The Road So Far

A year ago today, I looked at my friend as we saddled up into the truck to trek down a mountain through the snow. We had just spent the weekend snowed in; woodsmoke drifted in our wake.

 

"This is the prologue to the science fiction novel," I said as the seatbelt clicked home. 

 

His brows drew together. I knew he was taking me seriously, and that what I said left him feeling a little uncomfortable. "You really think?" The engine thrummed to life as he turned the key in the ignition.

 

I watched the snow blow down from the rooftop in the wind, swirling as though a new flurry was upon us. "Yeah. I do," I replied.

 

"What do you want to do?" He was still looking at me, the truck in park.

 

"Go to Robert's until this is over."

 

We didn't, of course. We couldn't. I could almost feel him ready to put the truck in gear and take me anywhere, and my heart broke just a little as we said, in unison, "Light Morning is decommissioned."

 

The truck tires crunched delicately on the snow as we pulled out onto the road, pointed down the mountain and back towards the city.

Snow day

Snow day and Writing

Healing

After leaving the hospital, I was a wreck. I swear the efforts to induce a dramatic seizure nearly broke me. (Because apparently having ample data of neurological energy spikes was not enough. Western medicine can be very rude.) The upside is that the data have been collected and I was cleared to be off all medication for now. The neurological team will go over the data and discuss amongst themselves; I have a follow-up appointment next week.

I've spent the last week hunkered down and recovering. I ended up cancelling  conferences for a couple weeks while I mend, and I'm heartbroken, but it can't be helped. 

Detroit seems like a lifetime ago.

Who knew?

In a group of people tonight, milling about.

Friend-of-a-Friend: What do you do?
Me: I'm a Philosopher.
FoaF: *shocked look* Hunh.

Oyez, oyez!!

Oyez!! Oyez!!
Let it be known throughout the Land!

I have submitted my final (very) rough draft of my thesis for the MFA.

Huzzah!!

Rover

The long road is a rainbow, and a pot of gold lies there.

Full moon and crescent coasts

The Road called to me again.
Full Moon on the crescent coasts was spectacular and the new-to-me Friends Meeting was Just Right.

Arcana

Surprise Cemeteries

Taking the side roads, loving the conversation as we find surprise cemeteries, the lightning rod house, and the treason carcass.

And then the dinner and meditation magic.
Life is good.

Tacos and Torches

Got to hang out and talk hydroponics, eat tacos, and enjoy the firelight. A coyote howled from an abandoned cemetery nearby. My life's GPS is set on story-finder.

The thesis draft continues to gel, and it feels like bringing something to life. I like it.

The North Carolina air has a crisp edge, but I haven't seen snow since leaving Meditation Center. Perhaps snow is something that will disappear altogether in the coming decades in the South.

I love the urban-industrial edge that my life is taking. There should be train songs to go with these tracks.

Writing Retreat

Thesis Rough Draft workshop retreat saw songs as much as stories.
Also sushi night, dryer-drum fire tacos, and dining hall shenanigans (including security guards and cashmere).
Life is good.

Arcana

Emily used the Wildwood deck.
Erin poured ginger grapefruit.
There was chess.

Thursday again, already.

Wow, I'm tired.

A friend came up from North Carolina to take me to Floyd to pick up the yarn (remember that time that we almost got into an argument about Jesus?), and we listened to live music while we were there. Then we ventured forth to an Airbnb retreat so that I could focus on sorting through my thesis and get some overdue rest while he sorted through some issues with his construction crew. The trip south was filled with music as we traded songs via Bluetooth to the stereo -- the internet is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. We took turns choosing songs; the singing got more and more relaxed; by the time we crossed the North Carolina border, my shoes were off and I was belting out 90s folk songs as if no one was watching, his only commentary to harmonize in beautiful fashion. I got to meet his friends Kathi and Tim, who are absolutely lovely folks. I'm looking forward to having dinner with them again in the near future. It has been too long since I was on the road.

On the way back through Virginia, we passed two different surprise cemeteries, a treason carcass, and a house with lightning rods. (Remember that time we saw the hawk?) We had an early dinner and lovely conversation (remember that time that we almost got into an argument about what it means to act in love?) with my friend Robert before finally getting to Roanoke, where I slept like a baby after a good soaking in the tub. (Have I mentioned lately how much I love my tub? Absolutely adore it.)

This morning I was moving slowly -- headaches and such -- but finally got in gear enough to print out what I have assembled to date for the memoir, such as it is. It's missing quite a bit, most of which is the Rockstar Philosopher Origin Story of 2019, including head injury (my superpower is love and peace, for real -- who knew?? I'm kind of tickled). It's roughly 240 pages. I'll be spending such time as I have over the next month cutting and tweaking and writing the missing bits. There's a final piece or three that might not go in. But such is the nature of final rough drafts, and mine is due February 24th.

This afternoon I had lunch with a friend from Meeting House. We had a lovely chat and also some deeply spiritual conversation. I feel loved and heard and enriched.

The calendar is getting packed.
I haven't even added a beach trip yet.

Rural Virginia.

Welcome to my Land