Good morning and thanks for stopping by this blog today! Yesterday was quite a breakthrough for me and I am thankful for the opportunity to share it with you.
Two weeks ago with the help of my friends I packed up all of my belongings and drove a rental van South. Knowing one person in this new place, never having been here before and without work. Although it may seem like I took a crazy chance at the end of this worldwide pandemic, staying in the situation in PA was slowly killing me.
So after being here for a week, I did find a job. Just a job that can fulfil the necessary bills to survive and allow time for my projects which include my writing and endless reading.
When I am in a new place I like to find my comfy spots. Places where I am at ease enough that my characters come through and a place where I can lose myself in the books I read. For me, there is a little picnic table under the shade of palm trees by a river. I have an array of wildlife that forage all around me and I feel like I have found "my spot".
So... earlier in the week as I was into about an hour of reading, people started to emerge. It became clear that some of these people were without homes or lived near or in the park. In reality, I was a intruder to their space, but everyone was very friendly... seeing where my boundaries were. One gentleman who decided to fish near me struck up a small conversation. Thinking I was a student of some sorts with my books and such. I explained that I was a writer. He nodded in understanding and told me that he has a friend who wants to write a book. He thought that his friend should talk to me and asked for my number.
I diverged the question and told the man for that as long as I would be in town, his friend could find me at the picnic bench around a certain time every morning. He nodded and wasn't upset that I hadn't given him my phone number.
So yesterday as I set out on my trek to reach my picnic table by the river, the clouds above were growing darker with each step and the winds danced stronger as I got closer to the coast line. Maybe I should turn back, I thought as I checked the weather forecast again. My phone assured me the storms would be holding off until later in the day and I really wanted to share some almonds with this one-eared squirrel I've named Lilith. So I trudged on.
As I neared my spot, I noticed a woman sitting on the hood of her car watching the water. I felt connected to her in a way that I can't explain. Sensing her need to feel free and calm by the water as I do. So I took my seat at the table and took out my books and tried to get situated with the wind blowing here, there and everywhere.
Then the same woman appeared from behind the palm tree. "Are you the writer?" she asked. At first I was shocked and then I could feel a calm smile ease across my face. "I am!" I exclaimed with pride. The man trying to catch a fish had indeed sent his friend to come see me. Who would have thought!
I asked the woman to join me at the table, her name is Amy. We talked for almost two hours until the weather's cold made my fingers numb and it was time for me to go. But in those two hours, I learned so much. This woman not only wanted... needed to write and share her stories... but I found myself with so much in common with her that it was uncanny. I made some suggestions for her and in lending advice I found some realizations I needed to make for myself as well.
As I stood up, she wiped away a trail of genuine tears. I told Amy that if she ever needed to talk to me, she could find me at the same table around the same time. I think we both needed each other. A friend. I shook her hand but I knew that wasn't enough for either of us and pulled her in for a hug. "Everything is going to be okay." I said as I rubbed her shoulder, and I meant it.
If I was looking for a sign that getting in that van was the right thing to do, I feel as though I may have found it. Even if it was just to have that conversation with Amy, it was all worth it.
Sending a little prayer for Amy in hopes she finds her way,
Blondesheep
Two weeks ago with the help of my friends I packed up all of my belongings and drove a rental van South. Knowing one person in this new place, never having been here before and without work. Although it may seem like I took a crazy chance at the end of this worldwide pandemic, staying in the situation in PA was slowly killing me.
So after being here for a week, I did find a job. Just a job that can fulfil the necessary bills to survive and allow time for my projects which include my writing and endless reading.
When I am in a new place I like to find my comfy spots. Places where I am at ease enough that my characters come through and a place where I can lose myself in the books I read. For me, there is a little picnic table under the shade of palm trees by a river. I have an array of wildlife that forage all around me and I feel like I have found "my spot".
So... earlier in the week as I was into about an hour of reading, people started to emerge. It became clear that some of these people were without homes or lived near or in the park. In reality, I was a intruder to their space, but everyone was very friendly... seeing where my boundaries were. One gentleman who decided to fish near me struck up a small conversation. Thinking I was a student of some sorts with my books and such. I explained that I was a writer. He nodded in understanding and told me that he has a friend who wants to write a book. He thought that his friend should talk to me and asked for my number.
I diverged the question and told the man for that as long as I would be in town, his friend could find me at the picnic bench around a certain time every morning. He nodded and wasn't upset that I hadn't given him my phone number.
So yesterday as I set out on my trek to reach my picnic table by the river, the clouds above were growing darker with each step and the winds danced stronger as I got closer to the coast line. Maybe I should turn back, I thought as I checked the weather forecast again. My phone assured me the storms would be holding off until later in the day and I really wanted to share some almonds with this one-eared squirrel I've named Lilith. So I trudged on.
As I neared my spot, I noticed a woman sitting on the hood of her car watching the water. I felt connected to her in a way that I can't explain. Sensing her need to feel free and calm by the water as I do. So I took my seat at the table and took out my books and tried to get situated with the wind blowing here, there and everywhere.
Then the same woman appeared from behind the palm tree. "Are you the writer?" she asked. At first I was shocked and then I could feel a calm smile ease across my face. "I am!" I exclaimed with pride. The man trying to catch a fish had indeed sent his friend to come see me. Who would have thought!
I asked the woman to join me at the table, her name is Amy. We talked for almost two hours until the weather's cold made my fingers numb and it was time for me to go. But in those two hours, I learned so much. This woman not only wanted... needed to write and share her stories... but I found myself with so much in common with her that it was uncanny. I made some suggestions for her and in lending advice I found some realizations I needed to make for myself as well.
As I stood up, she wiped away a trail of genuine tears. I told Amy that if she ever needed to talk to me, she could find me at the same table around the same time. I think we both needed each other. A friend. I shook her hand but I knew that wasn't enough for either of us and pulled her in for a hug. "Everything is going to be okay." I said as I rubbed her shoulder, and I meant it.
If I was looking for a sign that getting in that van was the right thing to do, I feel as though I may have found it. Even if it was just to have that conversation with Amy, it was all worth it.
Sending a little prayer for Amy in hopes she finds her way,
Blondesheep