On Puzzle Pieces That Run Off With New Lovers
A few weeks ago I went on a hike with Innocent Husband and Adventurous Singing Daughter.
We hiked into the Columbia River Gorge here in Oregon to a place called Punch Bowl Falls.
It was stunning, like walking into a postcard, only we could feel the crisp wind, smell the pine trees, and touch the craggy mountains.
On the hike, the trail became skinny enough, and high enough up, with an intimidating cliff – like drop, that we had to hold onto a steel rope attached to the side of the mountain.
I am no fan of heights. I don’t like clinging to a cliff. But one does not want to be a wimp, especially in front of a daughter who is young and fearless and willing to kick some ass if she needs to. So I did it, I clung, and did not look down, heck no, I did not.
Punch Bowl Falls actually does look like a huge blue – green punch bowl. The gorge around it is shaded by mountains of trees that roll off into the blue horizon forever. It’s a place of magical nature and a ton of young people jumping off cliffs and diving into their own “punch.”
(I did not jump off a cliff, but I think I should get credit for watching.)
Adventurous Singing Daughter read her kindle when we had lunch and Innocent Husband and I sat down and pretended not to look wiped out as we rested near the treetops, the emerald gorge spread out for miles below.
But I was stressed, up there above the crashing waterfall.
It had been quite a summer. All the little sweethearts were home, which I love. It was always busy and noisy with people coming and going and a mind numbing load of housework.
I was trying to write another book and meet word count and edit goals.
“What I Remember Most,” my eighth novel, had just been released. There was lots of marketing/facebooking/social media types of things that I needed to do.
I am not so good at all these social marketing types of things. If I wasn’t a writer, I don’t think I’d even be on facebook. I like to be in my head. I can be social, but I have a very strong loner streak and social media doesn’t like loner streaks.
My mind was a zinging mess when we left for the cliff – hugging hike. I was not calm. I was not settled. In addition, Rebel Dancing Daughter and Adventurous Singing Daughter will be taking off for shores far, far away soon, and so I am a bit nervous, and missing them already, even though their sweet smiles are right in front of me.
But up in the treetops on Sunday, I eventually started to simmer down. I thought, I hoped, I would have some revelation about the book I am writing now, the one that is a tangle and a maze, the one that is confounding my poor brain. This novel is, as usual at this point, a literary puzzle and there are puzzle pieces that are missing, ripped, and a few that have run off with new lovers and I can’t find them at all.
I had no revelation about my new book on our hike. None.
But what I did have a revelation about was nature, and how much I love it, how much I love being in it, and how it soothes my raggedy soul.
So this is what I know today: Daydreaming is relaxing. Walking takes the stress jiggles away. And nature puts you right back where you need to be.
Nature is a bridge to peace, even if you are hiking towards Punch Bowl Falls on a scary cliff.
Wishing you many quiet, serene, exciting trips into nature this year.
And books, of course. One can not do life without books.
It looks so beautiful. Here in Texas everything looks burnt. My sisters and i are going to come there in two years on our sisters vacation I can’t wait. I hope you find those missing puzzle pieces. Live all your books.
1You will love it here, Amanda. Go to Hood River and stay in the Best Western on the River. You can see Hood River, the town from there, and also Timberline Lodge. Go to Portland and stay downtown. It’s a fun, interesting city. Go to Cannon Beach.
Mountains, rivers, city, beach. perfect.
2Beautiful photos. Beautiful message. Thanks for sharing it with the world!
3Oh, Maryellen,
4Thank you.
WOW – you could always be a travel writer. I felt like I was there. I want to live in Oregon!!
5I want to be a travel writer. Wouldn’t that be fun? I’d love it.
6New career!
I’m a west-coast guy, lived and operated a charter boat on B.C.’s north coast, occasionally as far as Ketchikan Alaska. You tugged my heart when you mentioned “not calm” because I am most comfortable alone in the wilderness. I often dropped timber cruisers on a remote island and had the day to myself. It was great! My wife & I retired to Langley B.C. where I write and she performs weddings (over 4,000) I’m friends with Jessica Morrell, follow her daily. I’d appreciate being added to your list. I am on Face Book and others looking for clues how to improve both my writing and marketing skills. Thanks Ted Campbell
7Ted,
Well, you’ve had an exciting life! And retirement in BC sounds pretty darn good to me. So, as far as how to improve your writing, I have a lot of posts titled FOR WRITERS on my blog. Go through those. Read Stephen King’s On Writing. Besides Jessica, I also like Julia Cameron and Anne Lamott.
As far as marketing, I am really not sure what works, and what is pointless as far as sales. I have a website, two facebook pages, pinerest, and I attach my blog to both Amazon and Goodreads. I just sent out my first newsletter. My best advice to people on marketing is to write the best damn book of their life. It’s word of mouth that will sell the most books.
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