cinque Terre pastel doors Doors covered in forested green shutters Shutters clink clank in the Autumn wind Wind calls the bells and boats to sale again Again and again I speak your name Name resounding in my heart of hearts Hearts I draw on perfumed Santa Maria Santa Maria Novella scented envelopes Envelopes with Florentine flourishes of paisley Paisley also on edges of smooth white sheets Sheets of soft rain call for deep sleeping Sleeping beside you, reaching for skin Skin, that reminds me of home Home is your neck’s soft arc Arc of morning light as we move Move towards Tuscany from the Ligurian sea Sea of pacific whales at home wondering Wondering where we have been so long Long days of long light, a whole moon falling Falling in love every chance we get Getting used to this This hair loose, this limone colored linen dress! Dress of polka dots and stripes of bright green Green flash is the color of my eyes seeing you You, here, beside me, resting into tomorrow Tomorrow we fly, reluctant, Reluctant and yet expectant, for familiar sounds Sounds of coffee spoons of café stirring Stirring honey and cinnamon into my cup Cup, holding your tending tender intention Intention that holds my attention Attention that says to me: pray Pray and give thanks for many good days Days here have brought conversation on high High on history, art and intellectual musings Musings I try without success to capture Capture even a smokey pearl colored wisp Wisp of Italy renders itself in my paint brush Brushes, I will use for years Years in which I shall recall Recall a certain sage ravioli or linguini ribbon Ribbons of pale pink trailing my white hat Hat covered in silk roses speak to beauty Beauty that speaks to me in roses Roses that speak to me in beauty unfurled Unfurled in this foreign tongue pilgrimage Pilgrimage that has nourished all days Days in togetherness we will create the future Future of love and heartbreak, like the past Past says there is no escaping hard times Times, this year, at times, seemed unbearable Unbearable and yet we move on Onward with unreasonable dreams Dreams calling out for change Change comes whether I want it or not Not because of something wrong or right Right on time because I must say yes Yes to what is next Next is what is next, you see See me and walk with me into wind Wind in the cypress trees Trees tell stories Stories, so many stories of loving Loving, all day we spoke of loving
We are finally home after a year of travel almost every month. It feels like we were gone more than we were home – partially because half way through the year we moved our physical home to Carmel. Australia, Italy, Washington, Hawaii to name a few…It has need been quite an adventure. Jonathan jokes that he should have taken that line of my bio seriously….
“Shiloh Sophia lives life as a great adventure“
Yet the adventures I took before meeting him were mostly inner adventures and within my own immediate circle and reach. Since Jonathan came into my life and onto our team we reach tens of thousands through streaming and have the gift of being able ot meet our students around the world, on location to celebrate art, go to museums, eat cuisine and share in the good life.
There are lots of hard things in this life, yet the call to celebrate is also here. He is the one that brought me on the great adventures physically! My mom, Caron, who I have just had the pleasure of visiting for a week in Port Townsend, Washington is the one I learned that line from. “It’s a great adventure!” She used to say that when things were hard…and taught me to look at my life through that framework. It was so wonderful to be with her, at 81 and her absolutely thriving consciousness and beauty. So funny and so much the instigator of my own first ways of viewing life. Her and my stepfather Jim are brilliant, entertaining and we went on a double date to celebrate birthdays. It was so sweet and good to be in such harmony with my parents.
I wrote the poem above for Jonathan when we were in Italy and today, I wanted to share it with you. Sometimes I don’t share the ‘wonder’ of my life and story because I know so much hard stuff is ALSO happening and I don’t want people to feel bad, or say – ‘must be nice’ so I don’t share as much. If I am honest with you and myself, I have also had so much heartbreak this year, personally that I could hardly breathe at times. So I share both in different ways.
Today I am speaking of loving…and sending loving along the red thread to you….and it is so good to be home for Red Thread Cafe with kitties…
Frida and Diego having Red Thread Cafe looking out at the storm – the wildest loudest waves
And this memory is also so nice, eating lemon gelatto in the waves (photo by Jonathan)
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. God Himself is not secure, having given man dominion over His works! Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Faith alone defends. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable. ~ Helen Keller
All Day We Spoke of Loving 
Frida and Diego having Red Thread Cafe looking out at the storm – the wildest loudest waves
And this memory is also so nice, eating lemon gelatto in the waves 
