Am I Living Vicariously Through Someone Else’s Life?
That question came to mind as I realize that I’ve been in a bathing suit exactly one time so far this summer. As I ponder the weeds and bugs in my garden and feel shocked that my dying pumpkin plants have revealed big orange pumpkins so early in August. As I ignore cleaning the kitchen once again because I feel too tired. As I realize I’d rather just write in my notebook, but then say ‘no, that just means more typing.’ As I notice how pasty white my legs are, how tall the un-mowed grass in the yard is, and how unkempt my hair is today. As I check the calendar and discover that I haven’t been home for a full day in two weeks. As I surf the links on my sidebar blog list and realize that half of those people have quit blogging. As I remember that I forgot all my dreams from the morning and that I have never quite woken up today. As I wonder if some of the best things about this summer have been the stories I’ve written about other people’s lives, lives that look so easy to walk right in on … if I wasn’t already too tired.
Of course, then I smile and remember Floydfest, babysitting for Bryce, and our trip to Martha’s Vineyard in July.
August 9th, 2009 12:39 pm
I read the title of your post in my blog’s side bar and laughed…seems so not what you’d ask!
August 9th, 2009 12:48 pm
You know how it goes. The ebb and flow. Seems like I’ve been doing nothing but writing lately. So what about living my life? The photo is of Josh’s sprout jar with no sprouts in it, but our rice in it. I think it applies in some quirk of a way.
PS I’m typing this in my bathing suit. I’m really going to TRY to go to the pool today.
I think the question this blog post poses is one that is likely relevant to all writers.
August 9th, 2009 3:24 pm
This last week and the ones to come are going to be busy with guests and visits and trying to save the garden. Who has time to live vicariously?
August 9th, 2009 3:58 pm
It’s been a spring and summer of routine disarray around my place. I feel you! Am trying to recreate the space within myself to BE myself again, even as I type this.
August 9th, 2009 4:26 pm
smiling along with you. All of those things are life, not measured with a cup or by the gallon, not enjoyed by the hour. Best viewed as a string of smiles and sighs as we give and take in the ebb and flow of energy.
Peace to you
August 9th, 2009 11:38 pm
Colleen, writing is what you do – so how could you be living vicariously? Keep on doing it!!
August 10th, 2009 7:00 am
Seems many are pumpkining out early this year as I read- where does it all go so fast? and the beauty of it all overwhelming.
August 10th, 2009 8:40 am
What with gardens and guests and gargantuan weeds this summer, I’ve barely had time to breathe, much less write. And I’ve missed it. I’ve sorely neglected my poor blog, but I hope to resurrect it aoon. I don’t feel quite like myself when I don’t write, even when I’m just writing about others’ lives.
August 10th, 2009 8:55 am
Me too. I know what you mean.
August 10th, 2009 8:58 am
Well, the good thing is that the way in which you might live vicariously is still way more full of life than the way most other people live through their own experiences.
You rock, Colleen.
August 11th, 2009 4:01 pm
it’s a thing easy enough to do. I find small attentions, even skimming news, FB updates lines, shuffling papers, fritter away a lot of energies and at the end of the day I feel satisfied enough but am far less tense having spent today chatting and swimming. the sense of well-being is better. something unclenches in walking about without a framing of anything in camera or printed words.
August 11th, 2009 4:05 pm
Seems a writer is always on duty, but constantly translating the world into words can be exhausting (and fun).