by Samantha Fagan | Feb 28, 2022 | Substack
My February began in Guatemala, a country I first visited in 1958 when the country was on the verge of civil war. Decades of war and unrest followed and it wasn’t until 1996 that Guatemala returned to a peaceful, civilian government. During my visit, I visited a Mayan city, Tikal, hidden in the jungle of Northern Guatemala and accessible only by plane, a battered DC-3 airplane that landed on a primitive dirt runway.
Now, almost 65 years later, a group of my friends joined me on a hike to Tikal and beyond, way beyond, to the Mayan city of El Mirador.
This experience inspired me to ask deeper questions about ancient civilizations and the validity of these stories over time, and whether or not that even matters.
It’s quite an interesting subject and I’d love to hear your take on it. Come to the jungle with me as I expand on this topic further inside this month’s February Substack Newsletter – out today!
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by Samantha Fagan | Jan 27, 2022 | Substack
While quarantined in Barbados as the country’s health officials considered the multiple COVID tests we took to pass just one night in transit in the country…I discovered this wall with a dazzling display of lighting options.
Flipping those switches must punctuate the daily opening of the meal service.
More than light switches, the lighting of our shared spaces is a long story. Some of the storytellers are artists who represent light in their sculptures and painting. Filmmakers and photographers are all about light.
Read more about this experience in the latest issue of my Substack newsletter, out today: https://robynmetcalfe.substack.com/subscribe
by Samantha Fagan | Dec 17, 2021 | Substack
Are you familiar with the origins of Parmesan cheese?
In the 17th century, Samuel Pepys buried his cheese in the ground surrounding his house, perhaps in his garden, as a way to protect a precious asset.
Parmesan cheese was and still is considered a valuable commodity. Popes gave it as gifts to royalty. Now, over five centuries later, a bank keeps a vault filled with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
This gives us a sense of how the market was, and how cheese helps make the world go ‘round…
Parmesan cheese is one topic in my latest Substack newsletter, out today! I also include pieces about climate change, a story of when I marched on Earth Day in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the ‘70s next to LSD-taking liberals as a conservative sorority girl, and how we can amplify the “good” in the world when we come together.
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by Samantha Fagan | Nov 25, 2021 | Substack
After a quick visit back to Maine this month, I felt the seasonal transition through the sights and smells along my morning run. It was cold: 30 degrees feels bitter cold when you arrive from Austin, Texas where the morning temperatures plummet to 50 degrees. The cold air seeped through my two layers of winter gloves.
My shoes crunched along bright orange and red leaves cast into my footpath by the recent storm. The trees overhead burst into golden blaze when the warm sun reflected through the branches.
Enhancing these seasonal impressions were the smells that infused my path. Dried pine needles sent out their smell, which seemed honey-like as their scent grew as the morning sun settled and cast its light on the path.
All these sensations connect to the language of our senses, in particular this language of smell.
I wrote about this new journey through my senses in this month’s Substack newsletter (out tomorrow), and also shared about the way others use their senses to impart their art into the world.
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by Samantha Fagan | Oct 28, 2021 | Substack
This summer while in Maine, I changed my running route to head south instead of north along our rocky coastline. Early morning, just after a short espresso and a skim of news headlines and some spiritual reflection time.
Out the door, a mix of walking hills and running flats and downhills. Fall seeping into the edges of my vision. Gloves this time. Sandy shoulders, ferns, deep ramshackle woods, steely, bitter smells from moss, leaves turning reds and oranges, falling on the ground.
I wrote about this new running route in my latest Substack newsletter, and also shared about the interesting characters (people!) I met along the way.
Visit https://robynmetcalfe.substack.com/subscribe to sign up to get this month’s issue, which includes more on this topic plus some other short essays I think you’ll like.
by Samantha Fagan | Sep 30, 2021 | Substack
Country roads can take you home to where you belong and recently, the residents of Owls Head had a homecoming of their own to celebrate 100 years of this town.
Locked up in their homes during the pandemic, scattered by the constraints of mask mandates, the partygoers were energized and enthusiastic about their music and each other.
I wrote about this charming and exciting celebration in my latest Substack newsletter, and also touched on some of the unique and interesting history about Owls Head you might not already know of!
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