Packing is in progress. Soon we will be back at the
apartment in town and preparing for the next nine months of study.
I spent the last relaxing morning at the beach house watching
the birds; chickadees and red-wing blackbirds, ducks and herons, hummingbirds and
the kingfisher pair as they announced their presence with their funny
machine-gun call all drew my attention. As I sip my coffee and swing on the
deck, I drink in the fresh air, the sound of the distant crashing waves, and
the gardens where all our hard labor can be seen. We have done so much this
summer, but it seemed to go all too fast.
I really want to record a snapshot of life this summer, if
for no other reason than my later reading. When I am buried deep in the
struggle of Latin and agonizing over researching my capstone, I want to be able
to just sit and remember this summer. It has been a memorable one.
Since summer seems to be the season to read, we read. Oh yes…we
read! We started the summer with the fabulous book by Ki Longfellow entitled The Secret Magdalene (extremely
well-researched historical fiction). This is a must read for anyone who is
willing to be challenged with a different perspective on very well-known material.
This book quickly became the favorite book of my adulthood and one I will be
re-reading for my own pleasure. I immensely enjoyed the virtual experience of
stepping into the time period I have studied for so long. It was surprising,
stunning, unexpected, and familiar…all at the same time.
Another book that was a fascinating and introspective read
was The Path, by Michael Puett and
Christine Gross-Loh. I gained a huge amount of insight and knowledge from this
brief investigation of Chinese philosophers and their ideas. Excellent writing.
I suggest reading it with a good friend so you can bounce thoughts off of each
other. So good.
Dan Harris, of television mainstream media fame, has written
a book that we totally enjoyed, as well, called 10% Happier. This is a rather light and entertaining read that
documents his experience of being an anchor on a major network as well as his
journey and practice of meditation. Really fun. And, from this book, we are in
the process of reading two mentor-authors he recommended – Mark Epstein (Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart)
and Joseph Goldstein (Insight Meditation,
The Practice of Freedom). Both are gems, however, I prefer the Goldstein
book as it is concise and very chewy, if you know what I mean. The book to get
if you really are looking for some mentorship. Epstein’s book has a lot of
information and interweaving of psychoanalysis, since that is his specialty,
which is a bit more tedious and academic, but informative and definitely worthwhile.
In addition to these selections, we are working our way through
a new book by Judith Freeman called The
Latter Days. It is written very well and is quite revealing about the
culture surrounding the LDS Church. Oh, and I can’t forget the one that has
changed my health and lifestyle permanently – The FastDiet. Yeah…it is neither a fast nor a diet, but it is
something we adopted immediately. Our health and eating have been altered in
such good ways – I highly recommend this book. I strongly believe that whatever
method one chooses to lose weight or maintain fitness/health, that level of
commitment (or sometimes even greater) has to be maintained in order to keep
the weight off or maintain the same level of health. So, if one goes on Weight
Watchers to lose weight, they have to stay on that program indefinitely to
maintain the weight loss. Or if one works out intensely and drinks meal replacement
shakes in order to lose the pounds, that has to be maintained indefinitely in
order to stay at that weight. However, if one makes easy changes such as are
suggested in The FastDiet, health
will improve and weight will come off slowly but steadily without immense
effort. Truly. The authors of the book are Dr. Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer –
good writing, good medical information, quick read, straightforward and
enjoyable. I kid you not when I say that I have dropped 1-2 pounds a week this
summer. Slow and steady wins the race! And, reversing the gaining trend I was
in is a good thing. I no longer feel helpless, but empowered!
Enough of that…
For visual stimulation this summer, we absolutely loved
watching the BBC production of I,
Claudius, in preparation for my Latin studies this coming fall. I can’t say
enough good things about Derek Jacobi and the other cast that are featured in
this series. So very good. We also watched some Star Wars, of course, and Must
Love Dogs, which I didn’t care much for…kinda meh, in my view.
In the midst of all that, we road tripped this summer! We
started with a trip to Victoria BC, then added an impromptu vacation in Sun
Valley, ID. We loved day tripping to Whidbey Island and Coupeville for the Art
Festival, Portland for the Saturday Market, Long Beach for the Kite Festival, Westport
for Pirate Days, Centralia for awesome antiquing and (always) shopping, Neah
Bay for Makah Days and hiking, and Astoria and the Oregon Coast because it is
the most awesome place ever. We also played in our own town festivals - Bikers
at the Beach, Sand & Sawdust, Antiques & Collectibles, Beachcombers Fun
Fair, and Shoppin’ at the Shore. We listened to Celtic bands at our local Irish
pub, rode our bikes until our behinds were sore, kayaked up and down the canal,
took long walks through the neighborhood, and filled our pockets with beach
treasures from hours of beachcombing.
Closer to home, Chuck build a carport and a greenhouse – both
valuable additions to our property. We landscaped and gardened, cooked, cleaned
and organized, planned and re-planned. And we relaxed…I know, it doesn’t sound
like it, but we did. We planned and created a space for a fire pit, then had s’mores
until we were sick! We sat in our hanging deck chairs and then nursed sunburns.
We chased deer out of the yard, lamented the moles and bamboo, and watched the
ducks teach their young how to navigate the canal. And watched the birds…always
watching the birds.
Which brings me back to the beginning of this post. As I sat
with my coffee this morning watching the birds, I could still see
snatches of an early morning dream. It was a rather disturbing dream, where a
small girl with long blond hair is running along a bridge that covers an abyss.
I can see the girl and I am calling to her, but as I watch she slips through
the broken slats of the bridge and falls into the abyss and gets swept away. I
call to her and try to get help, but I am told that it just is what it is…
School starts next week. I wish I could say that there is
not anxiety here, but that would be a lie.
It is what it is. Done
is what had to be done. And I am thankful that we were privileged to be
together for this summer – myself, my beloved Chuck, my bestie Lisa, and my
amazing and funny teenager, Taylor. We really had a good summer.
Happy fall, everyone.
