Thursday, May 15, 2014

There is a road in my new commute that’s hilly, surrounded by green, and–for at least a minute or so–causes me to forget the otherwise flat, dry environs that normally line my drives. I love it. It’s like a secret oasis in a daily ritual that should, by all rights, be strictly utilitarian. That’s the power greenery exerts over me, and I got more than enough of it when I flew back to Charlotte for a few days. The change of pace, too, was also welcome, as were the familiar faces. But aside from those few things? I honestly haven’t missed the place all that much.

About 30 minutes out from DFW Airport, there was a surprising patch of turbulence. Usually, and I don’t think this is wholly unique to my experience, the plane stays roughly level when it hits a bumpy stretch. Well, it would dive a tiny bit on this flight, with each and every jolt, which was an entirely new sensation. What was equally surprising, though, was how calm I felt. Not sure why, really, but I made my peace, and that equanimity extended throughout the trip.

This serenity’s been useful, too, because things have gotten more hectic recently, in and out of work. Maybe that’s the whole point of taking time off–to breathe and recalibrate. For one thing, I’ve recommitted to my health regimen. Also getting into online dating, but that’s another topic for another day. The main thing I’m thinking about, at this very moment, is the thick slice of milk cake sitting on a plate before me, courtesy of Bakespeare. I could try to describe the texture or flavor to you, but I won’t bother. All I’ll say is whenever I have a piece, it’s like I’m being reassured, even when everything’s just fine.