Day 2: Wiggling my toes

lizshine74by lizshine74

In On writing.

So it’s technically Monday morning already, but I’ll start with the events of Sunday and then post later about how today goes.

Day 2: Sunday

They’re easing us in here. One peek at the schedule for Monday and it’s clear that the days will be busy. I’ve given up the notion of trying to fit in a run while I’m here. I think I manage waking up just a little early to practice yoga, but the rest, will have to fall by the way-side for now.
I was up by 5:00 and wandered around campus to find a yoga spot. Though it took some time, I did eventually find a great little spot between two trees. As my arms reached up and back from mountain into a warm-up standing forward bend, a dark bird stretched its wings and squawked overhead, streaming past my line of sight. I knew I’d found the right spot. And after 40 or so minutes of practice, including a final rest in Savasana, I was ready to face the day.
Sunday began with another lovely—still slightly awkward as we get to know the program and each other—meal. Then, we had a long break before the events of the afternoon and evening.
Unsure what to do with myself, I walked off campus, wondering what I might find if I just walked around. What I found was this wonderful little nail shop where I followed my inclination to get a pedicure. “Hop-up.” The middle-aged, sharp-featured Asian woman gestured to the pedicure throne. I noticed how her angled bob made her look fun, though I had no idea whether she was or not, as she leaned in to turn the knob on the back of the chair. I leaned in to the massage. Ah…..
In the end, I had clean, neatly trimmed, seductively red toes and a respite from the mild, but persistent anxiety of what is to come, will I fit in, what if…
On the walk back to campus I had to wonder if it was the effect of the pedicure that prompted the leather-faced man in the outdoor tavern coral to lean over the wooden banister, “Excuse me, young lady,” he said, “but you went this way earlier—looking like a dream–and now you’re coming this way. Would you care for a beverage?” Though I declined, I had to think, a dream? and wiggle my toes and toss back my hair.
At 4 PM, there was a reading, then dinner, then some more readings. Kathleen Flenniken, Kevin Clark, Rebecca McClanahan, And Jess Walter read. I enjoyed every one of the readings, and now I’m thinking I’ll hold off on any book buying until I’ve heard more, browsed more. There’s clearly a lot of talent congregated here and that is exciting and intimidating, but mostly marvelously inspiring. Monday, the fun starts. The pace is picking up…

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Some past posts to keep you making time: 
Adjust your pace accordingly.
It’s about the routine and how you shake up the routine
There are things you will have to give up
See it to achieve it
Washing the dishes
Write slowly
A celebration of the pause
Monday, a run through the driving rain
Zen accident
Get out of your comfort zone

lizshine74

lizshine74

Liz Shine teaches high school English, writes, edits, and coaches other writers from her home in Olympia, WA. When she begins to feel overwhelmed by it all, she simply looks up at Mount Rainier in the distance and gets back to work. If that fails, she heads to the ocean. She is a founding editor at Red Dress Press. Her Substack Make Time is her gift to writers, like her, trying to magic time in this crazy, busy world. All of those posts are cross-posted on the blog here. You can see more of her writing at lizshine.com and find her on Instagram {@lizshine.writer} cooking, traveling, and in other ways seeking moments of awe. She has been an active participant in communities of writers since the early 1990s. She’s learned that two things feel truly purpose-driven in life: writing and coaching other writers. In the in between (because one cannot be driving for a purpose every moment), she enjoys looking for wonder and connection. She is a lifelong yoga student, an enthusiastic walker along streets and trails, and an amateur gardener and vegetarian cook. She lives in Olympia, WA. She believes in the power of practice and has been practicing writing since some time in the early 90s when she became an adult in the rain-soaked city of Aberdeen. Writing began with journaling, as a way to understand a confusing, sometimes violent coming-of-age. She writes mostly fiction, some nonfiction, and poetry, and holds an MFA from Pacific Lutheran University’s Rainier Writers Workshop. She is a founding editor at Red Dress Press.