Sandbar Philosophy

A three-day weekend. Usually means I am in the car. On the road. To some far-off unexplored place. Looking to fill up some spot in my brain that is devoid of information. Geography on the fly. That's the full life. In my mind anyway.

This weekend I was lazy. Just another trip to the Outer Banks. Where I can hide in a cottage by the sea. On a sandbar forty miles out in the ocean. Some parts of the drive you can see water on both sides.

Repose from Virginia Beach. Where the cars exceed 50mph regularly on city streets. Hang on to your wheel, or you're gone. Coming here is like camping in the mountains. Only different.

The beauty of exploring parts of the world. The nomadic life.

Nearly two-thirds way done with my maternity leave coverage job. Reaching out to contacts. Finding prospects in Virginia Beach. Searching for part-time. Flexible. Where I'm needed and free at the same time. Not so different from the type of relationship I seek. It's a general life theme.

[art class]

Dancing in trees

running along

I can't help but sing 

& wave my arms 

in joy

at my new surroundings

discoveries 

of love & lightness.

Sunlight glinting...

And just when we forget about it and relax, there it is.

Like sunlight suddenly glinting your eye from the side

While you're driving your car.

Warmth pressed
Behind me
As close as the peel of a banana
To its fruit
Melded and almost one

You decide you are just going to plunge in.
Because that is life, living. Not cowering.

Traversing backroads paths.

Men, fallibility in the NYT

"The truest measure of a man, indeed of a person, is not whom he lies down with, but what he stands up for. And when we fall short, as we sometimes will, because humanity is fallible, let us greet each other with compassion and encouragement rather than ridicule and resentment." - Charles Blow

OP-ED COLUMNIST

Real Men and Pink Suits

By CHARLES M. BLOW

Published: February 10, 2012

Grey Skies, Twirly Trees

[Virginia Beach, behind my office.]