31 Comments

Beautiful, Prue! And you sound strong and so upbeat after yet another ordeal - very impressed with your attitude. A really lovely pic of you and that trusty Terrier also. I crave alone time and feel jangled if I don't have enough. For me, and you too I think, it's healing, necessary and restorative. Keep on doing what you're doing. So many of us are holding you in our thoughts xo

Expand full comment

Heartfelt thanks, Sue.

Expand full comment

And you're writing throughout this health ordeal. Lovely alonement. Sounds like a word Shakespeare made up. But he did invent Lonely.

I'm a Scorpio but I don't think that is my spirit animal. Yikes. I don't know. My daughter is sure hers is the wolf.

Expand full comment

Hate the word 'alonement' - there's a whole Thesaurus filled with wonderful words that roll off the tongue. Alonement is just so... sooo boring!

Expand full comment

I love the word solitude! It always feels soulful to me. So I will stick with it, vs alonement. 😉

Expand full comment

So good to hear, Amy.

Expand full comment

Prue you sound so much cheerier and upbeat in this post, which can only be a good thing. Or is just me reading it that way?

I always think of solitude as a positive word and situation. I see lonely as its opposite. Alonement. Do we need another word?

Not sure what my spirit animal is but I did have a similar experience with a wedgie. Oh my it was so humbling. I think it would be a bird though, I feel deeply connected to the birds.

Expand full comment

Agree on all counts, Kate. Including the one that I feel so much better. I'm sure Monday's lighter surgery and this nifty little vacuum pack are responsible. Here's to all wild birds. Maybe that's what we were in another life...

Expand full comment

Much I wish to acknowledge, you've set many thoughts my way. Bridgeton, I'm too adoring parts like head gear, the gowns, the lust, all the reproduction in scenery, if only could be truth in society. I'd love to have someone dress me fancy for an occasion or for all to be engrossed within each other no matter any differences in self and value. It's really good

Glad both touched by an eagle, I do believe in signs in nature, may it bring him healing energy, especially you, as you put another dip in road behind you. Bless your heart! Sure it brought you both excitement and positive thoughts. I felt it. I look for the positive in any magical presence, as much as I can.

Alonement, I'm reminded of my semi recent dark times but thankful grown more now to accept I'm OK. I worried I was a lost ship. I'm now so involved in my self and accepting that this is my time whether in solitude or it's OK to just be me. Grey, white capped waves crashing! I'm a cool, misty, foggy, windy, grey girl.

Signing off my day, taking Ludovico with me. Lord, handsome and musically talented! Much love, you bring so much life here.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much, CJ. Good to see you here on Substack. Nature is pretty amazing, there for us to cherish.

Expand full comment

I agree with you - solitude is a positive word and one of choice. Alonement? Yeah, right, whatever. Even though I'm alone a lot, I need solitude from time to time to recharge - and the two concepts are very different. Wishing you healing vibes.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Joanne. It's great to feel vindicated. I think we have a club going here - 'solitudo in aeternum', if Google translates solitude forever correctly!

Expand full comment

Very beautiful. I agree with you about solitude. I wrote about it: https://open.substack.com/pub/terryfreedman/p/solitude-and-isolation?r=18suih&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

No need for a neologism like alonement. I like that sort of weather too!

A wonderful sign in the form of that eagle. Well done to your son. How does one find out about spirit animals?

Hope all is well after your surgery.

Expand full comment

Terry, that's a beautiful piece on exactly what I believe. Thank you so much for the link and I think Vaughn William's piece speaks to it with it perfection.

Getting there swiftly - going home from hospital on Friday. Onwards back to my normal life I hope.

Expand full comment

Super, super words, Prue! I'm so glad that you're mobile and positive and doing so well! Ditto for your son's news, too - awesome!

I enjoy being alone, but take comfort in the knowledge that I mostly have the opportunity, should I choose to take it up, to not be. I'm not lonely, but I like to be alone, and I relish my solitude.

Expand full comment

The freedom to choose. It's a wonderful thing...

Expand full comment

Yes, it certainly is. I'm very grateful to have family and friends. 😘

Expand full comment

I loved reading this week’s piece. Solitude is a beautiful word and state. You captured it perfectly. Good news all around on the health front. I have been reluctant to watch the next season of Bridgeton. Not sure why. Instead I am watching the new docu-series on Hitler. Go figure.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Alice. Solitude is such a gift I think. From what I can gather, reading Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books are better.

Expand full comment

We’re lucky to be introverts. I made the comment on Terry Freedman’s post that ‘I’m an introvert so the separation is a place where I can recharge, something positive. But to extroverts, any absence of stimulation possibly feels like isolation...’ and the ‘alonement’ author freely admits that she’s an extrovert.

I love all your photos. Such contentment, no matter what the weather. (And oh boy it’s literally freezing this week!!! SO cold!)

Sending heaps of healing vibes. Not long now. Hopefully it won’t take long for everything to return to normal. Hugs dear Prue.

Expand full comment

Stimulation stresses me - it has to be peaceful and gentle, like mizzle and fog or spring sunshine. It sounds as if you're the same and yes to the bitterly cold.

I gather from friends and family that I really have missed nothing. I know if I was looking out the hospital window each day and seeing that wonderful winter sun, I would be spitting chips, I can tell you!

Hopefully home tomorrow, Beth and life as I know it can be reclaimed. Thanks so much for your thoughts here.

Expand full comment

Ooh I will have to check out Wisting. I love Nordic noir!

Re alonement, you might enjoy the book A Biography of Loneliness if you haven't read it already.

Expand full comment

Thanks Shona. Will have a look and you will enjoy Wisting hugely. If you haven't seen the previous series, watch them all.

Expand full comment

I understand that too much solitude ("alonement" -- insert tiny eye roll), particularly if not of one's own design, can be isolating and difficult. But I crave my quiet time, increasingly, it seems. Prue, the pictures of you making your way along the path, one on your own, one with just the JRT, are precious and inviting. I can imagine how centering a solo walk or swim on the beach must be!

I hope you're recovering speedily, and to your liking. Have you taught the medical staff any of your ballet steps? Cheers to your animal friends showing up just when you needed them most!

Expand full comment

There was a day in hospital, before the vacuum dressing was removed, where I was active (bored!) and I realised my bathroom towel rail was the perfect barre. And so I did one round of tendus, (front, side and back) and was so happy as two weeks ago, trying to do the same thing hurt a lot. But that's the limit - I don't want to jinx this and now I'm at home with a packed deep, bandaged wound. So caution and all that.

As to telling the nurses what I had done - I kept it a secret. I didn't want to blot my copybook!

Expand full comment

"...blot my copybook." Might steal that one! Heal well, Prue,

Expand full comment

Had to share this as I enjoyed the indulgence of Bridgerton too - and this is so much fun: https://bridgertonportrait.com/

Expand full comment

Thanks, Camilla. Such a fun show that leaves me with no memory or after taste. Is that a good thing? ;)

Expand full comment

I love the way your essays give me interesting things to ponder for many days after I read them. I was especially intrigued by your mention of your Spirit Animal—how fascinating that you and your son both have eagles as your Spirit Animal, just different species.

Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot about what mine could be!

As for alone time…kudos to you, for creating a lovely community of like-minded lovers of solitude!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Susan. That's really kind of you.

It has to be the law of attraction - ie, like-minded folk will always find each other. It's one of the most heartwarming things to emerge with writing for and reading Substack.

Expand full comment

I agree! 😊

Expand full comment