Into the Quiet
In my wanderings around our new neighbourhood I’ve found a lovely spot for contemplation. The Culver Hotel built in 1924 is a wedge shaped Art Deco building which reminds me of Manhattan’s Flatiron Building in Madison Square Park although their architectural styles are different. It stands in the middle of the bustling downtown area of Culver City and has a charmingly leafy patio which whispers of long lunches and intricate conversations. Apparently they do a jazz brunch there of a Sunday which I know we will get around to enjoying one of these days. There’s a cleverly designed open space between the hotel and the Arclight Cinema opposite. With several benches dotted here and there it centres around a water feature with a stone dancing lion surrounded by rising and falling columns of water. It’s a strangely peaceful place to sit with one’s thoughts and so the dog and I often pause to rest awhile in quiet companionship.
There is sudden quiet all around us now in fact. After the swiftness of Christmas, the move and a barely celebrated New Year we jumped straight into the joyful activity of welcoming beloved family into our new home. My father came to stay for ten days and we enjoyed a wonderful time with him where everything in the world seemed right again and situations were painted with colourful ease. Sunshine rather than the persistent rain of last year framed the visit and for some reason I was very aware of the speed of time. In the space left by his leaving I am reminded of so many things but in particular the ever present danger of taking such precious occurrences for granted.
And so we move forward into the quiet with the round of activities familiar to all parents. We took a walk with the dog yesterday afternoon. As we strolled at a leisurely pace dictated by canine sniffing and general contrariness, our daughter chattered merrily of all her doings and my husband and I listened with half an ear while thinking about the week ahead. There’s so much to see and explore now that we’ve moved across town but of more importance to me is the beautiful new space we have found for ourselves at home. It’s an oasis in this land, whose lifeblood often seems composed entirely of relentless sunshine, strain and success, where for vital moments each day we can rest in peaceful comfort as time passes slowly, memories are made and dreams are born.
