Jumping-Off Place
FF Chapter 10 -- Celebrating Collaboration
A hole new world of possibilities.
~Manu Satsangi
Dear Manu,
I’m grinning as I begin to write… thinking about our brainstorming calls and podcasts (podscats?) in support of The Gift of Shared Kindness. You were my first business collaborator, and like Remy in Ratatouille, you brought a veritable feast to the table.
We worked together on ideas, artwork, words — legal considerations, productivity apps, and our our guiding mission statement. Together we embraced creating for creations sake — not tied to a specific outcome. That approach opened the door to live and learn lessons I might have otherwise missed — building skills and scaffolding we can both use going forward.
Flourishing Fiction’s Chapter 10 invites an empty patch of living room carpet to ponder the possibilities when children fledge… and clear out with some of the family’s well-worn furniture. As we share the experience of children growing into adulthood, you were my obvious choice as a collaborator for Jumping-Off Place. Thank you for giving your time, energy, and consideration to the project.
I continue to learn much from your approach to life — calm, embracing new experiences, and willing to give of yourself when asked. The metaphors you share in conversation and writing knock my socks off and often spur my thinking to higher levels.
You make me want to be a better person.
Gratitude and Love,
Gail
Endearing. Clever. I hardly noticed the homophonic play on words, using "hole." Then I noticed the hole in the fledged kid furniture! Which stirred a couple thoughts. How many fledged ones take flight, family heirlooms (?) in tow, and quickly find slip covers or thin blankets to erase the piece from their younger lives? What number leave the piece "as is" for the very sake of its connection with their earlier times?
When is a Whole not a Whole? When it's a boomerang! (note: it really still was a whole) Two week ends ago, my wife and I had the pleasure to spend the week end with my son, his wife, and their almost two daughter. Fun in so many ways! As we prepared for a meal, all of a sudden a serving platter from a Pfaltzfraff "Yorktown" collection appeared. I asked if they were starting a Yorktown collection. A bad assumption on my part. My daughter-in-law replied, "Nate's mother gave us a number of pieces." The boomerang. The whole. Then the memories of using that set, seemingly in another lifetime, flooded back to me. Yes. The chair with the hole in the corner of the headrest!
I've never seen slipcovers for Pfaltzgraff dishes, or any other kind, but sometimes it seems best to see objects as they are. And remember. And live.
Awwww this is so tenderly beautiful Gail. I want to hug you both!!! 🤗🤗🤗