"There are three things important in life: honesty, which means living free of the cunning of the mind, compassion, because if we have no concern for others, we are monsters; and curiosity, for is the mind is not searching, it is dull and unresponsive." -Beatrice Wood
The countdown is on, three days left for my deadline, (not including minor revisions or cover art). I am ready to be finished. Months of not being able to do other creative work has been very difficult. I have always been the kind of person who moves back and forth between projects, or who will on the spur of the moment decide I want to knit a pair of green socks. My garden is suffering immensely, i cannot wait to get out and dig in the dirt. I have a few other book concepts that are just waiting to spew out of me and on to an editors desk. But more than anything I would like a lot of time spent doing nothing. In that category are:
-going for the paper on a Saturday morning and reading it slowly over tea
-long lazy walks in the woods, looking for edible plants
-riding my bike to the next town for groceries and red wine
-swimming in the pond
-watching movies on my front porch
-eating local produce, cooking
-going to the farmers market
I am also moving through a time of great change, in the next week several of my closest friends are moving away, (they are pursuing new projects and avenues in distant lands). And while I am so happy for them and their new adventures I prepare for some sadness, (and a bit of lonliness too).
Posted by kerismith at June 07, 2004 10:47 AMKeri, my dear.
Loneliness (at the end).....you misspelt it.
Sorry, but if you're going to experience it, perhaps you could spell it correctly?
Just a pet peeve. You know.....
Fiat mihi,
a.
I've been dealing with similar things, meaning loneliness. but lately, I've been wanting to invite her over for tea, pick her brain, curl up for a nap while she watches over.
Posted by: whitney on June 8, 2004 12:57 PMI am always the mover. We always focus on the new friends we will make in the next country. Before we came to Canada I had the strong feeling that close friends were living in Toronto, they just didn't know us yet.
Posted by: eliane on June 8, 2004 08:30 AMMany of my good friends live in other countries, other continents even. I miss them all the time, although they're good excuses for traveling. The sadness is a good reminder that they're still in my heart, I think.
I feel like I can really relate...on the countdown and the friends moving. I just finished a big crunch in my office/work life and am finding my feet with my art/work life again. It feels good to be coming back to the center of things.
My best friend in the world is moving in 2 months to Santa Fe (from Oklahoma City, where we both currently live). I'm so happy for her, she is thrilled mixed with sad but confident that it's going to be a great next step. As her friend I am committed to supporting and respecting her and her choices. But I sometimes wonder what it will be like not to be able to just meet for coffee on a whim or sit together on the porch swing in the dark telling stories.
During more upbeat moments I consider how great it'll be to have her there to visit in Sata Fe (about an 8 hr. drive), and how this move has the potential to strengthen our bond, make it a more conscious interaction. I know that if I focus on that, that's what it'll become....
Posted by: Shannon Claire on June 7, 2004 10:00 PMi have been both the 'mover' and the 'stayer', and i can say that in both instances sadness and lonliness for your friends occur. so while they will be experiencing new things, they will be missing you just as much as you miss them.
Posted by: chlamygirl on June 7, 2004 02:20 PMYou're a good egg, Keri Smith.
Posted by: penelope on June 7, 2004 12:02 PMthat all sounds so delicious, i can't wait till the countdown is up, so i can live vicariously through your free time.
my bestest friend in the whole wide world moved away to the west coast just over a month ago...it has been heart breaking and i feel like a ghost in my own life, but things are getting better and the sadness is turning a little less stormy, and the hurricanes in my stomach have subsided. I can not wait to hit the country.
thank you for the good words
r
You are only as lonely as you allow yourself to be. I look forward to your next book and others in the future. I think you have a lovely way of presenting things.
Posted by: Lu on June 7, 2004 11:11 AM