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lathrielFinally, A Salem/MASS Update!
As usual, it was awesome. Salem is such a comfortable, home-like place to me that each year when we return I hardly feel a sense of "yippee!" because it's more just... "yes. this is where I'm supposed to be." It's not Salem, per se. It's the New England coast, mostly Massachusetts. Mostly the Atlantic, also.
When I'm near the ocean, as so many can relate, I am full. I feel carried, lifted, loved. I am certain- of myself, of my path, of my life, and that the uncertainty of anything else is O.K. I feel like stories pour into my veins, and with each new glimpse of an old house or low tide or kitchy lawn ornament, I slowly begin to uncover the elements of those stories- characters, scenes, feelings. I've never had stories come to me whole- I create something like "found stories," built upon bursts of emotion relation to fictional events, places, people, etc.
When I'm in New England my heart is at peace. I can see the future, understand the past, reconcile with the present. I am calm, and ecstatic; I am joyful and somber. I feel the sacredness in my world- my church- more deeply, and yet casually (some might say day-to-day) than ever before.
I am convinced I have lived many lives near the sea. In fact, I believe, as he does, that Jared and I once lived a life together by the water- one of us a fisherman, and, very early on in life, one of us then a widower. It was the first part of the short story I wrote for Jared on his birthday, and it brought us both to tears- first as I wrote it, again as he read it. I might post that later.
Anyway, the trip itself was wonderful. We had more time this year than usual, and got to spend plenty of time in each destination, though still not enough. Salem was lovely, the people were kinder than ever, treating us like locals. I got a reading done at Angels Landing, the place I've gone the past 3 years, and again I was very pleased. She said just what my mother's friend (a 3rd generation clairvoyant medium) said, that I was going to get published soon to mild success, take a break for motherhood, and then hit it big. I do believe in one's ability to change the future, so no, I am not daunted by the fact that children are there despite me not wanting them at the moment. But more and more lately I've begun to think Jared and I would make great parents. Still, I'd want to be financially secure.
We got to spend a whole day in Gloucester and a whole day in Rockport. Whale watching was amazing- we saw 5 at once, then about 20-30 side-stripe dolphins, and more whales. We went out 30 miles onto the Atlantic, and it was exhilarating. In Rockport, we hit up all the shops and a national park with miles of rocky coastline to climb on. I felt like I was in Picnic at Hanging Rock, all existential, hanging about on rocks. But we were in the water, too- dipping toes and standing on slimy granite. It was awesome.
We also discovered a ghost town in Gloucester called Dog Town, an abandoned settlement from looong ago. The strangest part is that some time during the Depression, a guy had a bunch of stone masons carve phrases into boulders so as to write a book without pages or something. I don't get it, but it was cool. I've had a fixation with ghost towns for a long time, ever since I discovered Kid of Speed's site in middle school, a photo journalistic journey through Chernobyl. I wanted to do a summer road trip to a bunch of NY state ghost towns a few years ago, but it fell through. Thus, I believe I will write a novel about one soon. Or a short story maybe.
The last night we were there we also decided to take a night time swim in the Atlantic, on a small beach in Rockport. We usually go there at night, stand knee-deep in the water, prance around. This time we swam. I stripped down to my bra and underwear and despite the chill (though deciding we must be insane all the while, I won't pretend I was brave) the three of us sank into the salty waves and let the ocean rock us for a while. It was very healing.
Salem graveyard
As usual, it was awesome. Salem is such a comfortable, home-like place to me that each year when we return I hardly feel a sense of "yippee!" because it's more just... "yes. this is where I'm supposed to be." It's not Salem, per se. It's the New England coast, mostly Massachusetts. Mostly the Atlantic, also.
When I'm near the ocean, as so many can relate, I am full. I feel carried, lifted, loved. I am certain- of myself, of my path, of my life, and that the uncertainty of anything else is O.K. I feel like stories pour into my veins, and with each new glimpse of an old house or low tide or kitchy lawn ornament, I slowly begin to uncover the elements of those stories- characters, scenes, feelings. I've never had stories come to me whole- I create something like "found stories," built upon bursts of emotion relation to fictional events, places, people, etc.
When I'm in New England my heart is at peace. I can see the future, understand the past, reconcile with the present. I am calm, and ecstatic; I am joyful and somber. I feel the sacredness in my world- my church- more deeply, and yet casually (some might say day-to-day) than ever before.
I am convinced I have lived many lives near the sea. In fact, I believe, as he does, that Jared and I once lived a life together by the water- one of us a fisherman, and, very early on in life, one of us then a widower. It was the first part of the short story I wrote for Jared on his birthday, and it brought us both to tears- first as I wrote it, again as he read it. I might post that later.
Anyway, the trip itself was wonderful. We had more time this year than usual, and got to spend plenty of time in each destination, though still not enough. Salem was lovely, the people were kinder than ever, treating us like locals. I got a reading done at Angels Landing, the place I've gone the past 3 years, and again I was very pleased. She said just what my mother's friend (a 3rd generation clairvoyant medium) said, that I was going to get published soon to mild success, take a break for motherhood, and then hit it big. I do believe in one's ability to change the future, so no, I am not daunted by the fact that children are there despite me not wanting them at the moment. But more and more lately I've begun to think Jared and I would make great parents. Still, I'd want to be financially secure.
We got to spend a whole day in Gloucester and a whole day in Rockport. Whale watching was amazing- we saw 5 at once, then about 20-30 side-stripe dolphins, and more whales. We went out 30 miles onto the Atlantic, and it was exhilarating. In Rockport, we hit up all the shops and a national park with miles of rocky coastline to climb on. I felt like I was in Picnic at Hanging Rock, all existential, hanging about on rocks. But we were in the water, too- dipping toes and standing on slimy granite. It was awesome.
We also discovered a ghost town in Gloucester called Dog Town, an abandoned settlement from looong ago. The strangest part is that some time during the Depression, a guy had a bunch of stone masons carve phrases into boulders so as to write a book without pages or something. I don't get it, but it was cool. I've had a fixation with ghost towns for a long time, ever since I discovered Kid of Speed's site in middle school, a photo journalistic journey through Chernobyl. I wanted to do a summer road trip to a bunch of NY state ghost towns a few years ago, but it fell through. Thus, I believe I will write a novel about one soon. Or a short story maybe.
The last night we were there we also decided to take a night time swim in the Atlantic, on a small beach in Rockport. We usually go there at night, stand knee-deep in the water, prance around. This time we swam. I stripped down to my bra and underwear and despite the chill (though deciding we must be insane all the while, I won't pretend I was brave) the three of us sank into the salty waves and let the ocean rock us for a while. It was very healing.
Salem graveyard
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Date: 2010-08-09 09:21 pm (UTC)*HUGS YOU VERY MUCH*
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Date: 2010-08-10 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-10 02:25 pm (UTC)I LOVE this and definitely relate~ *HUGS*
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Date: 2010-08-10 02:32 pm (UTC)I'm giving it 5 years before we're out there permanently. <3
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Date: 2010-08-10 02:33 pm (UTC)