Tuesday, May 3, 2011

A life...




Just finished reading a biography of Edith Wharton.


What an utterly amazing woman! I traveled with her through New York, Newport, Lennox Ma, then overseas, frequently! She worked at her writing, at her loves, at her friendships...then she worked tirelessly during the war for those in need. I was inspired. A quote of hers that really spoke to me from a letter which she wrote to Mary Berenson:


"of this wonderful adventure of living, which seems to me to pile up its glories like an horizon - wide sunsets as the light declines. I'm afraid I'm an incorrigible life- lover & life-wonderer & adventturer."
She seemed unafraid of aging and instead of shrinking from old age she saw how truly wonderful the later years of life could be. Her sister in law, Mini Jones, wrote sadly about the "woes and privations of old age," Edith responded: "The farther I have penetrated into this ill-famed Valley the more full of interest, and beauty too, have I found it. It is full of its own quiet radiance, and in that light I discover many enchanting details which the midday dazzle obscured."

Oh yes, how delicious...off to discover enchanting details today!
Her novels oft reflect on things spiritual and things very human. She is my heroine for today. Thank you Edith!