Why am I still writing this travel blog? No travel. No meeting of strangers with interesting stories to share. Readership of one to none. Yes, the writing practice itself is incentive. The discipline of meeting a deadline is somewhat rewarding. Still, I feel a wee bit…uninspired.
During the past few days, I’ve been reading philosophy — philo (love) sophos (wisdom). Perusing subjects on the seemingly lost Greek arts of dialogue and reason. I wrote about it here, but fortunately for you, I just deleted all four paragraphs, then got up to “go”.
I didn’t expect to find sweet inspiration in the bat-room.
Sometimes some thing lives on a shelf or in a space for so long that it blends into its surroundings and is ignored…missed. Today, I noticed. There on the counter, in its battered metal frame wrapped in thin foil, rests the yellow-faded poem my mom had for “umpteen” years positioned in various places but the last was on the counter of her guest bathroom — within reach to read whilst sitting.
It’s not Socrates, but it’s just what I needed. Thanks mommy.
(If you can’t make out the poem here, look it up. You’ll smile.)
“Oh what a beautiful night
The stars are shining bright
I’ve not been feeling right
Not been feeling right
Soon it’s gonna change
Time to rearrange
Stop this acting strange…
All we have begun
New oblivion…
Life
Please be good to me
Last chance to be free
This mountain majesty
This rediscovery”
— Chicago
No problem on not being inspired…I understand you Heidi…(most of the time.) I also have inspirational writings on the wall, but forget to read them… Love how your Mom is still around to lend a gentle nudge/reminder in life. I looked up the poem and “Live, above all things, live” is difficult for a lot of people. Right now it is about 10 degrees out windier than is comfortable for my thoughts (the house is rattling)…but I am enjoying watching the birds take refugee in my heated bird bath for a drink because most of their water sources are frozen. Getting ready for the polar vortex headed our way by the end of the week – I will not complain because the last two winters have been mild – so I plan try to “accomplish at least one thing worthwhile each day. Then when night comes, I will be able to pull up the covers and say to myself, “I have done my best.”
That is all I plan to do and not focus on how it is so freakin’ cold outside that your face freezes instantly upon going outside and you slur your words because you can’t talk…(laughing hysterically here…)
Be well my friend…oh yeah – just received your Holiday card in the mail yesterday (February 4) – was postmarked Dec 9…I would love to run the USPS – I think I could turn the whole thing around…
Joanna, only you would have a heated birdbath, bless you. Your description of frozen-face-slurry-words syndrome takes me back — to icy cold mornings when delivering the Sunday Plain Dealer (always under protest), trying to understand Kurt-twin (my boss) as to which address. The Sunday comic section and mom’s warm waffles were our rewards. Stay warm, bird.
“No meeting of strangers with interesting stories to share”
Oh, Heidi!! This is so great a quote, because this evening, we both found out what happens if you hold on just a little bit longer! 😍. I am so glad you said hi; so deeply honored by the gift you shared with me. I pray your way is made clear!! Peace to you my friend!
~Nanette
Nanette. Thank you. Our serendipitous encounter…”satisfies the soul” of necessary interaction. Especially in these times of social deprivation.
Happy Trails to you, dear Nanette. peaceOnelove