Last night I drifted with the stars. I wanted to hear their dark and soulful songs. I wished upon them as morning neared. Their mystery charged my restless spirit. Today I walked along the rails. I want to ride a train to anywhere. I'll follow the tracks where they choose to roam. The trail winds up where it needs to go. Tomorrow I'll wander the desolate shore. I want to see just what unfolds. I'll jump in where I find my peace. The waves will lead to untold possibilities.

My cell phone alarm went off at 4:15 yesterday morning just before my dear friend, Jen, came barreling through the door to her guest room and jumped on the bed. With me in it. It was time to make final preparations for our half-marathon. We dressed in layers, mixed our electrolyte drinks, and slammed down some coffee as we waited for the ice to thaw on the windshield. It was cold...so cold, in fact, that my toes were completely numb and I could not feel my ass. I was so glad I had not shaved my legs for a few days because I needed every last bit of extra layering I could get. I had no idea what to expect. This was not only my first half-marathon; it was also the longest distance I had ever run. My longest run has been 6.2 miles. A half-marathon is 13.1 miles. That's a huge distance in the running world. I had fully intended to complete a 10 mile run like my training schedule listed, but life got in the way, and it just never happened. But I'm a woman of my word, and I said I ru...

This is my life...it's not what it was before...all of these feelings I've shared...and these are my dreams...that I'd never lived before... I'm stealing a few minutes here to share my thoughts on what has been a beautiful week. I turned 33 Tuesday, and like the other milestones I've reached in the last 9 months, it was different. Now that we're here...so far away...all the struggle we thought was in vain...all the mistakes...one life contained...they all finally start to go away Countless text and Facebook messages. A birthday song from my students. Hand-made gifts. Birthday songs from my nephews (including one about how I'm the best aunt in the world). A phone call from one of my favorite people who mentioned my "beautiful blue eyes". The most amazing hot shower after almost a week of ice cold sponge baths. Enchilada gravy with tortilla chips. Now that we're here...so far away...and I feel like I can face the day...I can forgive...and I'm...

I think I'm going to write tonight. Some new ideas have been swirling around my head, working their way into words. I've been carrying around my delightful red Moleskin notebook from the artist retreat weekend, sure that at some point the words will finally emerge. This might be their time. I think I've mentioned the book I've been working on: "La Isla Encontrada" (The Found Island). The theme is loss and how people deal with it told through a series of vignettes. I explained this to my father last night and he said it sounded a lot like The Canterbury Tales . It most definitely is. These people are all emotional pilgrims, searching for a sense of meaning in their worlds. What I like best about the concept is that each person's story is told through the lens of someone else. I'm intrigued by the idea of seeing loss in a life filtered through a third-party's eye. So far, I have completed half of the boat captain's story and have started the Cuba...