The Gift of Time

Three years ago I was leading a group on an idea hunt through Seattle when I stumbled upon the Experience Music Project building which was like nothing I had ever seen before. The sculptural quality, the color and sheen of the building just captivated me and I made a mental note to find out more about Frank Gehry, the architect. Last night I watched "The Sketches of Frank Gehry" (directed by his long-time friend Sydney Pollack) and was astounded at Gehry's work and his creative process. At the end of the film, Frank Gehry is visiting one of his buildings and he gently runs his fingertips along the curve of a wall. That's exactly what I want to do ... I want to see and touch each one of his amazing buildings. I want to see the spectrum of colors that ripple across their unique shapes with the changing of the light.

Not having anything else planned for the day, I went to my computer and put together a quick database of the Gehry buildings and where they are ... an idea started forming about a pilgrimage to Gehry's buildings. A lot are in the LA area so I booked tickets for an Angelique Kidjo concert in February (held in the Walt Disney Concert Hall - a Gehry building) and started charting an itinerary to Spain and Germany. It then suddenly occurred to me just how incredible this time is. I've have been whining and groaning about being alone when what I actually have is the complete freedom to follow my whims. For most of my life I have yearned for time. Time to think, learn, do new projects, meditate, or time to have long, rambling conversations with no purpose other than to be connected to another person. Now I have that time. My life has become extremely simple with very few commitments, appointments or other time drains. Most mornings I wake up with a gloriously clean calendar, a blank slate calling me to follow my inclinations and do what I want to do.

What a gift! Even if I don't wind up going to Spain to see the Guggenheim Bilbao, I can if I want to. I have the time.