Cindy on July 1st, 2009
“No one really knows how you must change. Not even you. Not until you start.” — David Viscott, Risking
Working on our new/old house in St. Joseph last week, I spent a lot of time thinking about change, restoration, and reinvention. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957 — just a few years after I was born — the house (like me) needs a little updating. And so, nearly every week, my husband and I head west on the highway, then roll up our sleeves and go to work on the place. We patch roof leaks, polish cupboards, weed gardens, clean carpets, scrub rust stains from vintage bathtubs….
There’s a wonderful view of the St. Joseph River from the house, too, and I like to admire it when I take breaks from my chores. Watching the parade of boats on their pleasure trips, I thought about how my middle-aged friends and I are all in some phase of transition.
Many are journalists or automotive workers who’ve lost jobs or are facing major career detours. Some of us have just gotten used to the freedom of the empty nest, yet suddenly find ourselves caring for our elderly parents. A few are convinced that the river of change will lead us to new and exciting adventures, while others aren’t quite sure where to steer next.
But this much I know for certain: It’s hard to slow the current when our culture keeps urging us on to the next big thing; when we’re valued more for what we achieve than for who we are.
I’ve also discovered that renovating an old house is a lot easier than reinventing yourself (or your career) midstream. But as the poet Rilke advised, sometimes we need to pull back from our busyness and “live the questions.” And so, as the river tells me, I’ll let myself drift awhile, and simply take in the view. — CL
– Photo of the St. Joseph River, by Doug La Ferle –
Cindy on June 25th, 2009
“Joy is the best makeup” — Anne Lamott
Today I’m a guest at Janice Lundy’s Awake is Good. A longtime friend of mine, Jan is author of several wonderful books on women’s spirituality, including Your Truest Self (Sorin Books), which was featured here in May. This month Jan is devoting her blog to the topic of rediscovering joy — and joy is something we can all use in these tough economic times. I’m honored to be featured as part of Jan’s “Joy Guide” and hope you’ll stop by for a visit. Jan is also hosting a drawing for a copy of my book, Writing Home. Please click here to read the interview — and be sure to join the conversation. I’d love to hear what brings you joy. – CL
Cindy on June 23rd, 2009
“If it weren’t for electricity, we’d all be watching television by candlelight.” — George Gobal
Returning from St. Joseph last night, we discovered that part of our Royal Oak neighborhood had lost power. The street light on the corner was dark, and we could hear generators humming and buzzing around the ‘hood. In the house, only half of our lights worked, and of course, the air conditioner didn’t. I say “of course” because these outages always happen on the absolute-hottest days of summer. Half of our power is still out this morning, and the GE trucks keep coming and going …. Meanwhile, I’m working on a laptop that’s plugged into one of the outlets that works in the kitchen. It feels weird to be typing at the counter where I usually chop vegetables.
So I’m just checking in for a minute here. I won’t be online as often this week, at least not until the power is back on. Ironically, earlier this month I wrote a piece on why we need to “unplug” more often from our machines — including our phones and computers. There’s nothing like a power outage to force the issue. Stay cool. –CL
Cindy on June 18th, 2009
“Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.” — Gloria Naylor
My dad died 17 years ago, and I’ve made peace with my grief. But I still feel a little tug on my heart every time I pass the section of Father’s Day cards at a drug store or a Hallmark shop. A tribute to my father, this week’s Midpoint column in The Oakland Press reflects on the last photograph taken of Dad and me in 1992. Click here to read it. This weekend I’ll be celebrating Father’s Day with my husband, who’s a great father to our son. Meanwhile, I’m sending a special shout-out to all you fabulous dads out there. Even if parenting isn’t listed on your resume, it’s the most important work you’ve ever done. — CL
