How long is your past, how far is your future
Laura Battle, Collection of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College
Hi friends! I’m at Vassar College this week, dropping off my youngest daughter and helping her get settled. There’s so much I could tell you about her journey to this specific place and time. Alas, she is a private person, so I’m authorised only to say this: I’m so proud of her!
Everyone keeps asking if I’m okay.
Reader, I am very okay. No shade to my mother friends who are sad and a little freaked out - but I feel happy and free as a bird. After all, we raised two kind, intelligent daughters who are reasonably healthy and well-adjusted. I’m so relieved! And frankly excited about what’s next…
Second half of 2025
We’re moving out of our family home in London and into a smaller, two bedroom loft-style apartment. We still need a London footprint for work purposes - but we’re happy to have something smaller and easier to manage. Our lake house in France will become the new “family” home.
Travel! Our travel schedule is no longer dictated by school breaks! In the next four months, I have trips planned to New York, Prague, France, Indiana and India. Yes, INDIA! I’m so excited.
Writing more books! I’ve got two book ideas in my head that are banging around and trying to get out. I think if I set my mind to it, I can finish one of them by Christmas.
First half of 2026
French! I’m looking into various French intensive courses. I’m embarrassed about how bad my French has become and I need to course correct.
The Haute Route! We’ve long daydreamed about this trip and it’s time to make it happen. The Haute Route is a multi-day, hut-to-hut trek through the mountains from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. We’ll do this in the summer, when the terrain isn’t so punishing, but even so this hike is no joke. I need to start training asap.
All of this has me asking myself - what is this blog about, now that my life is shifting? I’ve been struggling to keep up with weekly posts. I think mostly because I don’t like to write about my family/friends - and this summer has been all about family/friends.
So then what should I post about? Especially, when so much of my life moving forward will be about travel and creative projects…. Here’s what I’m thinking:
A Sunday photo dump. And if I have the time/energy for it - one line a day from my journal. Like instagram, but just for me.
Once a month: an update on my works in progress. What I’m working on, how it’s going. (Like this post!)
The overachiever in me would also like to post one poem a week, but that’s probably pushing it if I’m also trying to write a book before Christmas. So I will resist the temptation for now. Maybe do this in 2026?
Look at me! Making progress on my goals.
Xo, L