Carolyn is one of our “OG” community members and we love to see her face on our monthly Zoom Cafés! She’s a true creative with an amazing eye, and shares words of wisdom with us here.

What moment in your life made you think, “After that, life was never the same.” 

My Father died suddenly when I was 12, just three months before my 13th birthday. I adored him, we didn’t get to say goodbye and I knew that nothing would ever be the same. It was not… I struggled with grief and a sense of loss that was overwhelming. I was a strong, smart, defiant girl and I closed myself off, vowing never to be that hurt again. When you live a long time, there are more moments that serve as “markers.”  

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

I take a walk. Nature is my place and if I can just get out the door, outside, even in a city, and walk, things will clear up. I have meditated through writing for years, so writing is important. What I’ve learned that really helps is to do nothing for a while. Usually a little time will clear it up.

What would you do if you had the whole day to yourself?

I curate my days. In other times, when I travelled and worked, I would take a day to go to museums, to eat in a lovely new spot, to explore. Now that I don’t “work”, and with these Covid days, I like to get a good walk in, some Morning Pages, and I get up early. Today I walked to a friend’s house, who saves the Sunday NY Times, leaving it on her porch. I took time to catch up on my reading. My house is clean and organized, a friend is coming for socially distanced dinner and there’ll be a twilight walk. I am curating each day now, with time to see what I really feel like doing. Making plans and having something to look forward to is important. I love listening to a challenging book while I walk. A really special day is spent in my studio, creating jewelry or writing or making art. 

What is the best thing about being a woman? 

I love being alive, being human, making connections. I love laughing out loud. I love being an “old woman” who can get away with almost anything. Being a “woman” also means the “girlie” things; taking a shower with my favorite soap from New Orleans Hove’ perfumers, Tea Olive, makeup, lotions, pretty clothes, looking great, costuming for daily life! Playing “dress up.” And did I say I love to flirt?!

What’s the one piece of clothing you can’t live without?  

Honestly, it’s my Brooks running shoes so that I can walk for miles. I wish they were better looking. Being able to stay upright and mobile is most important. Now I know I can live without most things! After years of owning a boutique and collecting so many things, I loved selling and finding new items, a comfortable cotton t-shirt, almost anything aqua or turquoise. But I am detaching; hoping to eliminate what no longer serves.

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  1. […] Carolyn is one of our original #alembikawomen community members and we love to see her face on our monthly Zoom Cafés! She lives her life with creative curiosity, a desire for community and a mission to live out loud and actively plan her funeral (she doesn’t want to miss a party, even her own.) […]

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