In passing...Gretchen Ney Laugier 

  

It was
 the early 90s                                                              

"On French Beaches Women are Topless"GNL 92

Life was

An adventure.

Three thousand mile

 away.

How curious
to find someone
from my own backyard
here.

At the front desk
of the hotel
in Oaxaca
The Philadelphia Inquirer
was her calling card.
“Hello”,she said,”I’m Gretchen. I’m a 55 year old single grandmother.”

Born and raised
in New Hope
an artist father
a loving mother
Gretchen was                                               
a force of nature.

We forged a friendship

"Zapatista Women" GNL 99

Together                                                      

We explored

Bowman's Tower/taken by my son at age 5

Margaritas
in the zocalo.
Ancient ruins
with steep stone steps.
The dangers of
siesta time
wandering
in The Cerro del Fortin
Snow white hair
Laughing blue eyes
Gretchen
wanted to
free Tibet
stop all wars
and ride off
into the sunset
with Subcomandante  Marcos
She was
an artist
an activist
a mentor

If I complained
about someone
She said,”Karen,you know what Buddhists say?People like that are put in our path to teach us patience.”
pause
“Oh those damn Buddhists.”

My son came along
and every visit
was an adventure
Meeting                                                                         
 in the middle                                                          
of a bridge
on a blustery March day                    
Driving
winding back roads
to see
praying mantis
and hang gliding planes                                                    
Visiting the Nakashimas                                       
when the dogwood
 bloomed.

Gretchen 

once told me
at age 18
she moved to Paris                      
and worked
weaving
with
 Isadora Duncan’s brother.

Gretchen was adventure.
She lived life
on her terms.

In the
the end
she wrote
her own obituary.

I think
of her                                              

Shawl design by Raymond Duncan

often.

The other day,
I wandered through
an exhibition
“Chic Shawls of the Early Twentieth Century”
In passing
I noticed
a shawl
with
a motif
of
Greek mythology
Designed in Paris
by
Raymond Duncan
Brother of Isadora Duncan

And I knew
Gretchen
was
there.

CHINA :

sharing the adventures

with Little Greenie

Hangin' on the telephone..waiting to depart

The Forbidden City

Riding the wind

Great view of the Forbidden City

Garden/The Forbidden City

On the train to Xian/prepared for the five hour journey with some Julie's

Marching with the TerraCotta Warriors/Xian

Admiring some beautiful ink and brush work at The National Museum of Chinese Art/Beijing

Contemplating works of a Zen master/NMOCA/Brijing

Enjoying a blue sky in the sculpture park at NMOCA/Beijing

The long climb up The Great Wall

I am HERE!

Certified by Mao himself

Good night,Beijing

 

A BIRTHDAY TRIP
TRAVELOGUE

IN THREE PARTS

  

Part one

“Getting there is half the fun...”

I’ve been flying for nearly four decades 

I remember
Flying was:
Travel agents
The smoking section of the plane
The occasional pat down in a curtained room
Checking up to two bags for free
Luggage with no wheelies
Carry on for a toothbrush and extra panties
Metal eating utensils
Warm food served to everyone
Warm hand towels for everyone
Travel was glamorous

Oh how times have changes.

Flying is :
Expedia and Travelocity
NO SMOKING anywhere/anytime
 Passing through TSA
Perhaps being subjected to a full body scan
Rules and restrictions on ounces of carry on liquids
WiFi for purchase
Food for purchase
Extra charges for:
an aisle seat,
checking a bag
early boarding (to avoid the charge/inconvenience of checking a bag)
Travel is tedious

No more little kids getting to sit
 in the cockpit
with the captain
Maybe put his hat on

No more
Friendly Skies

No more
Fun