Be Here Now

I have not caught up with these blogs. I have also not given up hope of doing so, and neither should you. But I do want to give all you people who I love an honest update of time and place, in REAL time.

I'm in Tucson, AZ. Currently using the internet connection at Alex and Linda's. This afternoon I have also taken advantage of their patio, for the sunshine; their washer and dryer, for clean clothes; and their hot tub, for an utterly relaxing hour of water massage.

The last couple days have been a whirlwind of activity and new people and "old friends" and rediscovering what it means to be on a roadtrip and why I'm on one. I'd gotten a bit staid in Tucson and flying the coop to Tempe last Thursday was the best decision I could have made. I met Neil and Dan for the first time, surrogate uncles that I've only ever heard stories of. I entertained myself and felt glorious about my power to do what I wished when I wished. I reconnected with friends I'd met the previous weekend. I met new people and marveled at my ability to be social and engaging (but boy it's exhausting).

I started the day in Flagstaff, a city that startles me in it's similarity to Portland. I went there on a lark with Ashley Burrell who I met in Mexico this time last year. We groggily and grudgingly got going this morning. Had to get Ashley back to her Law School Duties (yeah, I said duty). Mother Nature dumped 4 feet of snow on Flagstaff last week, in 2 DAYS! So there was still plenty of snow to go around up in Flagstaff's staggering (and headache provoking) 7,000' elevation. An hour drive south and the snow was completely gone. Two and a half hours down the road, dropping Ashley off in Tempe and I was going barefoot. Incredible!

Rob left for the rafting trip 10 days ago, the night of the 21st; it was a heart wrenching parting. We decided to split up, not because of any disagreement or any hardship uncovered by traveling together. On the contrary, we had a ball. The split is for "practical" reasons of a forced 2 month separation with exciting adventures to be had by both of us. And then, Rob doesn't know where he'll land when he's back in Maine, but he knows he doesn't want to live in Portland. And my heart is in Portland. I'm dreaming and scheming to build my business there. That alone is a pretty sizable wedge. But it doesn't make the split suck any less. To be sooooooo in love with someone and to have successfully traveled with them (no small feat, as my parents can attest), then to break-up for "logical" reasons? Well, I suppose that follows the scientist rules that govern Rob's world and have rubbed off a bit on me. It feels very sane to have the logic behind the decision but quite insane when my heart says "NO, You're crazy, what are you doing?" so clearly. So needless to say the last week + have been tumultuous. I've had the blessing of my aunt Kathie's casita here in Tucson to hole up in and cry when I need to. It feels amazing to have a space that I can claim as my own, a very rare treasure when you're on the road. But I've been pushing myself pretty hard to get out of the house and meet people and go on adventures. I've met at least 15 new people in the last 10 days who have enriched my life (wow!), I went to Dillinger Days, I hosted some other roadtrippers, I met more family, I have fallen further in love
with everything that couchsurfing.org is and stands for, I crossed the border into Nogales, Mexico (seeing missions on the way and discovering a love for Hornito's tequila); I went to the Desert Museum, I hiked thru Sabino canyon and forded the freezing river many times, I've shared meals with people who wow me with their generosity of spirit and openness of heart, and listened to bad flamenco guitar music. (Not bad for being heartbroken in a town where I started only knowing 4 people, huh?)

Early last week I got a 3 day "stagehand" gig helping Wolfe with his  new show. This starts tomorrow (which is why I'm back in Tucson now) and SO VERY Excited to get to be a part of the process of production "ironing".

So begins my new style of blogging and my resolution to catch up on previous adventures with lots of pretty pictures while at the same time keeping all ya'll more up to date on current events in my life.

"Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else."

— Tennessee Williams