Hello From Home Base
It has been a whirlwind of a month.
Anyone else? My friend Joey said “Things haven’t felt right since the eclipse.” and I would have to agree. Everything has been in flux, for me and everyone I know.
It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve been in your inbox, and for that I forgive myself completely. After all, I’ve been all over the place. In the past month I’ve visited Austin twice, Chicago once, North Carolina this past weekend for my beloved Merlefest, and tomorrow I go back to Austin one more time.
I have been traveling for work. For play. Because I could. For fun.
Overall I’m feeling good, except for the allergies I picked up at the festival this past weekend.
I am missing home despite being here right now and am ready for a period of staying put for a bit.
In a letter I wrote to myself I said this:
I’ve been all over the place. I’m unmoored and I’m not sure how well I’m doing but I’m feeling good. Life is moving a mile a minute. I am here and then I am there, but I’m trying so hard to stay in it, with whatever’s happening. I’ve stared out windows and watched long stretches of road pass by for hours at a time. I sat at a mechanic for four hours in the middle of nowhere in Texas right after being on a red carpet. I have seen an eclipse. Life has had lots of deeply good moments in it and I don’t want to miss it.
I’m trying to pick up my phone less with varying levels of success. I’ve been reading a lot, and watching a lot of movies. I’ve been getting a lot clearer on the the work worth doing for me personally. I feel so grateful and in love with my friends. I’ve seen so many people I love this month. I’ve had long, winding calls with friends all over. I am feeling more me right now than I’ve felt in a while. My “yes” feels strong, my “no” feels more sure. The world feels open. I’m still in the process of making it work. The recession is no joke, but today I feel tough. I am betting on myself. The thought of “I feel like it might work out” has turned into “It is working out. What can I do to keep it working out?”
I feel like there’s so much to tell you and nothing at all.
Life moves forward.
Right now I’ve set up shop to get some photo editing done at the co-working space. This morning I woke up early in my own bed and got dressed in a hurry to go to a favorite coffee shop. I got to see hug some friends, I got to eat an everything bagel with Calabrian chili cream cheese. It felt so good to get a taste of the home routine back.
In a little bit I’ll go home and warm up some lunch in my kitchen, and then I’ll pack.
I’ve taken a note from of Joan Didion’s packing list, and have been packing with a formula that is more or less the same every time.
Two button downs.
Black pants that I can sink wash if I need to.
A skirt.
A t-shirt.
A tank top.
A dress or two.
A swimsuit.
A sweatshirt for the plane.
Everything goes with sneakers.
When I’m home I’ve just been unloading the suitcase into the washer and then when the laundry is dry I’ve been packing it directly into the suitcase again, right in the floor in front of the dryer.
It’s a strange place to be in right now, but it is suiting me just fine. I love to be here, but I also love to be at the airport reading a library book waiting on my plane. I think I can love to be anywhere.
Here are some photos. See you on Friday!
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