Meet Carolyn, #AlembikaWomen

1. What moment in your life made you think, “After that, life was never the same.” 

My Father died suddenly when I was 12, just three months before my 13th birthday. I adored him, we didn’t get to say goodbye and I knew that nothing would ever be the same. It was not… I struggled with grief and a sense of loss that was overwhelming. I was a strong, smart, defiant girl and I closed myself off, vowing never to be that hurt again. When you live a long time, there are more moments that serve as “markers.”  

2. What do you do when you don't know what to do?

I take a walk. Nature is my place and if I can just get out the door, outside, even in a city, and walk, things will clear up. I have meditated through writing for years, so writing is important. What I’ve learned that really helps is to do nothing for a while. Usually a little time will clear it up.

3. What would you do if you had the whole day to yourself?

I curate my days. In other times, when I travelled and worked, I would take a day to go to museums, to eat in a lovely new spot, to explore. Now that I don’t “work”, and with these Covid days, I like to get a good walk in, some Morning Pages, and I get up early. Today I walked to a friend's house, who saves the Sunday NY Times, leaving it on her porch. I took time to catch up on my reading. My house is clean and organized, a friend is coming for socially distanced dinner and there’ll be a twilight walk. I am curating each day now, with time to see what I really feel like doing. Making plans and having something to look forward to is important. I love listening to a challenging book while I walk. A really special day is spent in my studio, creating jewelry or writing or making art. 

4. What is the best thing about being a woman? 

I love being alive, being human, making connections. I love laughing out loud. I love being an “old woman” who can get away with almost anything. Being a “woman” also means the “girlie” things; taking a shower with my favorite soap from New Orleans Hove’ perfumers, Tea Olive, makeup, lotions, pretty clothes, looking great, costuming for daily life! Playing “dress up.”  And did I say I love to flirt?!

5. What’s the one piece of clothing you can’t live without?  

Honestly, it’s my Brooks running shoes so that I can walk for miles. I wish they were better looking. Being able to stay upright and mobile is most important. Now I know I can live without most things! After years of owning a boutique and collecting so many things, I loved selling and finding new items, a comfortable cotton t-shirt, almost anything aqua or turquoise. But I am detaching; hoping to eliminate what no longer serves.