So picture the author running down the street at top speed, laughing and yelling 'ha!'
I am a chalking fiend these days, but don't tell my fellow townspeople, I'm trying to keep my identity under wraps. There are enough quotes to fill the streets for years. Late night wanderings with chunks of blue and orange dusting my fingers and clothes. sidewalks, walls, driveways, nothing is safe.
Regarding my talk, currently I float back and forth between, "damn right, I have a lot to say and I want to yell it all at the top of my lungs to anyone who will listen. I feel great!" and the scared five year old who says, "Well, I just have to get through it without making an ass of myself, hopefully they will not think i am a complete freak." Here I am in all my colourful glory. Opening up like a soft boiled egg. Bits of shell stuck in my hair.
Something about it is making me giddy. Scared but giddy. I am embracing parts of me for the first time. They feel like fireflies that are starting to glow more as the sun goes down. I am going to stay in a really fancy hotel that someone else is paying for. (I have never stayed in anything fancier than a Holiday Inn. I usually find hotels depressing.) I am going to wear my red running shoes and carry my ten year old knapsack with zippers that don't work properly. I am going to walk through that fancy lobby in my jean skirt that has bits of used chalk in the pockets, wearing my Superhero necklace for added strength. I will smile at my new adventure. My bag will be full of books, wrinkled clothes, my laptop, a teddybear that my sister made for me, and a shiny black stone. Maybe I will take a walk on the beach and collect shells in my pockets. Or maybe I will have a long hot bath and try the fancy fluffy robes and the good towels. Maybe I will feel like an imposter. I am definitely going to order room service, Ha!
And I will be nervous. Maybe I will cry a little bit, because it is lonely in hotel rooms by yourself. Maybe I will call a friend. Maybe I will read my favourite authors who are like old friends that make me feel better. Maybe I will want to run screaming from that hotel and run back to my comfort zone. Maybe.
And all of it is o.k. Because there is this brilliant light deep within me that is waiting to come out and I don't want to hide it anymore. No sir.
I am off on a new adventure. Back in ten days. More words upon my return.
Posted by kerismith at May 13, 2004 06:42 PMHow wonderful was to meet you at HOW conference! I was so refreshed and inspired by your awesome exercises and presentation! I have to tell you: You Rocked! One of my fav exercises was "How your Store will be?" It was so fabulous, I returned back to my office/cubicle totally charged and focused! Please receive my deepest gratitude and thanks from a girl in Central Florida!
oooh Keri!!! How beautiful you are. Outside and inside! This post makes me want to go out and live... I miss you and can't wait to hear about your adventure...
XOXOXO
eMiLy
I will second Suse's request for you to come inspire us Detroiters! :)
Posted by: Toni on May 27, 2004 12:48 AMI attended your session at the conference. I got to attend on my company's dime - if they'd only known what sessions I was attending! I walked out of there so inspired. Thank you for sharing!!!
Posted by: Terry on May 26, 2004 05:40 PMI apparently missed it this time, but what conference is this? If quality people like Keri are there, count me in!
Posted by: Carole Meyer-Rieth on May 25, 2004 11:50 AMHooray for chalk and bursting and fireflies and you getting to stay in a fancy hotel.
Groovy post.
Bless your chalking heart, Keri. I hope you're having a great time.
Posted by: Lynda on May 23, 2004 09:50 PMI hope you are having the most wonderful time! I am so excited for you!
Posted by: Allison on May 23, 2004 08:57 PMKeri,
Are you coming to the Detroit area anytime soon?
Love what you have to say!
Suse
Happy travels!!!!
Posted by: Bianca on May 20, 2004 11:19 AMI am a fellow chalker from way back - power to the chalkers! http://www.frenchtoastgirl.com/thoughts/chalking.shtml
(and ps ~ I love your blog!)
Posted by: French Toast Girl on May 19, 2004 08:47 PM"The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have."
- Norman Vincent Peale
happy travels keri, it's so refreshing to see someone who is unafraid and unabashedly facing who they truly are or can be :)
Posted by: stef on May 16, 2004 12:40 PMGrr, there was a tip off the other day, and I didn't even note that the chalk's distinctive a's g's were yours :| But how do you do it? Everyone I've interrogated hasn't seen a thing. And you're certainly not a bearded youth like my informant indicated :(
Posted by: Me, not you on May 15, 2004 10:43 AMWhen we first arrived in Toronto we stayed in the King Edward hotel for a couple of weeks. Classy immigration that was :-) I really love walking into lobbies like that wearing everyday ripped jeans. I still feel like greeting the doormen every time I walk past there. But I never do.
Posted by: eliane on May 15, 2004 07:36 AMSo you are the one dusting the town with white and yellow words. We can only hope for more of this. The town does need some sprucing up.
Posted by: Lurker on May 15, 2004 12:56 AMSee you on Sunday! I will be also at the Conference and I signed up for your seminar!
Posted by: mabelle on May 14, 2004 11:18 PMLong time lurker, first time poster...
I too wanted to go to the conference just to meet you but life got in the way...
I've just seen your piccie in this post, you've got talent and looks. Don't worry about a thing!
Good luck! ;-)
Posted by: Adri on May 14, 2004 09:33 PMHave a yummy time!
Posted by: Amanda on May 14, 2004 06:21 PMHi Keri,
I considered going to the conference just to hear you!! Maybe ditch the hotel and stay in a local B&B, might take the edge off. :)
Have a good trip, it's beautiful in SoCal right now. Wish you were coming up the coast. We'd invite you to dinner.
Best,
Jinger
Keri,
I couldn't help but think as I read your post, "They are so lucky to have her in their fancy hotel!"
I love the spirit of this post, of you, bursting bursting.
it is contagious.
I do hope to see you soon... like, in real life, live, technicolor, and all. :)
a
Posted by: andrea on May 14, 2004 12:38 PMwhile in no way a slight to your own loveliness dear keri, i think i have fallen helplessly in love with oscar.
Posted by: lisa on May 14, 2004 12:31 PMDo you draw or write quotes?
I was a chalking fiend for awhile.. got the idea from Frenchtoastgirl.
then i ran out of quotes.. and chalk.
i can buy chalk.. got any quotes?
There is a house down the road where the older man who lives there leaves chalk out for kids to play hopscotch on his driveway.. his grandkids are far away and his wife died recently and he's lonely.
yay for chalk!
Posted by: Lori on May 14, 2004 10:12 AMkeri
your excitement is infectious!
you sound fantastic.
oscar is delicious.
r
I hope you find what you are looking for and have a great time.
Posted by: Lu on May 14, 2004 08:22 AMShine on you crazy diamond! Love reading your blog, Keri.
Posted by: Amy on May 14, 2004 07:49 AMYO!
Posted by: fern on May 14, 2004 07:27 AMcool! hope the hotel has lots of yummy bath things and free stationary!
happy chalking!
Posted by: m on May 14, 2004 07:07 AMYay! for you. :) Can't wait to hear all about it when you return!
Posted by: Hope Wilbanks on May 14, 2004 06:38 AMI'm going to a hotel tomorrow night by myself too- in a city with 7 million people in it. But I'm only a little nervous.
I'm sure we'll both have fun.
Emily.
PS: Keri, you're lovely.
Posted by: Emily on May 14, 2004 03:29 AMyou could leave little notes in the drawers for the next guest or the maid.
i'm moving out of my flat tomorrow morning and i'm going to hide post-it notes for my roommate to find over the next couple of weeks.
Posted by: pippa on May 13, 2004 11:30 PMoh yes! you'll have fun and play with all of the shiny hotel toys! you are so lovely . . . and if you get a little "lost" just look around for things to play with and you'll find yourself soon enough . . . you are so so so awesome at the playing and the exploring and the being you . . . can't wait to hear all about it :) K
Posted by: Katherine on May 13, 2004 11:28 PMYay! What a wonderful adventure for you! I know that you will not only be great, but fantastic! I wish that I could be there to see you! You go girl!
Posted by: Poppy on May 13, 2004 10:18 PMcheeky smile
Posted by: chlamygirl on May 13, 2004 08:59 PMRemember my favourite quote, here paraphrased badly:
It doesn't matter what they think of you, it's what you think of THEM that counts! Just get up there and be your ever-lovin' funny, witty self, and that's all ya gotta do!!
Have fun!
Kate
Posted by: Kate on May 13, 2004 07:53 PM