The Elephant in the Room

AUTUMN GREETINGS FROM PAULA AT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!

To Everything There is a Season

But why an Elephant in the Room? Quite simply, the elephant is my totem — a symbol of wisdom and strength, family ties, and the removal of obstacles — worthy ideals that too often go unnoticed in the rush of our daily lives, and whose trumpeting is too low-frequency for our ears. But this elephant wants to be seen and heard!

Writing Update: Sequel-in-progress to Newcomers in an Ancient Land:

I often drew inspiration from those elephantine elements through the long process of writing Newcomers in an Ancient Land — my travel memoir of youthful adventures in search of myself and my roots in the un-holy land of Israel at age eighteen. (If you haven’t yet read it or would like to gift it to a friend, you can order it at your favorite bookstore or Amazon.com.)

Now I’m also (finally) finishing the Newcomers in an Ancient Land sequel with the tentative title of Labyrinth of the Heart — target pub date, spring of 2027. Hey, I may be a slow writer, but what I lack in pace I hope to make up for with intrigue.

Brief synopsis: (Oops, isn’t that an oxymoron since a synopsis is already brief?)

Instead of returning to the US after my gap year in sunny Israel, I follow René, my new-found fiancé, to his birthplace in France in the frigid winter of 1964. But neither his love nor the embrace of his immigrant Jewish family can dispel my initial culture shock as I grieve the Mediterranean warmth and the twin sister I’ve left behind.

Luckily I soon master enough French to begin working in the colorful neighborhood marché and try my hand at local cuisine. But further escapades await, including:

• A narrow brush with human trafficking
• Adventures in Algeria, the Balkans, and England (where I was born)
• A car fire in the Mojave Desert on a return visit to the US (where I grew up)
• A life-altering revelation that will sorely test my marriage

With my heart and head doing somersaults as one year stretches into three, where will this labyrinth lead?

Summer Madness

Fast forward to more recent times.

While others sweltered, my summer in the Bay Area got off to a slow foggy start. But by August I was yearning for my traditional birthday raft trip. (Okay, my birthday is actually in July, but I celebrate the whole summer.) Could I still really run the American River in my eighth decade like I used to do with my kids as an unruly crew and my husband Gib as our trusty guide? Having gracefully hung up his paddles recently, he graciously agreed to hang out onshore while I took a commercial trip with a pair of dear friends. However… spoiler alert… rather than doing the relatively easy South Fork, we opted for the more challenging Class 4 stretch of the Middle Fork.

Luckily, our delightful guide had years of experience, including shooting the fearsome Futaleufú River in his native Patagonia. So I knew I’d be safe through the Middle Fork’s harrowing Tunnel Chute.

But there were also quiet stretches where we could glimpse fish jumping in emerald shoals and ospreys soaring against the sun in the cerulean canopy high above the tree-lined canyons. And sandy banks to relax on over a tasty lunch before portaging (i.e. clambering) over slippery rocks while the guides navigated a Class 5 rapid reserved for the most daring.

Call me crazy, but forgive me if I wax a bit poetic here — the experience truly washed away all my fears and cares! There’s just something about immersing my mind, body, and soul in the flow of a pristine river that resets my spirit. And so far I’ve lived to tell the tale — for which I’m eternally grateful — so I’ll keep rafting as long as I can.

Happily exhausted by day’s end, we headed out for a well-earned dinner at a local restaurant followed by a great night’s sleep in a comfy bed at our beloved Camp Lotus. Glamping may have replaced camping, but rafting is still my greatest summer pleasure!

What Are You Up to Lately?

Like they ask in school… what did you do over the summer? Drop a line…

(I cherish your messages and respect your opinions, just please no AI bombshells or bad taste.)

• What adventures did you have?
• If you traveled, where did you go?
• What successes are you celebrating?
• What has humbled you but made you stronger?

Reaching Out & Reuniting

If you’ve landed here, chances are our paths have crossed somewhere along the way — online or in person, in the dim past or just recently. Maybe we met in a writers group like NAMW or PWL, swimming at King Pool in Berkeley, rafting the American River, through the many portals of the Jewish community, or on a journey through France, Israel, or Morocco. You may have forgotten me, but like an elephant, I haven’t forgotten you. If none of that rings a bell, stick around anyway. But if you’re curious to hear more, hit subscribe here and I’ll keep you posted.

Rules of the Tech Road

I promise to write from my own heart-and-brain-powered creativity, using AI ONLY for purposes of necessary research and to keep your inbox free of overly regular messages.

Stay Tuned!

And above all, hang on to your humanity!

With much love & warmest wishes for a season of renewal,
Paula