A Nice Start

This has been a very productive morning. Up at 7:30 and rode my bike to the bathhouse. Because of the cold temperatures, the water is turned off at the dock so it was good to be able to wash my face and brush my teeth. The bike ride was chilly though.

When I got back to the boat, I wrote my story. As I said yesterday it had been forming in my head for a few days, so it was a breeze to write. I've done a little editing off and on through the morning.

At ten I went to get a golf cart, drove to the store and got some salad for dinner, a News and Observer and a New York Times. I stopped by the dockmaster's office to hug him - his wife died suddenly a month or so ago and I haven't seen him since it happened. He acted very stoic - "mourn and get on with it" - but his eyes were very sad.

I am always struck by how beautiful the harbor here is, and this morning the sun was bright and the sky was blue. I was glad I had thought to put my little Nikon in my bag.



My throat feels scratchy (just like it did the last time we were here) but the store didn't have any Airborne or Zycam so I am getting my husband to bring some from Wilmington. (For some reason I was just struck by the word "husband" - it seemed strange - do I never say that word?) I tried to get a short nap but Deva Premal came on the IPod, louder than the rest of the music that had been playing and interrupted the light sleep.

Half the day gone, but I'm happy to have accomplished so much.

So Tired I'm Babbling

We got to the ferry landing late tonight and had the whole ferry to ourselves on the way over to the island.

Tomorrow is writing day; my short-short story is beginning to boil over in my head and it's time to put it in writing.

It's freezing cold tonight, but warming up as the weekend progresses - 70 degrees on Sunday will feel mighty fine.

I tell my dad it's not his age that's making him feel old, it's mine. I'm getting a good taste of that as my youngest girl turns 24 this weekend.

I need a disconnect from work and housework. Starting right now.

Restful weekend

One of my sisters has suggested that my life of commitment and busy-ness is as much an addiction as drinking and smoking. Maybe I protested too much when I argued that I love to be with people, thinking and learning, going to hear good music and to church, being active.

This weekend I decided to hide the to-do lists and take it easy. I did have a few things I wanted to accomplish. I had two books I was reading that for various reasons I needed to finish, the Books for Kids used book sale was going on at Quail Ridge Books, my husband's gospel band was playing at church last night. But for the most part, I had quite a bit of free time on my hands.

I have to admit: there were two or three moments when I felt lost. When I felt like I should be doing something useful.

I don't think I'm addicted to activity, but I still enjoy having many things to do. My writing, my card-making, reading, watching movies, meditating--they don't feel like work at all. They are busy-ness that feels like relaxing. To have put aside all the church work and housecleaning and grocery shopping felt good because it opened up room for the activities I like.

I feel successful in my attempt to relax because I combined accomplishment with selfish endeavor. I could get addicted to that!