#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Vineyard Haven Harbor, late afternoon

It was inevitable, I suppose, that I would, eventually, run out of steam. Intense collection of hot, humid days, tons of hiking and swimming, entertaining and errands and social activities and the theatre, last night, seeing "Hamlet," (an excellent outdoor production in the amphitheater), and this morning, I couldn't move. Couldn't do it. Could not get out the door into the heat with the dogs. They moped by my feet. My daughter took them. I dragged myself around, wondering if I'm sick. Of course, I'm not sick. I'm just tired, in a happy, satisfied way, and there is virtually no breeze these days under the hot sun. And so I rest and prepare for my Featherstone workshop, which is fun and not work at all. The weeks pass quickly; the writing from photos is producing lovely writing and sharing. A new woman joins us, takes the risk of being new and coming anyway, and fits right in. One of the warm ups I offer is to write a three sentence story about something that surprised you in your week. I love this structure as a poem/story starter, because it starts out linear, gives a shape to something you're thinking about or feeling and imagining, something that happened, but it contains it, forces compression of details: beginning (initiation), middle (conflict!), end (resolution/change). So, these are written and shared, and then, I invite them to take this story and add a fairy tale element anywhere/anyhow into the story, and reverse the order the sentences in any way. Magic starts to happen as we enter the realm of imagination and archetypal story. 

Now that I am in air conditioning and in my workshop, I feel my energy return, my blood is running, I am feeling nourished and rejuvenated. So, I drive to Vineyard Haven to meet my husband and kids - we're going to see David Sedaris at the Old Whaling Church. But I have a half hour to walk along VH Harbor. I can walk! I can move! I'm not dragging myself around. There is a red boat on the blue surface; there a fluffy white clouds, soft over the ships, and sweet pea is growing wild along the sidewalk of the busy street. Also, soft, tender - it's tenderizing my spirit, waking me up again, and I'm grateful for this special afternoon, and for my rest and renewal.

Sweet Pea along the highway in Vineyard Haven

All photos and text ©Kelly DuMar