Grace

I am going to start this post with a lecture, and end it with grace.

My parents had their own upbringing influenced by European immigrant parents and family and passed their very strong ideas about what was "right" and "wrong" to me and my little brother -- very little fell into a gray area. For example, in our house we were never allowed to refer to Thanksgiving as "Turkey Day"; my father felt that the silly holiday nickname -- used affectionately by almost everyone else in the country -- was wrong, diluting the essence of the celebration and it's meaning, emphasizing extravagance instead of a time for reflection and being with people you care about. My father is not a humorless man, and so I have to think about the nuanced and very adult message he sent to me and my brother by setting this rule, and maybe on this one thing I will allow he was exactly right. :)

We didn't pray before a Thanksgiving meal, but just went around the table and said what we were thankful for, like a lot of other families do. I do like the idea of calling that moment "grace," no matter what your views. I define grace as a way to live your life (and SLife) every day, with gratitude for every moment and faith in those you love.

In Second Life, we can all be especially thankful this year that Robin has recently joined us on Saint Clare; Roland continues to teach us how to have fun in unexpected ways; Orson literally shelters us with the strength and vision of his beautiful designs and keeps us all mellow with his easy-going spirit; and Graham touched us with his humor and sweetness. Today, as always, I am thankful we can all move through our real and second lives together with beauty, compassion, kindness, silliness, laughter and music.

I think I can sign this for everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pris, Orson, Roland, Robin and Graham

Bisous, Graham

When I first envisioned Saint Clare, I knew what I wanted it to be and the kind of people I wanted to share it with. So far, I have been incredibly, amazingly lucky: out of tens of thousands of people isl, I met Orson, Roland and Graham. All three men have become intrinsic parts of Saint Clare's nature. So, I am selfishly sad to hear Graham will be leaving Saint Clare, but I am very happy it is because rl is taking an exciting new turn for him.

I met Graham when I worked at Popscene almost a year ago. I don't remember if I started talking to him because he is French and I am a raging Francophile or if he tried hitting on me. :P In all honesty, I think we just started talking about music. And music talk led to travel talk..and travel led to people..and people somehow led back to music.

Even though Graham threatened to eat the ducks in the Harbor so many times I ended up naming them Pâté and Cassoulet, I know Saint Clare was special to him, too. I hope he doesn't mind that I share this, but Graham grew up in Marseilles, a port town in France. He enjoyed Saint Clare's harbor in a way that was very specific to his memories of family and childhood, the way we have all found something on SC to connect with. Maybe the beaches are your rl touchstone that remind you of home, or the Harbor, or sitting around the fire at night. I personally will always remember the afternoon Graham told me about Marseilles while we stood on SC's dock and fed the ducks.

Lots of love from all of us Graham! Thank you for being a part of Saint Clare from the beginning. Thank you for teaching me what I had been doing wrong when I made quiche. :) Thank you for being a sweet and loyal friend, which is rare irl and even rarer isl.

Between you and me? I am confident Graham will come back to visit us. Le Diable chie toujours au même endroit. :D

Bisous et je t'embrasse, mon ami.

Pris