Dear Jesse, the day before yesterday the doorbell rang and it was a courier employee who delivered a package to me: it was the People have the Power t-shirts and sweatshirt and the American edition of your mother's beautiful book Book of Days that I ordered after reading your post of support to preserve the Elizabeth Street Garden on August 23rd. You don't know how happy it made me!
Yesterday, however, an immense sadness: our cat Pussi died because of the tumor that had grown above her nose. For more than a year I cared for her with so much love and dedication but a few days ago she began to show the first signs of suffering and difficulty breathing. With great pain I chose not to let her suffer and called the vet who came to us in the afternoon to put her to sleep and suspend her vital functions. It was so sad but now every new day would have been an ever greater suffering and probably the end much more painful. This morning my brother and I buried her in our garden, in a flowerbed near the house.
As always I greet you with great affection and with you all the friends of our beautiful community.
Thank you for your poem, Jesse, and I hope that the campaign to save Elizabth Street Garden is successful. I had wanted to comment on this earlier, but as I am in a far distant place, I didn't feel that my comments would be of much help. However, I will say a little bit ...
I'm very fortunate to live where I do, not because it isn't a densely crowded and extremely urbanised part of the world, but because despite that it's never felt unbearably so. I live in a suburb of Taipei City, previously in Yonghe District and now in bordering Zhonghe. Yonghe is one of the most densely populated places in the world apparently with (as of 2019) 39,000 people per square kilometer; however, perhaps due to the numerous park spaces scattered throughout the district and the city, open spaces are always little more than a walk away. We live just around the corner from the largest park in the district, but many smaller parks exist as well as the riverside park areas that extend throughout the city. I'm very grateful to have these spaces and I take comfort in seeing how many people here make use of these spaces--watching groups of elderly doing tai-qi in the morning or singing karaoke in the afternoon (yes, there's space for that!), kids playing games with their parents or on the playgrounds, people bringing their dogs to the dog park, and so on. The sense of community is palpable and there's room for everyone. I know the good that it brings the community here; I see it every day that I walk my son to school and every time we go there ourselves.
Having just seen pictures of Elizabeth Street Garden, one immediately sees how beautiful it is and how much care has been invested in it by the community there. These spaces are essential; anyone who visits them knows this to be true. New York City, although a great city, needs more of these spaces, not fewer, and will be a better city for preserving Elizabth Street Garden.
*ahem* Ok, not so little to say, but I mean it sincerely. Parks are wonderful and I love that we have so many here, so I hope and pray (through this channel as it were) that you and your community prevail.
I came across this quote at an exihbit yesterday:
"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.
It is then burst into flame by an encounter
with another human being.
We should all be thankful for those people
who rekindle the inner spirit.
- Albert Schweitzer
... who also said: "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
Can't argue with that. Thanks, Jesse, and to everyone.
Oh wow. The bit about seeing the lyrics of the world and wondering why dreams are not like memories—I copied that into my commonplace book. It really resonates me me.
I’m glad I read it now, as I’m moving toward sleep. I hope that my dreams tonight will respond.
So, a reprieve for the garden. Thanks to you and all who've been working to save this special space.
Yeoman's work indeed. But it sounds like the work is ongoing. We can still be hopeful.
Narrowing in on a few lines from your poem that resonated - I too "gaze in awe at the firmament". The night sky above the holler calls me out, whether starless or crystal clear and studded with stellar
sparkles. "The music of the Drift"... "I saw the lyrics of all the world" - those lines struck a chord - a
Ohhh I'm so happy you like that - I had originally had it as 'iridescent' though my mom loved the word 'incandescent' more so I gave it a chance to shine :) <3
Thank you for this beautiful post, Jesse. I hope the garden will be saved and thank you for continuing to post and advocate for it. Love the poetic reference to Uncle Wiggly. I still have my Uncle Wiggly board game that I got for my 4th birthday in 1967. A favorite character.
First of all, the 14 day notice is great news in that it has not yet been served. The longer it gets tied up in the system the more time there is to save the garden. I changed my profile pic here to feature the People Have The Power garden t shirt with, of course my little touch of animated greenery on my shoulder (my bird Rico)
The poem, okay this is going to sound a tad frivolous but....
"I swung my belongings round my head
and launched them into the sky
Free as the birds collecting formation"
For some inexplicable reason the opening credits for the Mary Tyler Moore Show came into my mind where she launches her hat skywards.
Taking it back to ground level, perhaps I felt in those words the kind of throwing caution to the wind action of launching your belongings skywards, letting them fly free and land where they may.
In our lives we do try to be responsible adults most of the time but it is also kind of exhilarating to cast everything skywards and gaze with childlike wonder at where everything falls, Into place or out of place, it is still perfect:)
Ohhhh my gosh I love that you said this all so much - Alec and I watched a Mary Tyler Moore episode maybe 2 nights ago!!! I told him what you said and he laughed, it's so great. Alignment as always!! Thank you for all of your amazing efforts and support and incredible energy, also as always!!! And I love the photos of you and Rico in your shirts :) **just pictured a tiny PHTP shirt for Rico , going to need to tell Hillary at Kin Ship!
Oh, and the name, sky blue pink. When people used to ask me what my favorite color was I always said sky blue pink. Even though it’s pretty much sky blue. I found that name on the color of a nail polish bottle when I was younger. Did you just come up with that?
Really good news on not getting notice. And lovely poem. I read it backwards as well and it actually works really well. Try doing that. Tell me what you think. Cheers!
Dear Jesse, the day before yesterday the doorbell rang and it was a courier employee who delivered a package to me: it was the People have the Power t-shirts and sweatshirt and the American edition of your mother's beautiful book Book of Days that I ordered after reading your post of support to preserve the Elizabeth Street Garden on August 23rd. You don't know how happy it made me!
Yesterday, however, an immense sadness: our cat Pussi died because of the tumor that had grown above her nose. For more than a year I cared for her with so much love and dedication but a few days ago she began to show the first signs of suffering and difficulty breathing. With great pain I chose not to let her suffer and called the vet who came to us in the afternoon to put her to sleep and suspend her vital functions. It was so sad but now every new day would have been an ever greater suffering and probably the end much more painful. This morning my brother and I buried her in our garden, in a flowerbed near the house.
As always I greet you with great affection and with you all the friends of our beautiful community.
Luca 🌸❤️🐈🤗❤️🌸
Thank you for your poem, Jesse, and I hope that the campaign to save Elizabth Street Garden is successful. I had wanted to comment on this earlier, but as I am in a far distant place, I didn't feel that my comments would be of much help. However, I will say a little bit ...
I'm very fortunate to live where I do, not because it isn't a densely crowded and extremely urbanised part of the world, but because despite that it's never felt unbearably so. I live in a suburb of Taipei City, previously in Yonghe District and now in bordering Zhonghe. Yonghe is one of the most densely populated places in the world apparently with (as of 2019) 39,000 people per square kilometer; however, perhaps due to the numerous park spaces scattered throughout the district and the city, open spaces are always little more than a walk away. We live just around the corner from the largest park in the district, but many smaller parks exist as well as the riverside park areas that extend throughout the city. I'm very grateful to have these spaces and I take comfort in seeing how many people here make use of these spaces--watching groups of elderly doing tai-qi in the morning or singing karaoke in the afternoon (yes, there's space for that!), kids playing games with their parents or on the playgrounds, people bringing their dogs to the dog park, and so on. The sense of community is palpable and there's room for everyone. I know the good that it brings the community here; I see it every day that I walk my son to school and every time we go there ourselves.
Having just seen pictures of Elizabeth Street Garden, one immediately sees how beautiful it is and how much care has been invested in it by the community there. These spaces are essential; anyone who visits them knows this to be true. New York City, although a great city, needs more of these spaces, not fewer, and will be a better city for preserving Elizabth Street Garden.
*ahem* Ok, not so little to say, but I mean it sincerely. Parks are wonderful and I love that we have so many here, so I hope and pray (through this channel as it were) that you and your community prevail.
I came across this quote at an exihbit yesterday:
"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.
It is then burst into flame by an encounter
with another human being.
We should all be thankful for those people
who rekindle the inner spirit.
- Albert Schweitzer
... who also said: "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
Can't argue with that. Thanks, Jesse, and to everyone.
I am praying for the garden and marveling your evocative poem.
Oh wow. The bit about seeing the lyrics of the world and wondering why dreams are not like memories—I copied that into my commonplace book. It really resonates me me.
I’m glad I read it now, as I’m moving toward sleep. I hope that my dreams tonight will respond.
So, a reprieve for the garden. Thanks to you and all who've been working to save this special space.
Yeoman's work indeed. But it sounds like the work is ongoing. We can still be hopeful.
Narrowing in on a few lines from your poem that resonated - I too "gaze in awe at the firmament". The night sky above the holler calls me out, whether starless or crystal clear and studded with stellar
sparkles. "The music of the Drift"... "I saw the lyrics of all the world" - those lines struck a chord - a
beautiful celestial chord. Thank you, Jesse
I love the phrase “Incandescent riddles”. Hoping, hoping for salvation for your beautiful garden.
Ohhh I'm so happy you like that - I had originally had it as 'iridescent' though my mom loved the word 'incandescent' more so I gave it a chance to shine :) <3
I’m an abstract painter and I see the pink and gold and snow!!!!!!!
Ohhh this made me smile thank you :)
Thank you for this beautiful post, Jesse. I hope the garden will be saved and thank you for continuing to post and advocate for it. Love the poetic reference to Uncle Wiggly. I still have my Uncle Wiggly board game that I got for my 4th birthday in 1967. A favorite character.
Ohhh this is so wonderful - I would love to see a photo in the chat thread if you have one! Thank you so so much :)
Currently, I don’t have a chat thread, but will post a photo the next time you have start a thread. I think that will work:)
Saw that Martha Stewart came out to support your lovely garden and a fashion show. Sending best wishes!
that's good news about the garden - or at least it's not bad news. the fight continues!
First of all, the 14 day notice is great news in that it has not yet been served. The longer it gets tied up in the system the more time there is to save the garden. I changed my profile pic here to feature the People Have The Power garden t shirt with, of course my little touch of animated greenery on my shoulder (my bird Rico)
The poem, okay this is going to sound a tad frivolous but....
"I swung my belongings round my head
and launched them into the sky
Free as the birds collecting formation"
For some inexplicable reason the opening credits for the Mary Tyler Moore Show came into my mind where she launches her hat skywards.
Taking it back to ground level, perhaps I felt in those words the kind of throwing caution to the wind action of launching your belongings skywards, letting them fly free and land where they may.
In our lives we do try to be responsible adults most of the time but it is also kind of exhilarating to cast everything skywards and gaze with childlike wonder at where everything falls, Into place or out of place, it is still perfect:)
Ohhhh my gosh I love that you said this all so much - Alec and I watched a Mary Tyler Moore episode maybe 2 nights ago!!! I told him what you said and he laughed, it's so great. Alignment as always!! Thank you for all of your amazing efforts and support and incredible energy, also as always!!! And I love the photos of you and Rico in your shirts :) **just pictured a tiny PHTP shirt for Rico , going to need to tell Hillary at Kin Ship!
Lol love the idea of Rico in his PHTP t shirt.
Loved the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda...classics. I used to watch them at 6pm on mondays in Scotland when I was growing up.
Oh, and the name, sky blue pink. When people used to ask me what my favorite color was I always said sky blue pink. Even though it’s pretty much sky blue. I found that name on the color of a nail polish bottle when I was younger. Did you just come up with that?
Ohhhh that's so wonderful - I love that. :) Sky Blue Pink is an Uncle Wiggly reference!
Really good news on not getting notice. And lovely poem. I read it backwards as well and it actually works really well. Try doing that. Tell me what you think. Cheers!
Yes! Back-words!!!✨💖💫
Hoping for the best and that the city finds other alternatives .🤞
I hope the people that pull the levers of power at City Hall do the right thing and let the garden live.
Green spaces are so important. Better than any therapist , just taking the time to tune into nature. May the 14 days notice never appear.