31 Days of Giving Permission . . . to RE-CONNECT

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Today, we are traveling from this . . . 

to this.

We’re winging our way home after two weeks on the road in New England.
And that followed four weeks on Kauai.
And that followed two weeks on the Elbe River.
And that (for me) followed one long weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska
with the amazing #JTreat team.

It’s been a year of airplanes and rental cars for me.
And each time, I’ve had to dis-connect when I leave,
and re-connect when I return home.

And I’m not just talking about social media here,
I’m talking about life.
Everyday life.
In my home, in my church, in my family.

There is an adjustment period,
increasingly short as the years add up,
every time I return to our home after an absence.

The mail, the bills, the grocery shopping, the laundry.
The family dinners, the visits with my mom,
the committees at church, the directees I meet with each month.

And this place, too.
When I’m at home, this space is somehow
more comfortable and more accessible to me.
My heart is easier to reach,
I have more quiet time and quiet space.

And I am given the wonderful gift of signing on again,
of opening these pages and feeling at home here.

I’m grateful for that.
And I’m grateful for you,
the faithful friends who stop in here and read,
sometimes leave comments,
even occasionally engage me in conversation
about what I’ve written here.

I am grateful.
And I look forward to being at home for a long stretch.
I look forward to re-connecting.

Where do you need to re-connect right now?
Is that a good thing or a hard thing? 

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Comments

  1. It’s living a Vagabond life! But at some pretty great places. I think the ease in which we reconnect in different situations is a sign of maturity. we have different circles of connectness — online, church, family, friends, and even strangers. I want to easily flow from one to the other with ease and confidence.

    • Yes, it is a bit of a vagabond life in these early years of retirement. It’s what we always planned to do, so we’re doing it. But I’m finding it hard to be uprooted too many times in one calendar year and that is the primary reason I will not be at Laity next month. I will miss it!! And I’m sorry not to see you and so many of my friends there. Hopefully, next fall there will be another retreat with writing as a specific emphasis. I don’t want to miss another year! Thanks for coming by, David.

  2. I’m glad that we can connect with each other – no matter where we are in space
    spirit to spirit
    heart to heart
    breathe in deep and enjoy “home”

    • Thanks so much, Karen. We’ve just finished unpacking – and now there is a huge pile of dirty laundry to dive into. But not until tomorrow. I’m glad we can connect here, too, and always appreciate your comments.

  3. I’ve loved all your pictures of New England that you’ve posted on Facebook, Diana – bittersweet nostalgia for me. Nebraska just doesn’t do autumn like New England!

    Welcome home, friend.

    • Thanks, Michelle. Glad to be home, though we had a grand time. And we’ve never seen anything like that color. I hear it’s also good down into Virginia, but in our 5-state tour, we so much glory that Virginia would have a hard time coming close!

  4. I love glimpses of your travel, Diana. Seeing your beautiful photos is a way for me to connect to places I love and to you! So, thanks for sharing here and on Facebook.

    I need to reconnect to me. Does that sound bizarro? Or selfish? Not in a bonbon eating, day at the spa kind of reconnect (although I desperately need a lip wax!), but in a quiet, introspective, way. I let you know how that goes. 😉

    • You’re welcome, Kristin. And NO, that does not sound in the least bizarro!! Re-connecting with ourselves is ongoing work and necessity. Hope you can find some space to do that before your girl’s surgery in the new year.

  5. I find the older I get the more I love home. we traveled a lot over the years and there are still few few places on my “list” of must-see places – New England being one of them. right now we have to wait through some things before we can afford to travel again but New England is definatelyon the top of the list

    • Yeah, I love home, too, Carol! And I’m glad to be back here, though we had a terrific trip. One of the best in many ways.

  6. Newell Hendricks says

    Nice to reconnect with you this past week. I have made several connections to my past life these past few years and I find in a rich experience.

    • Do you remember Beach and Gerry Rogers by any chance? They came and visited my mom at the Alzheimer’s unit about six weeks ago. I was so touched by that. They are both well. My youngest brother died four years ago and Tom lives in Northern CA. I don’t see very many people from Glendale Pres any more – a few friends via Christmas cards and that’s about it. It’s been nice to see your name, make the connection and learn a little about the last 50 or so years. Yegads, can it really be that long??

      • Newell Hendricks says

        I don’t remember Beach and Gerry. I have reconnected a correspondence with Tena Messer (fomerly Evans) after 45 years. She went to her 50th reunion and told me about people like Ed Kemprud. Bob Backo is someone who came from Brbank in Jr. College, and I connect with him. I saw Gary kSimpson(whose younger brothers were Greg and Jim,) when I stopped by the churcfh 15 years ago while in California looking for a dance school for my e(ldest daughter. He was church Admisitrator. That’s about all. I had seen Bob Kent a few times in the past. He’s in the Seatle area. Mike Locke is on facebook.