Fauve
Happy Memorial Day! (Is it happy? Or are we supposed to be somber and reflective? I get mixed messages from you on this, America. I'm so confused.)
We're eating Nutella-slathered pancakes, curating school art, refusing to get dressed, and generally living la vie bohème. Regardless of what the calendar says to the contrary, summer break has arrived. This last week of school mornings is going to be challenging. I hope the teachers are cool with half-naked, chocolate-smeared beasts for pupils.
I have a confession. Today was going to be the day I was going to sign off from Notes for the summer. I had already composed the post in my head, explaining how I intend to spend the next few months digging back into family life, and being present for my kids.
Then I realized that this journal of days is one of the chief ways I dig in, and stay present. And also that I've been over-thinking all this branding and boundaries business, as pointed out to me by a friend at lunch the other day, as I was pondering aloud how to make myself over into something more consistent and coherent.
"Just be you," she said. "That's what people connect to."
"But it's so messy," I said.
"That's what we like."
So, I am going on summer break, by diving back into this space in a looser way. Expect more photos, shorter and more frequent posts, more feeling, and less thinking. There will probably be typos. Also split infinitives. And run-ons that start with "and" and "also." Lots of those. Judge me if you must.
Synchronistically, I notice my soulsister Jen Lemen (who brought a major project of her own to completion on the same day I finished my manuscript) has been called back into her own online journal, after long silence. I've been so excited to see new entries from her in my reader. Hearing her use her "inside" voice again reminds me of the creative and recreative power of these particular waters, when we are willing to enter them as our undressed selves. My friend Danny seems to have figured this out too.
So happy summer...I'll be here, just splashing around.
Labels: streaking the quad
—Kyran, 10:19 AM
←SHARE THIS
11 Comments:
It's when I think too much about it that blogging doesn't feel fun anymore.
Here's to a summer of being lighthearted and carefree! xo
I too am unclear what the mood is supposed to be today. Gratitude always works though, I find.
Very happy to hear you're not shutting down for the summer, here!
Memorial Day should be more solemn, since it exists to mark time and remember the fallen war dead, but I think because of when it occurs and because many Americans have little time off, it is generally treated as a precursor to summer fun and the dead are forgotten.
Hearing someone say, " Happy Memorial Day, " sets my teeth on edge and I can see how it would be confusing to you since many Americans haven't worked it out yet either ... although I feel sure that you really do know and are being a bit ironic in your opening perhaps even poking a bit in fun at the general confusion most seem to have about the day.
This wouldn't happen if we remembered the war dead in November like they do in the UK. The weather is so dreary no one could possibly be confused about what the day was intended to be.
BTW ... I'm glad you're not taking the summer off from blogging ... it feels as if you've been gone for ages already.
I am so good with messy.
Yay! I'm so glad that you're not leaving us for the summer.
I like you messy, too.
Yeah, messy. That's me too. I'm with you about summer blogging. I'm doing it outside with a tall, cool drink.
My inner anti-perfectionist says: I love me some excellent typos! And don't we all deserve to be messy sometimes? I'm glad you are still blogging this Summer.
Yes. More you, less branding. Your friend rocks, you owe her a margarita.
Oh us artists are so hard on ourselves, aren't we? Most of us wouldn't know a split infinitive if it hit us in between the eyes, so don't worry about that!
And regarding Memorial day, I think it should be celebrated both happily and somberly. My husbands brother died in the Vietnam war so we think of him especially on this day, we are sad he is no longer with us on this earth but happy to know he did not die in vain.
blessings,
starrydeborah
PS. Whew, I am so glad to hear you are still going to be bringing us your wonderful words this summer :)
Splash all you want. Love reading your posts.
Two margaritas, in fact. And boldly go where no split infinitive has gone before.
Enjoy the summer.
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
<< Home