It seems like it’s been forever since I last wrote to you all. When I checked my website, I see that the last time I published a post was April 4, three weeks before I left for Colorado to attend an intensive workshop for Tai Chi Chih.
I really miss the connection that writing these posts gives me.
In retrospect, I see that I became obsessed with packing my suitcase for the trip, thinking that perfection would somehow prevent any travel snafus.
It helped on the way there, but not on the way back. I missed my flight connection from Denver and spent four hours waiting at the gate. You might think this would have upset me and everyone else, but we all just shrugged our shoulders and found a place to plug in our phones. This collective patience really helped. I can’t imagine what it would have been like had everyone groaned or got angry.
I sat at the gate looking back on the miraculous five days I had spent learning improved ways of practicing TCC and mingling with the nicest people. By the time our closing circle came around, I was hearing murmurs from people younger than I about how exhausted they were feeling.
This fabulous event came to an end Sunday at noon. It felt bittersweet, saying goodbye to these people who I resonated with deeply. I thought about how perhaps I might never meet them again.
But the trip wasn’t over yet! For lunch that day, my youngest son Mason arrived, having driven three hours from his house in New Mexico to the Franciscan Retreat Center. I got to spend precious time with him.
Then Monday afternoon, my sisters Nina and Nan drove five hours from their Colorado homes so we could have a mini-family reunion, Mason included.
Before I knew it, even this precious time of connection was coming to an end and I had to say goodbye again. When the driver picked me up Wednesday morning to take me to the airport, my heart was full. I felt relieved to be going home and full of emotion.
It was a shock to my system, being home after a trip that I had started planning in January. In addition to being physically tired, I also felt let down without another event to look forward to.
The moment the phrase, “I hit a rough spot” came into my mind, I knew I had to tell you, my readers. It feels so good to sit down and write something that once again, connects me with you. Thanks for reading and helping me get through this rough spot.
