A very good friend sent me an email recently…”Are you OKAY?” she wrote, “Your posts sound a little sad lately.”
Oh dear.
I am often the last to know my feelings. It takes a while for things to register in a way that I can connect to or acknowledge. Maybe I need one of those tin-foil hats? Because, yes, I understand that sounds a little crazy.
But, as Popeye would say, “I yam what I yam.” Then again, what exactly was up with the yam thing? Thought he was more of a spinach guy.
I’ve decided that if sad is what came through, then perhaps I was sad or maybe this whole cold/flu thing was wearing me out and it was showing.
But I’m not particularly interested in figuring out why, or if, or what, because right now I’ve got Iceberg Radio tuned in to the World station and have been dancing around the living room. The incense is giving the apartment a lovely hippie vibe and I’m drinking a smoothie of great magnificence. In short, I feel pretty darned content. Hell, I might even go for calling myself happy.
Maybe it’s because yesterday I took myself on a little date. For those of you who have read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, you know the premise. Once a week she recommends going on an artist’s date. Go to an art gallery. Go to the theatre. Wander a Dollar Store and buy glitter glue. Simply, do something/anything to nourish your creativity.
Yesterday I was driving back from my visit to my father in the beige boredom of the Menno Home. (And that is quite seriously a mostly sad and enervating experience, though it was also nourishing and good in a very strange Gemini-like-schizoid-way).
However. On my way home, I went past DeSerres art store on Grandview. I have passed that place about a zillion times and have never stopped. But in I went. I was thinking I’d find glue for a special felt/wool project I’ve been thinking about and next thing you know I’d purchased art pencils and a sketch pad. WTH?
I used to draw. Haven’t done it in ages and ages. And then, last night someone new commented on my blog. I liked what this Jana Botkin had to say, so I went to her blog called Cabinart. Guess what? She is a wonderful artist. She does amazing pencil drawings. Has instructions on same.
Exactly.
I may as well get out the foil and start making that hat. Crazy stuff. Happy Coincidences. Serendipity.
Happy Friday.
Loved this blog Colleen!
Thanks Ruth. I actually think I look quite fetching in my aluminum foil pirate hat 🙂
You sad? Pondering, inquisitive, searching, sprinkled with perhaps a blend of a stuffy head and overcast seasonal climate disorder…… I really enjoyed your blog about having a cold, in the rain, irritated and the cute young couple in the grocery store. I smiled thinking about your reaction after spotting the scooter and the cane. Perspective. A great ending to your melancholy day of illness coupled with a dreary Vancouver afternoon. I loved the contrast and your accute awareness to everything and everyone around you.
Creating in the kitchen and designing unique exercise programs are my artistic releases. Thanks for the reminder though……I will definitely check out Jana’s blog.
Hey Karen, I’m sure sad factored in there somewhere but it’s always a mixed-bag eh? Just a million types of emotional weather in a day; sleet, showers, thunder, a soft breeze and then bam! a sudden break in the clouds and suddenly joy is shining a spotlight on the whole mess.
I like imagining you sitting in your kitchen designing exercise programs. Maybe you can add something else to the mix? Hooked rugs anyone?
I’ve been promising myself to “expand” and try new things this year. I’m looking for something to put a sparkle in my step too and get me dancing around the room!
Becca, definitely plan on throwing in some new things too. Decided to resurrect some old ones as well and are thinking about getting some people together and going bowling, always good for some laughs…especially when I get up there!
Colleen, you sound happy! I’ve read Julia Cameron so know about those “dates”. And the “Menno home” reference made me smile – secret decoder ring, indeed. Thank you for the link to my blog! Now I have to get back to the drawing board (do you know anyone else who can say that??) and find out what Iceberg radio is!!
Hey Jana, Mennonitos of the World Unite! Have fun at that drawing board. I love Iceberg Radio for great background soundtracks. Enjoy 🙂