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August 13, 2006
Presque Isle Wisconsin
We just returned from a nine day northwoods retreat and I learned some things.
1) I have no idea how women with children get anything done. I'm a stepmom which means I'm a parttime, occasional mom. I brought all my school books with the intention of finishing my schoolwork, get some writing done, and blogging everyday. HAH! One day, just one day, I got some work done at the local library before the boys (Jim included) came and got me. Three hours worth. That's all. Yet another sign that they really like me.
2) It is impossible to engage in deep intellectual thought when you're surrounded by such absolute perfection. Politics, history, theory just can't compete with hummingbirds, rainbows and boat rides in crystal clear waters.
3) I am the biggest wuss on the planet. I promised Logan that this year I would swim and snorkel every day and that I would learn to dive off the pier. Mind you, the boys don't dive as much as they propel themselves as high and as far and as long and as comically as they possibly can. I didn't dive I fell in, spluttering, coughing, frantically reaching for the pier (a foot away), totally convinced I was going to drown in five feet of water.
4) There is incredible beauty to be found right at your feet.
The way light transforms the most ordinary objects.
I fell in love with photography all over again. I never went very far, but my walks took forever. I stopped at every little thing, marveling, just marveling at how much texture and detail even the tiniest scenes held.
Life. There was always life buzzing about. Busy, busy creatures going about their day.
And just when you think it's over, a surprise splash of color.
It nurtured the same place knitting does. It is civiliizing I tell you. The time we spent with texture and pattern and pace.