I have been reflecting some on the subjectivity of being from someplace. We are from the address or city or country where we are born, or from around the corner or from the other room, or any place or time in between, depending on context. I am in a writing group that is based in Ithaca (one of the places I am from). Thanks to the pandemic we got used to meeting via zoom, so I can continue to be part of it from India. Here is what I wrote yesterday in the writing group, on the theme “Where I am from:”
I know people, many people, who live where they come from. Or if not just there, nearby. They have seen change. Businesses close, new buildings rise, families reconfigure as members leave and join, and are born or die. They themselves also change, first delimited by their parents and then venturing wider. Their range expands, without departure, gradually focusing on new parts of the map, but not on new maps.
I think of myself as that way. I am a gardener not a truck driver. I mostly have only old friends. I thrive on routine and familiarity. I walked each of my children to school and back daily for years. The place I am becomes more interesting and more vibrant the longer I am there. I am not so curious about other cultures. At least, am not more curious about another place than I am about the place I am.
Yet I have been leaving and leaving and leaving, always. I am used to the din of unknown languages. I stumble over the question “Where are you from?”
“Since when? I reply, casting for simple answer that might hold for that moment.
I memorize new phone numbers. I assemble a nest of familiar or loved objects and call them home. I look in the mirror for continuity.
Since I wrote in this blog last, in April, a lot has happened. I’ll report now on some of it, with some musical interludes.
I spent a couple of more months working in Israel. Andy joined me for about half the time. We both enjoyed the work we were doing there and being in Israel.
One very nice chapter in our visit to Israel was when Naoli and her partner Johnny came to stay for a few days with us in Jerusalem. Naoli and I lived in a shared house for several years long ago and she is a good friend who I don’t get to see very often at all. She lives in Brazil. She and Johnny were at the start of Naoli’s amazing European birth, sexuality, and midwifery workshop tour.
In June we went for a short visit to the US for the wedding of our nephew Josh, and Zana. I spent some time beforehand in Baltimore with Prachi and Mieke and James which was great. Andy spend some time with family in DC after the wedding, with a mild case of Covid, which wasn’t so great but bound to happen eventually.
Then I spent a couple of weeks back in Bangalore working. While there I also had a one-year-after-the-end-of-chemo-and-thyroid-surgery PET-CT scan and a thyroid ultra sound. They showed no evidence of Lymphoma, and the suspicious nodules in my remaining half thyroid are still small. Yahoo!! I still need a colonoscopy soon to make sure no Lymphoma has come back in my colon, and continued monitoring of the half thyroid and lymph nodes.
While I was in Bangalore in July Andy and Mieke and Prachi were in Åland, Finland. I went there too for the last two weeks of July, along with my parents, James, nephew Coby, the Shwabs, and many friends who live there and who came to visit. It was beautiful and fun. It was great to be there after the long covid travel restrictions.
Now I am back in Bangalore. The semester has started. I am teaching ecology. It is practically the same course as I was teaching at this time last year at Cornell. Now I have a lot more hair on my head though. While it still feels pretty strange to be living here, things are relatively settled down.
Saska- great to hear that you are doing so well! You’ve sure put on miles! Hope to see you one of these days! Joyce
Yes, so many miles in the last few months!
I look forward to when we manage to be in the same place so I can see you,
Elegant and informative. Maybe You should forsake insects for writing and I should forsake writing for insects – but I would have a lot of catching up to do about insects.
Thanks. I think we should both both write and do insects. Note that since you looked at the blog I mades some clarifications and added a video of some more music.
It was wonderful to learn the tests show no residual evidence of cancer. Your photos brought back the memories of our week with you and Andy and family! (and the lullaby was beautifully sung) We are looking forward to welcoming Mieke, James and eventually Prachi to Boston. Your writing is moving and your description of the way you cope with the changes of “where you are from” reflects your resilience. I am glad we were able to visit when you were “in residence” in Mariehamn. Leah
Thanks Leah. It was very nice to have you and Jim there with us!
Since you mention the lullaby, you might want to also watch the video of related piece of music played by the girls that I added in to the post later.
Yahoo, Saskya! Thanks for sharing all the good news, thoughts, beautiful pictures, and music! Hope that things will continue to develop in a good direction!
I can vouch for almost all. So nicely expressed that it makes me nostalgic and sentimental, more than simple mental recall, already.
Oh how sweet to hear from you! Of course I will always think of you as being from here! Love to you both and Prachi too!!
Thanks Laura.
Wonderful update! I am so happy for you and all your family.
Thanks so much for your post, Saskya! I am relieved that you’re doing so well.
Your photos are terrific! I loved seeing the ones of Prachi, whom I had in my nature lessons at Belle Sherman several eons ago.
Thanks for the note Betsy. I am relieved to be healthy too.
I really appreciate those nature lessons that you did at Belle Sherman. They fill such an important gap in most childrens education and experience.
Such great news! Have been thinking of you and hoping for such. Thanks for your sharing your musings on place. Also great to see the happy pics of you with your lovely family.
Thanks for the note Sean. I am relived to have good health news too! I hope all is well.