View Original Handwritten Notes
Home – 2:18p
Getting the angle of the sun just so is a thing. So body is the right temperature, so the shadows behave and keep the writing in the light. It infuses everything with Vitamin D.
And in this session of capture, as I get started, I will first reflect on the beauty of the mountains just north of here and the Pyramid Lake area. It’s like a dream, writing in the sun, and for me, that south-facing window in a sunny spot, with a good kitchen-height table, is the perfect writing setup—or an addition to a desk in a room. The sunroom is often too cold in winter, too hot in summer, and in direct light. Great for an occasional session and also for getting that Vitamin D—for myself and in my writing.
Yes, the land here is beautiful and still foreign and unexplored by me. I really knew Colorado and the mountains. I also knew quite a lot about my surroundings in Washington. But it never came right away for me in each place, and I’m still new here. I wonder about the trailheads out here, the parks, what it all is we are surrounded by. The drive over to California is also particularly beautiful, full of great spots I’m sure to explore and check out.
Bounce, bounce, bounce—my mind runs around if I let it. And that is where I really see the power of keeping the pen going, doing the best with what you have, whatever those thoughts are. And in some ways, the action of writing itself can pull the thought out, and with a gentle push, one can focus the stream in one direction or another. But the practice is surfing on the stream—not getting too caught up in the contents or the current, but focusing on breathing, ease, good posture, gentle muscles, loose hands, moving with the larger muscles, the things which can dust and pull and sluice the mind, letting what matters of gravity find its way off the bottom into the collected box to be refined and categorized.
Yes, this naturally explains my fascination with mining and the process—
(There was a break for doing dishes here, and for some reason, our Goldie was whining and acting strangely, so that all had me quite distracted for a moment.)
As I got back into the rhythm, I looked to have good posture, hold the pen loosely, breathe deeply, softly, and gently as I fall under the spell of the ink, and it begins writing of itself. It is a blissful thing indeed to be in flow of any kind. My writing flow is not like when I run or meditate—or perhaps yes, well, you know what I was thinking, so I won’t have to write that, and this will/might get redacted, but probably not. And funny I should think that, and how egotistical. But there is a place for ego in creating, or is that just my misunderstanding of Art for Art’s sake?
Walks are a nice thing, as is taking care of those you love. Even the animal things—changing litter, scooping poop. Those are noble things. Cleaning toilets.
On my run today, I pushed it, but not beyond my current limit. Not too much, not for too long. Mostly just pushing myself to the edge, where—due to my breathing and delirium—there is really no other thought. Just the oneness, the body-mind connection taking over. And importantly, the rhythm of the music with the steps was just so dang satisfying. Running and dancing, being outside, sunshine and blue skies.
All this sun late in my life is balancing out what I’ve always felt my Puerto Rican heritage required—warmth, Vitamin D, something to help with brighten the mood. Growing up in Stuttgart and Tacoma/Seattle was not ideal for my needs, but yes, they were beautiful. Although Stuttgart, on the whole, seems like an industrial city, somewhat gloomy. Perhaps the Tacoma of Baden-Württemberg. I spent time in Seattle and München, which were better. But still, from a weather perspective, somewhat similar. Though I felt the weather was generally better in Munich. Just north of Seattle, there is a place where lavender grows and is sunnier, but Seattle is not Sequim, and it rained a lot.
Colorado was beautiful.
And I was introduced to New Mexico, which I also loved.
Arizona seemed too wonder bready and cactusy—and hot.
But yes, Nevada fits quite well. Perhaps even an upgrade over New Mexico. Hard to say. I just don’t know.
It is interesting, the similarities. And I wonder if they ever had that distinction.
There is such a comfort in a sunny spot—likely, similar can be said for cozy. But the warmth, the energy, the brightness.
And like a battery, I’ll store that energy for later. Sleep the better for it.
Wrapping up for now.
This was a nice time. A good flow session.