A pictorial report
first few days on the road
Hello everyone,
The last few days have been spent walking, thinking, trains, full moon and many weather changes. It was strange to leave my room in New York, not saying goodbye to Cairo, not picking her up and sharing one last little nuzzle, but we continue on. Again, thank you all for sharing your own losses, and your beautiful comments after reading Jesse’s words.
Once in Paris I had a plethora of duties, signing books, meeting with my publisher (Gallimard), attending to much press and preparing a few book events.
On Saturday my great friend and French agent Alain Lahana, Jesse and I headed to Roche, the site of the Rimbaud property, to shoot an episode of La Grande Librairie with Augustus Trapanard. We discussed life with Rimbaud and his process writing Season in Hell. It was a moving experience to speak of his work on the very land he wrote it. I have worked with Augustus before, a warm, intelligent and empathetic man; he seemed quite moved to see the farmland of the Rimbaud family.
Before returning to Paris by train, we stopped at the magnificent Reims Cathedral. It struck me how the massive structure must have appeared to Joan of Arc, a country girl in male armor, arriving to fight for France. Jesse and I lit candles for Cairo, pausing to say a little prayer for her. Then we sat outside the cathedral for awhile, thinking of nothing, quiet and content.
We have all loved Cairo and have loved our own very missed senior cats. In Cairo’s memory we made a donation to a wonderful organization here in Chicago called One Tail at a Time which saves and cares for many vulnerable animals including senior cats. I think she would have approved.
These are beautiful images, Patti. That they flow seamlessly among Cairo, Roche, Reims Cathedral, Joan of Arc, somehow makes it all the more moving. Life and the memory of it, as Elizabeth Bishop wrote. Moments to be slipped between the pages of the Book of Days.
Thank you for sending this missive and for such wonderful pictures.
Wishing you safe travels; wishing everyone well, and warmth.
As ever,
Robin