Talking with Rene
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| little house on the hill |
One of the many highlights I experienced while in New York was being able to visit my old friend Rene' - who now owns the Juicy Lucy Juice bar, of which the Village Voice blog on May 20, 2013, had this to say:
Juicy Lucy
Besides being an entrepreneur, Rene' made a move out to the countryside, not too far from the city but far enough- where she has guinea hens, the forest right outside her door and trickling creaks in the backyard. I spent time in this oasis - & last night, we were able to catch up since my return to DK.
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| entrepreneur & free woman extraordinaire Rene' along with the fugitive artist Preach R Sun during our creative winter excursion, not too far from woodstock. |
I first met Rene' back when I was in college, when she first moved to NYC. She and I had mutual friends, and one of the things I remember really liking about her was her free spirit and courage to do what it seems she wants to do. Of Cuban ancestry and raised in Alaska, Rene' has traveled the world and her tenacity and fierce sense of justice are certainly two traits I have always appreciated about her.
The other day I spoke to an old friend of mine whose book is about to be published by a major publisher in January. We both freelanced in NYC at around the same time, and it was always as writers we looked upon each other -thus the strength of our alliance. Two writers are usually synonymous with two readers, so when we do talk it is usually about all things literature.
"Why don't you have a book deal, Lesley? You've been writing novels since back in the day. And you're one of the best." He reminds me, because let me tell you, I do need reminding. We discuss my strategy and move on to other, more interesting things, such as being an expat. "Man", he says, "I checked out this hotel room Baldwin stayed in London, and it was small."
"Yeah", I reply, "he really did it. He really followed his art. If it was about money, Baldwin wouldn't have written."
"Being an expat sucks." He concedes. He's a Harvard graduate, from Brooklyn with Haitian roots.
"Being an expat is overrated." I concur.
"It's like you can come to Europe, but just don't ask for a job." Again, he is a Harvard graduate.
I bring these moments up because it reminds me, lest I forget of the sacrifice that is involved in pursuing your art. In a world where success is measured by many by the amount of your pay check, and where being a starving artist is at best scoffed at, I take this moment to salute my friends and family who understand and support, even if it's an email, a text message, a comment letting me know that they are there - thank you.
farvel,
the lab
