Reflections and Revelations

Well, I had heard over and over again that Artfest was life-changing. I had heard that it was the experience of a lifetime and not to be missed. I had heard, I had heard, I had heard ..so much so thatI just had to go and see for myself! I think the registration started back in September of last year...it seemed so far away...and then all of a sudden it was here! My life had changed in so many ways since I sent that little registration form to Washington so many months ago that any expectations I may have had then were so long gone it was laughable. At the time I boarded the plane headed first to Portland to see my dear friend Stacey, whom I had not laid eyes upon in 5 long years, my life, my heart, and my mind were so open to all that lay ahead of me that I literally felt what it must feel like to be a sponge, soaking in every moment, every sight, sound, smell, taste, conversation, laugh, smile, ache, pain, tear, thought, joy, excitement...all of it! to the point of overflowing each and every day for 10 days.

It was the first time I had ever been away from Kennedy in all her four years of life (for longer than overnight, anyway), and the first solo vacation I had had in, well, in five years. Leaving was bittersweet, and she did miss me so in those first few days...the pleading and crying on the phone was almost more than I could bear. But I knew, I just knew in my bones, that I needed this. I needed this like air. And I was right. I have been unable to explain up to this point my constant state of exhaustion and all that goes along with that (read, crabbiness and general irritability). I mean, I knew I was tired...my mantra for 10 days had been (barring 2 days of much-needed, sick-fighting naps I had upon first arriving in Portland) "I'll sleep when I'm dead!" But, geez. I mean, T-i-r-e-d, man. Anyhow...maybe it is kinda like pregnancy...a year up and a year down? I was gone 10 days, I have been home about that...just now startin' to feel like myself again. Whew! The cool thing is, though...all that soakin' of everything that I did while I was away has somehow given me back to me...if ya' know what I mean...so I also know that starting to feel like myself, as a changed being, has also taken the toot right out of my horn! (so to (southern) speak!)

At any rate, I am coming around...and I am so grateful I believed those who said "it" was life-changing...I didn't even know how much I would love being changed. Changed back into my authentic, unapologetic, artsy, slightly crazy, southern self that is! So stay tuned! There is much more to come! And more pictures too!!

This is, fittingly enough, my reflection in the glass at the DFW airport just before boarding for Portland and the beginning of my adventure!