Here I am, back from my Creativity retreat at Lutheridge, near Asheville, North Carolina. What a beautiful part of the country!
People who saw me yesterday said that I looked rested and refreshed. I'll take those compliments, although I don't feel as rested as I hoped I would. My spouse and I drove to the mountains of North Carolina from South Florida, not a trip to a place that's right next door.
I always feel a bit of dislocation when I come back from travel, even when it's not a mountain-top experience. I look around my study and think, what was it I was doing before I left? And what should I work on first? Those poems that I created in April? Older poems? Should I send out one last mailing before all those journals stop reading for the summer? Write a book review?
Of course, there's laundry to be done, and I can't remember the last time I did proper grocery shopping. Maybe nobody does that any more. I used to create menus and shopping lists. That girl who did that seems like a distant cousin to my current life.
At least I don't have grading to do. That's one of the advantages to have more of the life of the administrator.
i envy you: if you feel dislocated, that means you REALLY left, got refreshed, so when you returned to your desk and kitchen, you wonder why you are there and what's expected.
ReplyDeletei look forward to that feeling every time i return from a trip. there is comfort in knowing one left behind a life, which waited, and can be picked up whenever one is ready.
as i said, i envy you!