On perpetually being in transit.

Miracle Maddie

Maddie Girl has made impressive gains since her near-fatal drowning. She’s even doing things her initial doctors said she never would! Most recently, she’s started sucking while in the home chamber for her hyperbaric oxygen treatments. That’s HUGE! That reflex is key for survival, as is better awareness and interest in her environment and for this first time since her accident, I knew Maddie was present and really seeing me. It was i n c r e d i b l e, and I am so glad I got to visit.

Florida / New Jersey

The time spent in Florida with my family was perfect: plain and simple.

I’m spending the week before I return to Ireland in New Jersey. I have been blessed with incredibly generous friends. I fly back to Ireland in a week, but in the meantime, one of my best friends has been letting me stay in her cozy guest room. Last night, I listened to the freezing rain pinging against the windows and sunk deeper into the mattress, twisting to curl about myself beneath the comforter. I slept well, which is a rare occurrence.

And another thoughtful, loving friend sent me an article about insomnia because she remembered I’d been struggling with it. I haven’t read the article yet, but I will.

I’m making plans to see friends. It feels good. I’m a very social creature. I need others around me. As Chuck Palahniuk writes, “No matter how much a lone character sips tea and gazes out a rain-streaked window, few people can really recalibrate themselves. Otherwise, we’d all live in isolation.” I got dinner with a friend at a local, trendy cafe and we talked about living in transit for a prolonged sense of time without stability is tough. It takes its toll. It was nice to have someone who understands that particular difficulty.

But I also know I am incredibly blessed.

Writing / Career

I started to re-examine a list I compiled of independent bookstores within 100 miles of where I’ll be living in New Jersey once I’ve returned from Ireland. I’m a huge fan of shopping local when I can, there’s usually an awesome cafe within walking distance, and these can be great venues for book signings and other author events. I just worry I’m rusty when it comes to networking.

I love bookstores so much, I briefly researched what goes into opening one. I don’t have the capital needed to rent the property at a good location, and my credit score still needs work, but I discovered other things once I allowed myself to tumble down the internet research rabbit hole.

This MA is really going to help me. With that advanced degree, I can teach at a college! And when I looked to see if colleges were hiring, some were! Creating my own schedule and teaching students with a developed interest would be phenomenal!

It’s something to think about.

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