Yesterday I drove to Utah.
I don’t know why I went, except sometimes the flickering highway lines open doors and I hoped to have a few doors opened, a few thresholds crossed, a few new rooms with views unfolding before me.
While on the road, with my windows down and the breeze expertly running fingers through my hair, I have a feeling of space. The rain falls against the windshield and the dust is washed away.
Suddenly, I slide into new places and my life is filled with motion.
The cloudy waters clear.
The old falls away behind me.
The light on the other side is fresh and new.
I step through.
I close the door behind me with a soft click.
What did I do in the city? Well city things of course! I have lovely friends I could have shared coffee with, along the way, and in Salt Lake City proper too, I could have met with friends, but I wanted to spend the day alone (right….like I don’t do enough of that already….) blending into the crowds, feeling like as much of a stranger as the person next to me waiting for a walk light. I wanted to sit down with a latte and sketch, loiter in Barnes & Nobel in the art book section, take my sweet time in the change room at Anthropologie. I wanted to selfishly choose the restaurant for dinner. I wanted to lean against my truck, while filling the tank at a gas station, and watch the lightening crackling over the Wasatch Range. I wanted to linger in every place I visited. I wanted to talk to myself as I drove. I wanted to sing, test new harmonies against Karin’s soaring and swooping voice. I wanted to find some motivation in that long stretch of highway between here and there. And on the way home, I wanted to feel my heart soar when I crossed the border into Idaho. Home again. What a relief.
This morning the world has a little more sparkle than it did yesterday,
My stargazer lilies are starting to open!
The possibilities of everything feel wild and untethered.
There’s banjo playing on the stereo.
The breeze seems cooler than usual for this time of day.
I suppose this is all to say,
the door opened up,
I stepped through,
I brought you with me,
and it’s going to be great.
xx
P
Those lillies are beautiful!
Jaunts to Sooth the Soul.
It's what I miss the most about owning a car… long drives – mental clarity – inspiration – adventure.
siiigggghhhhh
I wish I were so close as to pack up and drive to SLC for the day. I lived there for only a year as a child, but how I miss those mountains.
You are too funny Miss Plume…you just slay me!
I am sure things are bright and perky wherever you go…I just know it. Still, I am happy you had the "ME" time and I really wish I could crash in on your ME time! : ) Muchos love sent to you!
What a great read…..I love to just get in the car and drive – sometimes I don't even have a destination in mind. I crave the quietness (is there even such a word?) of being solo. I love my ME time and I don't mean to sound selfish or anything but sometimes that is all that will clear out the cobwebs and start a new route to who knows where. I love reading about your life and you always make me think deeper that I probably would have otherwise……Thanks and many hugs, Sal…..p.s. next week I am venturing off to Santa Fe for a week or so – can't wait to roll the windows down and turn up the music!!!
Oh, I feel you!
Mmmm….rain on the windshield. We had that today, too, and I loved it after so much sun. Well, Walter had rain on the windshield. Sojourner and I had rain on the face. It was lovely though.
But home…1,400 miles left…and the sigh I will have when we walk down that driveway!!
I forgot to add Miss Plume that I have the feeling that you look smashing in that orange sweater : )
Amen, Mrs. Little Jeans!!!!!