Se Ti Perdo Son Perduta

September 8, 2024

| THE EPISTOLARIAN |

From the Land of Blue—my hometown, Lake Tahoe—I pen this letter on a particularly auspicious day, celebrating both my 38th birthday and my 7th wedding anniversary. Each year, I find myself revisiting that day, revealing a little more of its magic.

The forecast had promised a quintessential Tahoe summer: bluebird skies, warm air, and barely a whisper of wind. Everything was perfect. Our ceremony was set for the outdoors, with a backup plan indoors at Edgewood Tahoe, where the windows frame stunning views of the lake. The weather was so idyllic that the backup plan felt almost unnecessary—until it was my time to walk down the aisle.

As if conjured by some mischievous spell, light clouds suddenly gave way to rain, just as everyone except my dad and I had made their way down the aisle. We had no choice but to proceed.

The rain poured down in torrents, drenching everyone in its path. For a brief moment, I worried. But then I caught sight of my friend and mentor, Jana, who gestured toward the sky with a look of awe, as if to say, "Wow! What magic!"

My father-in-law, who officiated, held the space with such calm that it felt like this unexpected turn of weather was meant to be—a blessing rather than a hindrance.

After the initial readings, the rain ceased, the clouds parted, and a gaggle of geese flew overhead. And though it’s been whispered but never confirmed, some claim a passing boater mooned the crowd. The rain, the mooner—anything that could have been unpleasant—none of it mattered. I was too overjoyed to be bothered by any of it.

Dan and Jana Spano - It was also Dan's birthday, and didn't seem to mind the rain.

the next generation on the Hastings side huddled under one of the only umbrellas in sight

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Featured Wax Color:Edgewood

The soft blue hue is inspired by the iconic Wedgwood jasperware and the beautiful natural surroundings of Edgewood Tahoe, where I was married. On my wedding day, I wore a blue toile gown that was the same color as the Edgwood blue wax.

Se Ti Perdo Son Perduta

The wax seal features a lone ship caught in a turbulent sea, a figure standing by the sail, eyes fixed on the horizon. The waves churn around the vessel, threatening to swallow it whole, yet the sailor remains unwavering. The inscription, "Se Ti Perdo Son Perduta"—If I lose you, I am lost—captures the fragile yet persistent connection between the sailor and the one he holds dear.

A few of my favorite things...

Pretty much everything I carry in my shop are things that I would own even if I didn't run Kathryn Hastings, but these are a few of my current favorites.