Photograph: Buddha and me on a very hot day in Paducah, KY
It is coincidental but somehow appropriate that my first entry upon my return from my Ohio River Journey is on the day of my journal's first anniversary.
To remind everyone: We (My husband, Allen, our Boston Terrier, Buddha, and I) started our boat journey on the Monongahela River in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, floated into the Ohio at Pittsburgh and followed its entire length to Cairo, Illinois. We then went back upstream to Lewisville, KY, where our son met us with the truck and trailer and from there we drove home to NW Ohio. We decided to take this journey back in December 2004, on the day of the Winter Solstice. We went in a 22-ft. sailboat (without the sails; the boat was powered by a 9.9 H.P. motor), we slept on the boat, we took most of our meals on the boat.
My mind is a vortex of memories and it will take me a long while to sort everything out.
What I can talk about is the gift of "being" this journey gave me. I recently read that in order to delve into our hearts, we must stop "doing" and work at "being." This is something we all already know, but what I hadn't realized until this journey was that we can't simply will ourselves to "be." The act of being comes about through discipline, and this journey gave me a sort of shortcut to "being," since I had little choice most of the time other than to "be." (Our 9.9 H.P. motor was not going to do any more than 5-7 miles per hour no matter what--so why rush?)
The journey gave me a lot of time to think, read, and write. All of my impressions were much sharper since I was out of my natural environment.
I wrote many pages: I have nearly a hundred typewritten pages and as many hand-written pages. It's all a jumble and I've yet to find the meaning in the experience; I've yet to find the story. I'll be working at doing that for many months to come.
I'm glad to be home, and I'm glad to be able to reconnect with online friends.
15 comments:
Welcome home, sounds as if all went as expeted.
*** Coy ***
Welcome back. I'll b every interested to read about "being" as opposed to "doing."
Welcome home. Will be looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/JMorancoyle/MyWay
On some basic level this line:
It's all a jumble and I've yet to find the meaning in the experience; I've yet to find the story. I'll be working at doing that for many months to come.
describes us all. I am excited to see what The River told you.
Truly.
Hey! Welcome back! Looking forward to hearing some tales from the river.
A type of self-oddyssey? Sounds like we are in store for a great read.
Welcome home! Can't find the meaning? It is there. It may come to you one a cold winter day when you are relaxed in front of a fireplace.Or possibily when you are sitting in front of a blank page. The story started the day you decided to take the trip.
I look forward to hearing the answers to our questions and to see thru your eyes the journey you took.
Celeste
I love it when I'm not at home. It's like my "writer vision" goes on high. Everything holds a description, a reason to write about it. I love that feeling.
Like your journal. I'll try and stop by again.
~Lily
This Drama I Call "Life"
Welcome home! I'm looking forward to hearing of your adventures!
Mary
Welcome home, Theresa! I can't wait to hear more about the trip. It sounds fabulous.
dave
http://thebluevoice.blogspot.com/
Wow! Did time fly or what! Glad you are back safely and I am looking forward to hearing all about it! Lisa
oh yea you are home!!!!! I have reading to catch up on but am off to the zoo at the moment. Hugs your way, we missed you!!!!!!!! judi
Woo Hoo!!
I`ll bet you had a wonderful time!!
Great Pic of you & Buddha!!
V
I LOVE the picture. You look so young and happy, and Buddha has such evident personality.
Welcome home! Hope you had a wonderful trip.
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