as we left the skyscraper in manhattan where we work last night, we set the outgoing email message to tell news of our absence on medical leave until September 29th.
the office was empty.
we turned off the lights (we never use the overhead – we have aesthetic standards so we have beautiful lamps).
and took the lift/elevator to the ground floor. got the subway. and tried to release the last conversation: “you’re not seriously going to be offline?!”
yes.
it’s called medical leave for a reason.
we’re sick.
and tumours/tumors/Tobias and his sisters (and other bits of our body they’ve damaged) are going to be cut out.
and that will be painful.
and scary.
and we’ll take the time to heal.
so we said: Yes.
and left it at that.
if we’d spoken up before, we might not have had to learn this lesson the hard way. which would be surprising to people that know us in RL (we have a pretty forceful, albeit quite charming, personality ;)
sometimes the outsides don’t match the insides.
About teamgloria
I used to make my living from writing. And then it all stopped and so I went and did something else, part of which entailed a whole new look from Brooks Brothers (it wasn’t really me, but it was necessary). But a decade later I started to write again (during nights and weekends and frustrated lunch-times and long haul business travel) and one of the things I wrote (or came to me – as I do believe in the whole Muse concept) was a character called Gloria.
Gloria was a trainee angel and sat “up there” waiting for her first assignment. To occupy the hours she should have been studying humans and their foibles, she spent her time enjoying the new celestial movies-on-demand channel and became obsessed by Doris Day. So you can imagine the drama that unfolded when she came to Earth. Quite a shock to the system. But Gloria was determined to see Manhattan through the eyes of a vintage Doris Day movie and something magical started to happen – to me too.
Because I started to do the same thing and life became easier (and then I got Tobias the tumor which changed the trajectory, for now).
There are a lot of glorious people, places & things that help me get through my day – they make my life great – and so I call them “team gloria” (although they don’t usually know that). So I thought I’d start documenting them, and looking out for new people, places & things on a daily basis, and sharing them with you (whomever you are – do say hello. Oh, and tell me who your team gloria is :-)
Sending you all good and wonderful thoughts for tomorrow and the coming weeks. The outsides don’t always match the insides as you say, but we are so much stronger together than we are alone.
You put the “oui” in we.
Be well.
xoxo
am so moved by all the comments and emails and love.
thank you for being there through this process. if we never meet in RL (and maybe we already have – who knows – tis a small world sometimes ;-) may we say how instrumental you’ve been in this “learning how to speak again” through writing team gloria.
_ tg x
Thinking of you constantly…sending lots of positive energy your way. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything. XO, J
my thoughts are with you most especially at this moment in time when new roads are traveled. may the pavement be smooth, the scenery beautiful, the journey a delight, and life be enriched through the experience. my love to you always. dont hesitate, ANY time day or night. xoxoxo G
lady of letters!
thank you :-)
all books ready to be devoured over the coming weeks……bless you for your help, guidance and yummy tomes.
gym
you’re the best!
check on that “wednesday appointment” and we’ll be there before the snow falls on manhattan ;-)
thinking of you…
darling J!
thanks ever so much for visiting us here.
and see you wednesday. we’ll be the one with the oh-so-unlined-neck ;-)
I am always with you
my heart is never off-line
no matter what.
but the office? Oh yes, that’s another matter entirely.
So you are in my thoughts and my prayers and all will be well, all is well always,
loving you madly
george, darling.
we are going to think of a Really Good pull quote for the Second Book.
can’t wait to read the whole thing in the due fruits of time.
Love message in all forms floading fom everywhere in the world. Hope you don’t feel THAT lonely anyway.
I let my drop in this stream, and letting you find, between the lines, some good vribrations.
I send them fom an Other Other Coast, also full of sun and heat/warmth at this moment.
Still looking for the soon to be written next giggles!
In the meantime, take care of yourself.
cheri
nous sommes Overwhelmed.
beaucoup d’amour – surtout par le interweb
c’est uncroyable and Just Delicious.
merci encore, pour tous.
TG: Sending you thoughts of serenity and strength, health and healing. dZ
dZ – bless your heart. thank you. _team gloria xx
I am thinking of you every minute and knowing all will be triumphant. The team is behind you 100%.
darling andrew
bless you for this – it’s been an incredible process……..
see you next week: you’re on the schedule stuck on our fridge ;-)
love TG
I’m going offline too. Am heading for 6 weeks of retreat and will be able to devote serious time to sending you metta (lovingkindness): May you be happy and peaceful, healthy and strong, safe and protected, and may you live with ease. See that you’re surrounded by your own personal sangha, sending care from all over the globe. Will be in touch when I get out. One person in my team gloria is Pema Chodron, whose books Start Where You Are and When Things Fall Apart are simply…glorious.Wishing you a smooth ridexxa
namaste.
as always.
_tg xx