
And I’m back from the McKenzie River, and I most emphatically did not bring work with me. No laptop. No manuscript that I’m reading for a friend. No notebooks. Just a library book, the latest Laura Lippman.
I did drink red wine. I did eat too much yummy camp food. I did read and nap. I did get on the river. I did socialize with my hosts and their river friends. That’s about it. These images say it all, don’t they?
Three thoughts:
First, old friends are comfortable like p.j.s. I hadn’t seen much of my hostess in 15 years, yet when I arrived it was like old times. No big deal. We’re both a little wider, with a few wrinkles around the eyes, and we lead very different lives, but, as the saying goes: Whatever.
Second, I need more breaks like this, because even though I came back to a work-grind, I feel semi-detached from it, as if my brain regained some of its space — room for creative thoughts to slip in and stick.

Speaking of which, third, an idea did occur to me while in the woods, and it hasn’t fallen into the nothing-hood void that I mentioned in my last post.
Day-job tasks beckon, but first I’m going on a dog-walk, then hitting a coffeehouse, then fooling around on Facebook because I haven’t visited that virtual realm in awhile, and THEN blasting through a little work. That’s my kind of prioritizing!


0 comments on “River Life”
I’m so glad you did this and I’m so impressed with your ability to leave EVERYTHING behind. Hard to do, but so necessary. How can we write honestly if we lose touch with the real world?
What a beautiful place! I’m glad it was a good trip for you. xo
This looks like the perfect way to relax and let your brain synapes’ rejuvenate!
Looks completely idyllic. And the perfect inspiration for some incredible writing when you get back.
The pics only make me dream of such a place and realize that the muse occasionally needs to rest.