Because for a few weeks I’ve been thinking about how I haven’t wanted to write lately, and a few days ago I gave myself permission not to write this week unless I wanted to, and then I spent Saturday morning cleaning floors and talking with my daughter and eating German pastries with Cane and taking a long walk in the sun and it felt really, really good to start my day that way, and I’d like to have more spring Saturdays like the one I just had.
Because getting to the end of the school year feels like rounding the last corner of a 440 (as it was called back in my track days), where you somehow have to sprint even though your legs have turned into hot plastic and it feels like you’re about to vomit your lungs.
Because I need a different kind of space and energy, for awhile, as we emerge from our pandemic lives and make our way not back to our pre-pandemic lives but forward into whatever our post-pandemic lives will be.
Because I have three consuming and life-changing projects beginning, and I need to make a lot of things happen in a short period of time.
Because writing, my whole life, has been marked by fallow periods that are just as important as the ones in which words bloom.
Because I can still connect with far-away folks through their blogs or through email or social media.*
Because too much heat and light will kill the seeds of whimsy before they sprout.
Because white space might be the most important element of design.
Because the days are getting longer but life is getting shorter.
Because sometimes even I need a break from my voice.
Because right now I want to listen more than talk.
Because a hiatus is a pause, not a stop.**
I hope you enjoy the spring, whenever and however it comes to you. Take care.
*I have a Twitter account, but I rarely use it. I’m on FB less and less. I’m liking Instagram and accept follow requests from those I don’t recognize unless: a) you’re a guy who likes to post pics of yourself with no shirt on and/or only pics of yourself; b) you’re following 300 gazillion (or so) but you have only 3 followers (like, literally only 3); c) you only have 3 posts; d) you somehow otherwise smell like a bot; e) any of a-d and your account is private, so I can’t investigate further to get a sense of you are.
**I am 99% sure I will resume writing here, and probably sooner than later. If you want to know when a new post goes up, please subscribe so you’ll get an email notification. There’s a place to do that at the top of the right column. I won’t spam your inbox or sell your address or do anything that’s otherwise nefarious or intrusive. Aside from the fact that I find such practices gross, to do those things I’d have to figure out again where in WordPress subscriber addresses are, and I’ve got way better things to do with my time.
Hello, Spring Rita! I hope that a hiatus is a pause, not a stop, as I look forward to receiving your blog email notifications whenever you feel like writing. I enjoy being one of your readers.
(I do not participate with FB or instagram; never had an interest.)
The two oak trees in front of my cottage have completely dropped all it’s leave and the tiny little green leaves are budding. This past week it looked as if it were raining leaves! My fence project is almost finished. I’m looking forward to the longer day light as spring has definitely sprung here!!
🌺🌞🌸🌻🌷🌹🐾🐾🐾🐾
Hiatus is a pause, for sure. 🙂
I’m glad spring has sprung where you are. I know the appearance of buds and leaves and sunshine is doing my soul a world of good.
I second what TD said above: I hope that a hiatus is a pause, not a stop, as I look forward to receiving your blog email notifications whenever you feel like writing. I enjoy being one of your readers.
Love, peace, and rejuvenation to you.
Thank you so much for these kind words. Wishing the same back to you.
💜
“Because white space might be the most important element of design.”
These are all excellent reasons to press “pause.” I will miss your awesome letters and look forward to hearing more about these next chapters when you are ready.
Thank you, Bethany. I’m thinking about sending things out again (which I haven’t done in years), in part because of your recent 100 days project. If I’m going to do that, I need to write some things that don’t go in the blog, which means making time for that. I appreciate the inspiration you’ve given me.
Thanks for letting me know Rita that you’ll be on ‘pause’ so I don’t worry what happened to you.
I appreciate you, your writing and your beautiful heart. I follow you on Instagram and will look forward to seeing you there until you hopefully return to your writing here, when you’re ready. Take care and Happy Spring to you 🙂
Thank you so much! Wishing you a good spring, too. It’s my favorite season–until fall, when that is my favorite season. 🙂
I get this completely. Enjoy your time away.
Love you, friend.
Kari Wagner Hoban recently posted…Flat Kari. Let’s See What That Crazy Minx Has Been Up To
I knew you’d understand. 🙂 I’m glad I can still “see” you over at your online place.
Oh Rita, the 440 reference made me laugh because ONE HUNDRED PERCENT YES!! I was a miler or 2 miler but my coach would put me in the 440 whenever I would shoot my mouth off at practice as a punishment. (Is it a surprise I probably did them at more meets than not?) It is literally the worst race ever created.
Enjoy the walks and pastry and projects and rest! I’m still off social and am staying so because I’m more sane without it, but I look forward to seeing you pop up in my feed when you return!
I was a sprinter, but I never ran the 440 because I felt like that just from trying to jog all the way around the track. I remember being astonished when I realized it was supposed to be a sprint the whole way. My coach used to threaten to put me in it, but I think it would have been more punishment for him than for me.
As for social, I don’t know if it’s the platforms or me, but it’s just not grabbing me much lately. I mostly follow eye-candy on Instagram, which doesn’t get my blood boiling. There are just so many other things I want to spend time on right now.
I do hope you’ll keep posting, because I need some Kate in my world on a regular basis.
Enjoy your time away from writing here. You’ll be back when the time is right for you. I’ll miss you, but totally understand. Blog breaks are therapeutic.
Ally Bean recently posted…A Dilemma: To Cliché Or Not To Cliché, That Is The Question
I think we all need rest, from everything that’s good. That’s how we keep it good, it seems to me.