July 21, 2010

how lovely is this nothingness that is everything

The title of this blog entry is a phrase that came to mind while we were in the Upper Peninsula just outside of Paradise... I'm not sure if I'd heard it somewhere before, or if it's something I came up with on my own, but either way, I love its truth. "How lovely is this nothingness that is everything." We were in a place that felt like the middle of nowhere, and it filled me with happiness.

We are homeless by choice this summer, always with the option of staying at our parents' homes or crashing with amazing friends (thank you, betsy, phil & becky, nancy, and jenny!) or chillin' in our home-sweet-tent. My car is a disastrous mess of biking gear, clothing, and random finds. We have stinky clothes, because even though we tend to bring a lot with us, we feel most comfortable in biking tops and running shorts... And I always seem to wear the same t-shirt and skirt when I do "dress up". So, we bring a delightful earthy smell with us everywhere we go. :) The car smells a bit vinegar-y on top of the exercise odor, because a bottle of kombucha exploded while we were on beaver island... oops.

I recently learned that Americans breathe much more quickly than some other developed nations. An educated friend informed us that one country's citizens (I cannot recall which one) average 8 breaths in a minute, while we average something like 15 or more. Soooo, I have started slowing down my breathing, and amazingly, it has helped me "let go" of the small stuff more easily. Breathing deeply settles the soul, it seems.

Nate's band played at the Beaver Island Music Festival last weekend, and it was such a fantastically relaxing environment... All of the motorists waved at us happily as we bicycled to the festival (such a change from the mainland's dirty looks!), and the pace of life was slow. And soon I will post a couple of photos to show you the beauty of the forest setting!

Last night, we sat on the dock with Jenny and Will, overlooking Cedar Lake (jenny's family's cabin!) and the darkening sky lit up with pinkish lightning blobs. It lasted for probably 3 hours before any rain came, so I imagine we must have sat there from about 9 until midnight, in awe of nature's beauty and power.... And don't worry, we laughed a lot too. :)