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Dear Friend,
A brighter October I could not have imagined. Walking through the aspen groves high above Aspen, Colorado on the last day of September was a glorious reminder to think positive. Nature has seen it all and the seasons do not fail us. The forest was ablaze with shimmering golden leaves, some gently falling in the sunshine, floating about and falling like yellow jewels on the pine trees. It was a bluebird, crystal clear day, the air cool and crisp. I was on a pure Rocky Mountain jet-lagged high.
After five months of sedentary life, I traveled. Not to Italy, nor to Spain, nor to Morocco. As you probably know, these countries are not open to Americans, putting PMCA at a loss for trips for most of 2020. Yet luckily, the UK accepts Americans if you quarantine for two weeks. The decision to leave wasn't easy. The reason for going attracted me beyond my hesitations, plus, I wanted to know first hand what it would be like to travel again. I was invited to attend a writing retreat on the wild west coast of Scotland on a private island. Quarantine sorted.
The island offered a respite from woe. It was literally a breath of fresh air from the smoke filled skies of Colorado. Eilean Shona privately owned by Vanessa Branson, was also where E.M.Barrie wrote the screenplay for Peter Pan. Magical it was, moist and laden with moss covered trees and forest. The channel rose and fell with the tides against craggy shores and inlets, making a perfect home for herons. Morning hikes straight up the hill gave tremendous views of the isle of Skye and Mull and other inner Hebridean islands. It was mushroom season. Foraging basket in hand, Wellington's to keep me dry, I foraged for chanterelles with great delight. We ate chanterelles on toast, on pasta, and in risotto. And then there was the business of writing the illustrious Irish writer, Polly Devlin. When travel unexpectedly ground to a halt, it was shocking. This was the perfect moment for me to finally settle into writing.
Stay tuned: Eilean Shona Adventure in the works.
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