"The Journey," 1903, Elizabeth Shippen
Green
This illustration of a child looking out the window on a journey on a
train seems like the perfect way to tell you that I, too, must go on a
little journey. I won't be going by train, and I won't be going very
far.
I've been a little under the weather lately. I have not been able to
post nor to reply to comments nor to visit
blogs, and I feel very bad about that. No ooomph at all. I've thought it
was just the long hot summer. I adore autumn, winter, and spring in
Austin, but the long hot summer is very hard on me. As soon as it sets
in, I begin to long for the first autumnal cold front. I begin to
scrounge the earth for old leaves, for wisps of wind, and remnants of
rain.
But then it occurred to me that perhaps I am in need of a Writer's
Wretreat. I know I said something a while back about wanting to give up
worrying about being a writer, but I'm not sure that I can. I don't know
who I am without my writing. A Writer's Wretreat might be the perfect
remedy for the long hot summer. And for everything else, too.
In the summer of 1997, I went by train all alone from Austin to northern Illinois to visit my favorite uncle and aunt. When I arrived at their home, my uncle had hung this sign over the guestroom door:
Author's Abode
Scribbler's Sanctuary
Writer's Wretreat
Today I will hang the writer's sign on my own boxroom door, and we will see what comes of it. I have only just recently realized that I've never written a post that was titled "Once Upon a Time." That seems like a terrible lapse on my part. Perhaps I will begin my retreat by making notes on just such a post for when I return.
But I will miss being here in blog world. When I first started
blogging, I
did not know that this lovely group of total strangers would not only
find my little blog, but would come by so faithfully to visit me and
leave me all your wonderful comments.
You have meant the world to me. You have been a thousand lights in the deep dark forest for me. I cannot tell you what it has meant to me to find such kindness and generosity, so many loving hearts and kindred spirits. And I have loved visiting your blogs and learning so much from you.
I will miss each one of you. Please don't forget me! I promise to be back very soon.
.
