“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
This quote by Mary Oliver struck me today. Maybe it is why I feel so restless sometimes. Why I’m always stretching myself intellectually. Why I’m curious about the world and love to travel. I want to experience everything. If you’ve never lived in a small town you probably don’t realize the limitations. We have no museums, art galleries, coffee houses full of interesting people. There are not many stimulating events. It is not always easy to learn new things here. Despite that I try to find activities which will make my soul come alive. There is an occasional continuing education class at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford (this time I am signed up for two photography workshops). And in an hour and a half I can be to either Erie or Buffalo. I am seeking to fill my life with as much as I can for my Autumn is turning to Winter. I know some are so contented to be just where they are and love the place they are in. I am too to some degree. I love my home, my friends, my family. But just sometimes I want more.
How do you feel about that? Are you a wanderer or a homebody?
We don't like to travel. We traveled when we were younger and to educated the children about other places in the United States. We go to the Outer Banks, North Carolina every summer and love it. This fall I would like to get John and I back to Williamsburg, VA. But that is about it. Niagra on the Lake, Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia are also on the short list for a revisit.
ReplyDeleteI do love to learn new things. I read, read and read some more. We have stacks of books and magazines all over the house. We watch way too much political television and we are trying to do more PBS. I took several courses at UPB on writing. I loved those classes and learned so much but the instructor who taught those classes has moved on.
I love music. It transforms me. I play the piano everyday and try to improve but we don't seem to care to hear live music any more.
I love my house and my garden. Nothing makes me happier than a day at home I love cooking, baking, all housework, knitting and a walk in the woods. Right now I am missing my dog very much.
I feel I am rambling but I know what you mean about learning new things. I love to say to myself, "I didn't know that."
Haha! I'm a rolling stone, Peggy! but then I didn't have to tell you that. Learning is my greatest passion, and I want to soak up as much as I can in this life. I recently bought a course on cooking from the Great Courses Company with the Culinary Institute of America. Yesterday I made minestrone soup from scratch for the first time. The course only gave a list of ingredients and no quantities for anything. It was intimidating, but my soup turned out awesome. I've been cooking all my life, and I've just turned 67, so it seems rather odd to be taking a cooking course. But why not? I've always done what I needed to, so now's the time to learn all those things I longed for time to learn before. I love your spirit, Peggy! Keep on expanding your horizons and sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteI make soup from scratch but I can't imagine a recipe book that doesn't give proportions for the ingredients. I was so unhappy that my photography course was cancelled. Only two people signed up. That is the problem with living in this small town. We don't get a lot of opportunities.
DeleteIt was intimidating to tackle something I had never made before without proportions, but my husband and I really liked the result. Of course, I made notes as I cooked and now have a more specific recipe with ideas for improvements. The course I'm taking is all about learning foundational cooking techniques that you can adapt to all sorts of situations.
DeleteSorry to hear about the cancellation of your photography course. You hit on one of the challenges of living in a small town. I know this won't stop you in your determination to further develop you photography skills!