on my mind lately

A lot of stuff has been on my mind lately... As the quakers would say, I'm holding a lot of people in the light. Lots of recent things have been leading my thoughts to life and making the most of it while we're here. Being present. When my mind drifts to the journal project, I get really excited about what it'll be like to get them back, read some stories, connect with all of you. And like ben said, there's all kinds of unknowns right now, which i'm cool with too. Hope all is well with everyone out there who has been touched by the project. And fyi Ben is a National ultimate frisbee champion!

Book 1 on the move again...

After a delay for which I do not have any real excuse, I m here to let you know that Book 1 is on the move again.

It'll be moving to another geography, new persons. I do hope it keeps on good along its way.

Me, I'll be moving very soon too, for an extended period (about a year) in South America, with a one-way-ticket. Hope my path crosses with some of the followers of this journal or maybe some new journals.

Greetings from İzmir - Turkey...

Engin Kaban.

Book tracking :)

Thanks, Kirsten for blogging from London! Its pretty cool to hear that the journal project has been going for 9 months now.

Today, like back in July, I felt like leafing through this blog and talking about what's been going on with the journals out in the world. Seeing several posts from friends in London made me wonder where the Journals have been. We don't really know; and appreciate the unknown.

Still, here's what we do know in the form of a very small depiction recipients' locations - click on it to expand. Connecting the black dots are the plane rides for the Journals (minus the initial January 1 send-off from Atlanta):

The Journal has reached London today

Hello and greetings from sunny London. What a great little surprise it's been to receive the booklet in the mail today. Thanks Simon! And thanks Angela, great idea!
I will think of something to write and send it on asap, promise.
Wishing you all a great Sunday.
--Kirsten

the Lull

Despite the little lull in posts here, the Moleskines seem to be making their rounds. Counting up the number of Moleskine participants at the mid-point of the year is impressive. You may remember that our goal was to collect, if possible, the journals by the last day of 2009, having sent them out at the very beginning of January.

So, six months into it, those people who have both posted on this blog and (presumably) in one of the three journals traveling the world include:

• Angela and Ben
• Andres
• the Hoffman Family
• Kate
• Daniel
• Vahd
• Irene

I really appreciate the effort and hope to hear more soon.

(Perhaps this isn't the most titillating post. But I know there are folks checking into the blog - may be just me, lol. Anywho, here's to keeping up the global effort at connecting to people and their stories!)

Book 1 in the land of tulips, but not for long...

... as it will soon travel east :) Sounds like the book has had quite an adventure -- been across Atlantic and back again -- only to arrive in my mailbox last Friday. Thank you Vahd for sending it, it has certainly made my weekend exciting, reading and pondering what to write in the book.

Now, it is ready to continue its journey. At the moment, I wish I could deliver it in person to the next receiver. The same person who rocked my world with adventures many years ago. I hope we also hear from the person via this blog.

Best wishes,

Irene

Refresh Your Browser

Off and on for the last couple days, I've been wiping my eyes. The news of Pete's death has felt like a rock storm flying at my chest, hitting my lungs and heart and ribs.

A little while ago, on this blog, I discussed my friend's struggles and my effort to tie him in through this Journal Around the World project.

I just went to Pete's facebook page to download a photo of him and place it in this post. But the pain of his absence is too much bear, especially where he fully existed previously; and recently.

This grief hits hardest alone, but also with friends. I appreciate being able to grieve with you, semi-alone but also with friends.

We always look forward to hearing more from the Moleskine's latest locations. So please update us.