Escape Artist
And I'm...outta here
We all have our recurring dreams—taking the final exam in a class you never attended, etc. For me, I VERY often dream of escaping, usually from a dark place (hallway, subway station). Sometimes I’m trying to get out of a stormy ocean riptide—at night. The danger I flee isn’t always clear, but I always know I have to get away. Putting on my ill-fitting psychologist cap, I ask myself: do I feel trapped in my life? Take off the cap, Sherlock, I answer myself—I don’t. I have never felt freer than I have in the two years since my retirement from church and commencement to full-time writing. But of course, I do remain trapped in certain bad habits, some routines that have become ruts, knee-jerk reactions where thoughtful contemplation would much better serve. This week, I’m thinking about escapes, good and bad…
GREAT ESCAPES
In the “youth is wasted on the young” department, I don’t think Steve and I ever fully appreciated the many, many weekends during our 18 month-long Northeastern US children’s theatre tour (1979-80) when we could just GO. After a week of performing in New York elementary schools along the Vermont border, we happily hopped over to the Green Mountain State for Saturday and Sunday. There, we attended a wild game supper at a firehouse, doused our buckwheat pancakes with pure maple syrup, stayed at a quaint country inn, and hiked.
Other getaways? With the vast state of New York as our launch pad again, we’d drive to Canada—a quick journey from Rouses Point, NY to Montreal (beautiful walking city! amazing French-Quebecois food!), and from Buffalo, NY to Toronto (booming theatre scene, art and music galore, at prices we could afford!)
After we settled in Philly in 1980, and especially after the five kids came along, our “great escapes” were few and far between. But, thanks to my sweet sister C for coming and babysitting, we were able to get up to lovely Nantucket for our 20th anniversary in 1997.
Those long ago, far away escapes, when we were strapped for cash but gifted with abundant energy and enthusiasm, still linger as such fond memories.
ESCAPING MY PAST (NOT)
Like this week’s quote (see below) I’m making my peace with the fact that no, I cannot escape my past. It’s still nested inside of me, for better and worse. I’ve struggled to describe what an episode of bipolar mania really feels like…there’s a favorite song of mine by Death Cab for Cutie that does an excellent job of it. I don’t know if that was the songwriter’s intention, but the lyrics absolutely capture what I was feeling in those bad old days…
LITERARY ESCAPES
Some big books I’ve escaped into…(they’ll never find me there!)
This collection of novels and short stories about the Forsyte family sustained me through freshman year of high school when, exhausted by our many moves, I retreated into the library every lunch hour. Instead of trying to socialize with yet another group of new kids over cafeteria pizza, I passed the time very pleasantly in Victorian England with Soames, Irene, Jolyon and Fleur…
A classic trilogy set in early 20th century Scotland, this is a gorgeously written work. The protagonist, Chris Guthrie, is one of the strongest and most fascinating female characters I have ever encountered. When we were in Stonehaven, Scotland last spring, we were, I later learned, only about 20 minutes from author Lewis Grassic Gibbons’ home, Arbuthnott. Ah well, another reason to return someday…
Which brings me to an ongoing source of my frustration, forgetting books…
ESSAY: THE PLOT ESCAPES ME
This great New York Times essay explains why I don’t remember more of most everything I read (spoiler alert: it’s not my fault! Yay!)
VIDEO: ESCAPE
An extremely cool short video, great animation and a terrific Imogen Heap song “Magic Me” as soundtrack…
and a special extra for those interested in how these things get put together…
BLOG PREVIEW: WALKING ON EGGSHELLS
Walking on eggshells means stepping carefully around difficult people for fear of awakening the beast. In extreme cases, eggshell-walkers are victims of abuse by the impossible people they are trying so hard to please. But I think there are times and situations where it’s A-OK to be very sensitive to one another’s needs. Come on over to Working Title and let’s crack a few eggs!!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (not only a wonderful quote, but the late, great Maggie Smith said it!)
This week, friends, let’s take a look back at our previous versions of ourselves, still fitting snugly inside of us. Let’s celebrate our current model, and joyfully craft the next one!
