Blog break
Life has an elegance that far exceeds anything we might devise. Perhaps the wisdom lies in knowing when to sit back and wait for it to unfold. Too hasty an activism may lead to lesser outcomes and, more important, may cause us to trust ourselves rather than learning to trust life.
–Rachel Naomi Remen, in My Grandfather’s Blessings (Riverhead, 2000), p. 76.
It’s time for a blog break. Coming to Portland, settling in, discovering what a great place the northwestern USA is, finding the rhythm of life as a “retired” person–all that was something to blog about. It was exciting to discover who my father (probably) was, and his father before him. Now, however, I have descended to circling, over-thinking, mulling, and kvetching, and that just won’t do. Better to shut up, regain my bearings — something people can only do on their own, I’m afraid — and get on with either writing or not-writing. The time I spend tending the blog is time better spent in the original project (the book, or not-the-book). Thank you for keeping me company. It has been a pleasure to travel with you. If I resume the blog, I’ll let you know. I’ll keep reading my favorite blogs, and I hope Dave will start one of his own. If any of you decide to fill the blogosphere with your own voices, please let me know. But I’m tired of listening to mine, so it’s time to shut up.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Well I am sure going to miss checking in every day. Enjoy your new adventure and let us know if there is a book! You have really inspired me and I’m glad to know you. Keep in touch.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am
It is a bit distracting, isn’t it?
Enjoy the break–we’ll be here when you get back.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hope you are doing well, and I just stopped in to say hi.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Hey Kendall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How are you??????? Portland? Thats awsome. I have always heard good things about that city.
Yea Im still plotting and planning lol. Actually I have a great job now working for a local city government and the pay is great. Its affording a crazy idea. I will be totally debt free in about 4 more months then its $1200/month in the savings for a few years! I plan on being outa here and on the road (or the sea) for a solid 2-4year trip. I have to decide now if I want to sail or drive haha. Yea… Ive been doing pretty well.
My last Mexico trip, the 73 day one, messed with my head pretty bad. When I got back I was a totally different person. Long hair, tan as heck, new scares (mentally and physically) and a totally different mindset. I had been living in the dirt. In my tent. With surfers and without. I saw what it was like to be on the road, in a constant state of movement and living in the now. I didnt have time to worry about yesterday or tomorrow. I just lived for waves, beers, tacocs, and sand. I did what I wanted all day long. I became very creative, started drawing again, something I havent done since I was in intermediate school. I let go. The hardest part, like you warned (but probably much harder in your case) was indeed coming home. I found that my ideals did not sit well with my fellow citizens. How could I possibly have felt a freedom greater than that of living in the USA and buying tons and tons of useless crap? It took everything I had in me to stay focused and not sell my remaining posession and hit the road again. I told myself to get outa debt, rake the cash, we shall be back. Sacrifice dude. Keep your head up.
Anyways… here I am. I think almost daily about my decision but it was an important one. I dont mind running off but I do not want to leave this nation owing people, namely banks. Thats makes me a semi criminal when I decide to come home and it will haunt me for quite a while. I wont have to worry about that soon, 4 more months.
How are things with you? Did you retire from teaching? Any more plans for Africa?
Dave! Hi! Sounds like you’ve definitely got your shit together and are taking it on the road in 4 more months. Yes, I retired from teaching. Plans for Africa–only in my head, I’m afraid. I miss it terribly. But Portland is terrific. I’m glad to be here now. And glad to hear from you.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Ahhh Kendall, it’s so nice to be reading your blog again. Apparently, I have a lot of catching up to do here!
I love the sound of your voice, but I do understand. I get tired of the sound of mine too.
I’ll spend time catching up on your past posts, and hope you’ll be back soon. Please take good care of yourself.
Bless your heart, I’ve actually quit the blog now. The break has turned into the ending. I’m writing, and I don’t want to stop writing to go back to the blog. But YOUR blog is still my favorite blog of all. I read it every day.