This is Gail Gatterburg sitting at her kitchen table in Retz, Austria. She is no doubt in the midst of telling a story from the arsenal born of her truly Bohemian existence. She is the great inspiration of my life. As a figure, long before we ever met, she always captured our imagination because she was the fairy-tale aunt who managed to escape this humdrum tacky life, in favor of the life of the theatre in Vienna, velvet capes and dirndls, real candles ablaze on the Christmas tree, air-mail, advent calendars, courtyards with linden trees, a bicycle--she never learned to drive a car--and forging life-long friendships with actors and play-writes, artists and wine-makers, aristocrats and musicians. A glittering bunch indeed.
The waking dream that is breakfast with Gail. Her kitchen is part of the 17th Century wing of the monstery in Retz. The candles are lit, there is fresh bread warmed in the oven, an assortment of spreads and preserves, creamed honey from the monks across the courtyard, sliced ham, and sometimes soft-boiled eggs in egg cups--like on Masterpiece theatre, you break the shell with your knife, and eat the creamy yolk with a tiny spoon made of shell. The coffee is strong Viennese coffee with milk warmed in an ancient silver pitcher. She creates this breakfast--whether we are there or not--because she delights in it!
Gail in Irena Rosc's studio, in a famous nearby castle. Irena and I had talked of collaborating. I am afraid I have yet to get the ball rolling.
Gail on our balcony in Mlini near Dubrovnik, Croatia. Maren, Gail, and I went there on holiday two summers back. We were enchanted by the "Pearl of the Adriatic". Maren put the trip together, and I was heavily subsidized by them both. It was golden.
Gail afloat in the Adriatic. This is around the time she exclaimed,"I have discovered what I am: a Goddess in a portable temple!"
Gail and my darling cousin Maren, who is like a sister to me, and my partner in crime. They are blood related, beautiful and complex.
Our fish picnic! We were so ecstatic in this moment.
I am thinking of Gail. Missing her. Wishing for her speedy recovery. Coming to terms with the fact that I can't imagine life without her in this world. She had hip surgery and is still in the hospital. It seems to have gone really well. She is about to turn 74. Sometimes I feel like a failure because I have not escaped this humdrum tacky world. In fact, here I sit in Salt Lake City, Utah and the clock is ticking.
It is up to us to luxuriate in the life we have created for ourselves...
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