What a fun read! Quite poignant in places. I went to live in Florence for around 10 months back in the late 1970's. I would have moved there for certain but it was in that period between being part of the EU and the tragic so callelled " Brexit"
I must say that I felt and feel to this day more Italian than English. Having no real roots or family to come home to ,it was in fact a bitter blow to have to leave ( having not secured myself an Italian husband ). We could only stay for a year and as I was only 19 had little to bring to the economy😂
Having lived in many places over a long lifetime, I tend to feel either instantly at home ( picking up on the character of a place and its folks) or not too enamoured, most often thankfully its the former!
Paris, with my beloved daughter living in it, with you Babsy Biko and the other gorgeous friends she has there has made it a wonderful added bonus to visit. It certainly feels like home as you are all so kind to meet up up and indulge me.lolol.
It also happens to have exactly the qualities with which you write so informatively and eloquently
Hannah.
Always love to read your substack.I am a techno idiot so will kindly ask how to contribute ?
In the meantime hope your " back to school" feeling and immersion into sweet Autumn in your home
of Paris, are full of cafe life and the delightful doggos of the glorioualy situated dog park ( literally at the very foot of The Sacre Coeur)
"...the inside-outside perspective of someone who is from here but no longer totally of here."
When I went away to college it was 200 miles away from home in the Northwestern part of Ohio in a town called Ada that was as small as its name. I was from the city, Youngstown Ohio, on the eastern border next to the Pennsylvania line. Back in the 1950s and the 1960s Youngstown was called "Little New York" and "The Murder Capital of the United States" because of all the gangster activity. A mobster would start their car only after the entire car was thoroughly inspected from ground to top, for fear of getting blown up. It was like Londonderry back during "The Troubles."
So going away from Youngstown in 1972 was like being exiled to nowhere. Ada, Ohio was in the middle of the flattest land I ever saw; 360 degrees of horizon. I couldn't breathe! And there was no activity compared to growing up back in the city.
The first year there I was dying every day! However I noticed after a year away that coming back home to Youngstown was different for me. It was the inside outside perspective of someone who was from here but no longer. You really hit the nail on the head with that perspective.
"...which some have unkindly said resembles retired football manager Alex Ferguson more than our late monarch..." Guffaw!!!
"You better not go to Magaluf, otherwise me and you are done!”. A young woman recounting what she told her boyfriend, to her friend..."
Oh Hannah!! Those words make me feel young, again!! And make me LOL!! I was told many times, metaphorically, not to go to Magaluf!!
Living abroad is exactly like being in a big buzzing tent, going from interaction to interaction at a dizzying pace.
Wisdom is realizing that everything sounds more suave in your head!
"Deracinated!!"
What a perfect word!! I'd never heard of it before!! I'll put it to use!
"...but the brain itself is still this same old brain…and it can only take so much." I'm talking into my smartphone right now and I find it exhausting. It's like being a tennis ball bouncing from instant moment to instant moment.
Rentree' "It’s an all-ages, all-purpose back for school..."
Yes!! It's a universal description of the Fall!
I love the artwork as usual just wonderful! Hannah I think this is your best newsletter yet!
And I will check out Less by Andrew Sean Greer.
My tip for everyone is to check out the movie, "The Gold of Naples," which is one of actress Sophia Loren's earliest roles from 1954. It's a series of episodes taking place in Naples back in the day. The last episode is called "The Professor" and it is just hilarious, especially to one who is Italian and grew up among the old Italians; just hilarious! The Professor is the wise man of the town and everybody comes to him for advice.
Super photos of your Patty's family. Very handsome Scottish lads intheir kilts.
Well, as is so often the case in life... loch lomond ,more especially the castle or Baronial hall in the pics
Is around 35 miles or so from us. We are in a tiny fishing village on the banks of Loch Fyne, which is world renowned for its gorgeous light smoked salmon.
Crazy really how people so often " gel " then find common ground via fami,ies or hobbies or the most random synchronicity isnt it? Some of these times in my life have been truly weird! As well as delightful. Nice to see such a big happy clan and I wish them many long years of joy and love.
There is a definite specific pleasure to being a visitor in your home town, the familiar and the noticing. Also thinking of you my pal as always at this time of year, my absolute favourite, the only New Year I recognise. Tanned on the metro in a crisp work blouse energy, we absolutely love to see it.
Oh dear... having worked as an On ology sister in a large tea hing hospital before I left to become a writer...I know the salacious gossip mill of a hospital! A place seething with love affairs both secret and out there!😂
Like you, I have been lucky enough to know long and beautiful marriages ( only two) and the finest
Most wonderful gifts from my very sadly dissollved first one, were my incredible children.like yours, now long grown up and enduring the modern world of love.
Our generation wrote letters.something this one will most likely never know, so a pen friend would mean exchanging long communications like ours. Sharing stories and fun with no other purpose than to enjoy the content.Do you remember the treasured love letters? The Christmas cards containing cash from Aunties and Grandmamas.? We would treasure and re read our personal mail.
I suppose all generations fade and make way for the young and the new , but like darling Hannah says, the mind is still much as it was,before this mad fast paced technology began messing with us!
Great to exchange the modern equivalent of a letter Dear Judge and glad that you too have your love
and Sons.
Sadly, Bonnie along with us, cant " give them something to talk about " in quite the same way...
Hope your leg is not giving you too much jip ( as we say in England)
Take care and lets see where Hannahs musings lead us old folks next week😂
Darling Hannah!
What a fun read! Quite poignant in places. I went to live in Florence for around 10 months back in the late 1970's. I would have moved there for certain but it was in that period between being part of the EU and the tragic so callelled " Brexit"
I must say that I felt and feel to this day more Italian than English. Having no real roots or family to come home to ,it was in fact a bitter blow to have to leave ( having not secured myself an Italian husband ). We could only stay for a year and as I was only 19 had little to bring to the economy😂
Having lived in many places over a long lifetime, I tend to feel either instantly at home ( picking up on the character of a place and its folks) or not too enamoured, most often thankfully its the former!
Paris, with my beloved daughter living in it, with you Babsy Biko and the other gorgeous friends she has there has made it a wonderful added bonus to visit. It certainly feels like home as you are all so kind to meet up up and indulge me.lolol.
It also happens to have exactly the qualities with which you write so informatively and eloquently
Hannah.
Always love to read your substack.I am a techno idiot so will kindly ask how to contribute ?
In the meantime hope your " back to school" feeling and immersion into sweet Autumn in your home
of Paris, are full of cafe life and the delightful doggos of the glorioualy situated dog park ( literally at the very foot of The Sacre Coeur)
Lots of love to you Hannah xx
"...the inside-outside perspective of someone who is from here but no longer totally of here."
When I went away to college it was 200 miles away from home in the Northwestern part of Ohio in a town called Ada that was as small as its name. I was from the city, Youngstown Ohio, on the eastern border next to the Pennsylvania line. Back in the 1950s and the 1960s Youngstown was called "Little New York" and "The Murder Capital of the United States" because of all the gangster activity. A mobster would start their car only after the entire car was thoroughly inspected from ground to top, for fear of getting blown up. It was like Londonderry back during "The Troubles."
So going away from Youngstown in 1972 was like being exiled to nowhere. Ada, Ohio was in the middle of the flattest land I ever saw; 360 degrees of horizon. I couldn't breathe! And there was no activity compared to growing up back in the city.
The first year there I was dying every day! However I noticed after a year away that coming back home to Youngstown was different for me. It was the inside outside perspective of someone who was from here but no longer. You really hit the nail on the head with that perspective.
"...which some have unkindly said resembles retired football manager Alex Ferguson more than our late monarch..." Guffaw!!!
"You better not go to Magaluf, otherwise me and you are done!”. A young woman recounting what she told her boyfriend, to her friend..."
Oh Hannah!! Those words make me feel young, again!! And make me LOL!! I was told many times, metaphorically, not to go to Magaluf!!
Living abroad is exactly like being in a big buzzing tent, going from interaction to interaction at a dizzying pace.
Wisdom is realizing that everything sounds more suave in your head!
"Deracinated!!"
What a perfect word!! I'd never heard of it before!! I'll put it to use!
"...but the brain itself is still this same old brain…and it can only take so much." I'm talking into my smartphone right now and I find it exhausting. It's like being a tennis ball bouncing from instant moment to instant moment.
Rentree' "It’s an all-ages, all-purpose back for school..."
Yes!! It's a universal description of the Fall!
I love the artwork as usual just wonderful! Hannah I think this is your best newsletter yet!
And I will check out Less by Andrew Sean Greer.
My tip for everyone is to check out the movie, "The Gold of Naples," which is one of actress Sophia Loren's earliest roles from 1954. It's a series of episodes taking place in Naples back in the day. The last episode is called "The Professor" and it is just hilarious, especially to one who is Italian and grew up among the old Italians; just hilarious! The Professor is the wise man of the town and everybody comes to him for advice.
https://youtu.be/D-qowrEufko?si=SqVN4c5k7IYUKNQ1
Hi Judge Roy Bean!
Super photos of your Patty's family. Very handsome Scottish lads intheir kilts.
Well, as is so often the case in life... loch lomond ,more especially the castle or Baronial hall in the pics
Is around 35 miles or so from us. We are in a tiny fishing village on the banks of Loch Fyne, which is world renowned for its gorgeous light smoked salmon.
Crazy really how people so often " gel " then find common ground via fami,ies or hobbies or the most random synchronicity isnt it? Some of these times in my life have been truly weird! As well as delightful. Nice to see such a big happy clan and I wish them many long years of joy and love.
Thanks for super photos. How extra ordinary!
Take care my dear penfriend
K
There is a definite specific pleasure to being a visitor in your home town, the familiar and the noticing. Also thinking of you my pal as always at this time of year, my absolute favourite, the only New Year I recognise. Tanned on the metro in a crisp work blouse energy, we absolutely love to see it.
Awwwr, thats a true and lasting love story judge!
Oh dear... having worked as an On ology sister in a large tea hing hospital before I left to become a writer...I know the salacious gossip mill of a hospital! A place seething with love affairs both secret and out there!😂
Like you, I have been lucky enough to know long and beautiful marriages ( only two) and the finest
Most wonderful gifts from my very sadly dissollved first one, were my incredible children.like yours, now long grown up and enduring the modern world of love.
Our generation wrote letters.something this one will most likely never know, so a pen friend would mean exchanging long communications like ours. Sharing stories and fun with no other purpose than to enjoy the content.Do you remember the treasured love letters? The Christmas cards containing cash from Aunties and Grandmamas.? We would treasure and re read our personal mail.
I suppose all generations fade and make way for the young and the new , but like darling Hannah says, the mind is still much as it was,before this mad fast paced technology began messing with us!
Great to exchange the modern equivalent of a letter Dear Judge and glad that you too have your love
and Sons.
Sadly, Bonnie along with us, cant " give them something to talk about " in quite the same way...
Hope your leg is not giving you too much jip ( as we say in England)
Take care and lets see where Hannahs musings lead us old folks next week😂
Till then...
Oh this made my heart ache, I am missing Paris very much at the moment ❤️
It’s very strange being back in the U.K. I’m also noticing funny things - like just how many roundabouts there are 😂
Enjoy le rentrée and enjoy those cafés en terrasse
Ps Judge.. excuse awful grammar, my keyboard is too sensitive and I swear has a sinister mind of its own!😂