Calls to Adventure

A picture of my father, George, and son, Elliott. So: a picture of Elliott with his grandfather. Dad is slowly slipping away at 77. But this is actually a picture that represents all that’s right in my world. Dad is changing — everything changes, yes? — and Elliott and McLean and William are there to help, ever-patient with him, even as he asks of them the same questions over again. They intuit my quiet sense of loss and disorientation and ask how I’m doing and if they can do anything to help, if I’m honest enough to admit I’m hurting. I’m filled with gratitude for what I learned from my father and what I can model at home.

My Father, My Son

Remaining image from my walk yesterday: the call of the west. 

Tonight, I finished the last of my pre-Spring Break grading, which means, in essence, Spring Break has sprung. I may have some bits to tend to, but nothing has to be done before I return to work in a week. What a glorious feeling. A week at the beach and nothing but my own writing to tend to.

I took a long walk today along North Inlet to its tip, where the island ends at a large creek’s mouth and the currents are tricky and breaking waves appear in unexpected places. The wind milled about, never did much, but the air was still cold. In total, I spent two hours off the grid today, too far down a deserted beach to receive a cell signal, and it was good medicine to be unplugged. Enjoy some of the sights.

Hobcaw Barony

Two miles of deserted beach

Beach off Hobcaw Barony

In total, I’ve created three blogs (I think), one of which cannot be located. The second, you’re reading. The third I started during some down time on this blog. I am (and was) a big Talking Heads fan, and I named the site for lyrics from one of their songs. Here’s a link to Don’t You Miss It, Don’t You Miss It. I send you there for the couple or so posts worth reading. The others are…well, there.

Tooling along I-85 north this morning, I came along this patriotic rider, American flag flapping behind his remarkable Harley.

Isn’t that a great title? I enjoyed Colum McCann’s novel very much — Let the Great World Spin — and recommend it. I happened to see it while looking for something else: my copy of Steven Mitchell’s translation of the Tao te Ching. I own a pocket-sized edition and carry it in my work bag and wanted to remember some exact phrasing. When I picked up the book, the pages opened to this:

16

“Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.”

It’s no mystery the pages opened here. This is one of my favorite parts of the Tao, so the book usually opens near or on this passage. Every time I read this, no matter the circumstances, I feel a bit better, provided I also take a deep breath or two. Pretty quick, simple fix.