Monday, April 02, 2007

The flat place

I've noticed a disturbing trend here at the blog. There seems to be more and more detailing of dinners eaten and chores done than "real" events. My first impression is that this is bad. Very, very bad. But then I think, hey, real life is a bunch of ups and downs and flat places. There's nothing wrong with the flat places really, it's just that they do not provide interesting writing opportunities. Or do they?

Maybe the flat places are fertile ground for growth. It's the time to ponder the ups and downs and how to engage in their dance the next time they arrive. It's a time to get calm, centered, grounded, and whatever other word that implies getting "bien dans sa peau". And that's what I'm trying to do.

The last year has been a trying one, at times I thought I had taken a wrong turn in this road of life, but sitting here on the flat place, the perspective is different. Wow, I was so low back in November, and here it is April and all of that is behind me. In front of me, I have the summer beckoning with its tendrils of warmth and play, and I have decided not to seek interim employment for this period.

Even nature is in a holding pattern right now. Little flashes of spring have brightened up the days, but the trees know better, the bare branches showing only the first signs of budding. The snow has all melted, uncovering the accumulated filth of 100 city days. To see the earth again grounds me. She is in that flat place too, hunkered down in a crack between hibernation and wakefulness.

There's snow in the forecast this week, so I'm just going to hang out here, treading water, enjoying the holding pattern. Off to work!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here in Indiana the Sun is shining and the trees are budding out and blooming. The grass is growing and people are mowing lawns again. Ah, the smell of new cut grass. Summer is coming soon. We are supposed to have a cool spell later this week. It always seems to be cool on Easter Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Dinners and chores are real events. Ordinary little moments of daily rituals are the breath of our lives. There's magic in the flat places ... like a fallow field awaiting growing things.

GayProf said...

I think it is worth appreciating the flat places in between chaos.

Unknown said...

I'm finding a similar spot in my blog to hon. Not that life isn't just chocked full of nuts but that the nougat is mostly what I'm chewing on at this juncture. I look outside and all I see is wet brown feh! Like mother nature is using the landscape as one giant adult diaper. I took a week off just to recharge and now I find myself recounting frigging makeover shows on my blog. Christ that can't be a good sign.
Hugs of inspiration my dear.
kb

dirk.mancuso said...

Whether they are chock full o' Nude Dancer news or just the quiet details of your day, I enjoy my visits here each and every day, Torn.

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful. It made me take a deep breath and look around. Frankly, I'm jealous of your flat place right now. I know mine will come, but dude, I'm totally scrambling to keep up right now.

Still, I'm taking the day off, I have that darned cold you talked about. I'm going to write about the funeral yesterday, and read up on the school work.

A Lewis said...

Seasons of change, seasons of life, both literally and figuratively.......enjoy them all. They are meant for different things.

Jason said...

Wow, everyone is so happy here. Spring really has sprung (is that really a word?).

Nicki said...

I always worry my blog is too boring and resist posting a lot of stuff. But you always make everything sound so interesting, I don't care what you write about - I know I'm going to enjoy it.

A Bear in the Woods said...

Comments are down, too, which cause me to feel unloved and neglected. But then I tighten my belt and remind myself that I'm a big, brave blogger now, and I don't have to be scared.

Snooze said...

I love the rhythm of your writing whatever the subject.

Patricia said...

your flat places are beautiful, too. and as far as "interesting", well that is in the eye of the beholder/reader. and we're all still happily hooked.

Anonymous said...

I was told yesterday by a blog reader that I live such a dramatic and exciting life and then today anotehr blog reader said I was boring. So much for ups and downs and flat and non-flat periods.

dpaste said...

I wouldn't say flat places so much as eyes of hurricanes or calms between storms. I savor them.