Ring the bell that still can ring!

We sent our bikes to Oregon last week and packed our cool weather clothes into a duffel to take with us. This trip is becoming a reality in spite of how unreal it still seems… that’s a contradiction in thought! The process of disconnecting from daily life in Maine is interesting. It is similar to leaving a job or moving to another location. One needs to push a large crow bar into the millwheel of daily life and stop the gears which otherwise keep on turning… cancel the papers, clean the kitchen, play with friends, and then let go. It is a freeing process. Deciding what to take on the journey and what falls into the category of ‘things I never thought I could do without but am leaving behind’ opens the mind.

So, what is going with us….
• A book of poetry by Mary Oliver
• Sketch book, pens, pencils, watercolors, and a large bucket of time and commitment to look, see, draw, think;
• Maps, glorious maps;
• Computer, Google, Face book, Skype;
• Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of United States;
• Bikes, boots, and wet suits – for all manner of adventure…

And what’s left behind…
• Friends
• Our daughter, son-in-law and GRANDSON – won’t see them until late October; Nathan may be walking/talking/reading/riding bike (who knows) by then – oh dear!
• Wonderful Women With Wings
• Vibrant Voices for Peace
• My beautiful studio and work space
• Home base

We go on this journey, expecting adventure, focus, fun, and the opportunity to see the far reaches of our beautiful country, and then return to Maine where life and community nurture us. A song has been running in my head of late reflecting the theme of preparations…

Forget your perfect offerings;
Just ring the bell that still can ring;
There is a crack in everything;
That’s how the Light gets in.