24 December 2005

Emily

Amongst the pictures from friends, circulars and animated snowmen that are arriving in my inbox came this, from Emily, who was only here for about two weeks, two years ago. When we met I was struck by the open-ness and ancient-ness of her face. It was not that she looked old, rather she looked like a frontiers-woman from the old 'West', as if she could have handled a rifle, wagon and horses all at once. She was quiet, capable, entirely unjudgmental and American.

What wisdom is acquired during the course of a life is a result of the mind's tenderness toward the heart.

- Fra Mauro, 16th century cartographer to the court of Venice

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