Friday, April 9, 2010

Changes in Latitude Changed my Attitude

Ok, I lied. I have not posted since Monday. So much for my daily blogging. But I have a really good reason, really I do. My attitude sucked. It always does this time of year as the weather warms and I feel as if I am awakening from a long hibernation. I've been trapped indoors too long and this caged animal is antsy.

That's when my dearest friend in all the world pops up (as she always does when I am feeling pissy and cranky) and makes one more plea for me to join her family on a camp out. In a matter of moments I decide to toss my kid and gear in my car and head south down I-75.

Cayo Costa State Park is nine miles of beautiful beaches, located north and west of Fort Myers and smack dab in the middle of the most incredible islands Southwest Florida has to offer. You're probably familiar with high brow Sanibel and Captiva and maybe even Useppa. Well, Cayo Costa is nothing like them (except for the white sand and emerald surf). It's only accessible by boat and it's primitive, cave man primitive. Public showers, no a/c, sleeping in tents or rustic cabins. And when it gets dark, all that lights up are the stars.

Did I tell you it was heavenly? For 24 hours I journaled, shelled and watched my bff's husband reel in four gigantor trout (well, they were pretty big anyway). Daily performances from dancing dolphin had our group clapping as if we were watching a Sea World show.

And the best part? I came home recharged and ready to take on the world.

Maybe this Beached Mermaid needs a monthly dose of real and wild Florida to keep her head on straight. Or maybe it's just to dip the old tail in and remind herself to shake off the small stuff....

Monday, April 5, 2010

First musing from this fish out of water

I am not a mermaid. I just thought I would get that out of the way right off, just in case any of you were indeed looking for a genuine mermaid - tail and all. I'd like to be a mermaid. Really, I would. I've even been told I am much like a mermaid with my somewhat high pitched screeching voice (when I attempt to sing or get upset) and of course, there's that extreme love of the sea. Alas, that does not make me a mermaid.

What I am is a fish out of water. Always have been. I've spent my entire life not quite fitting in. Ah, I know there are many of us who like to believe we are unique. It's what gets us through the day. And who wants to be told she is just like everyone else? Certainly not me.

So, what will this blog be about? Simply put, the musings of myself, the beached mermaid - a woman who ditched a perfectly good career as a newspaper journalist to create a creative life of balance. It's even hard to type that without laughing hysterically. But that's what I thought five years ago when I walked into my editor's office and told him, well, never mind all that...

The dream revolved around writing the great American novel. Living an authentic life. Raising a well adjusted kid. It's evolved into writing readable fiction and staying sane while currently homeschooling my teenaged son. Insert yoga here.

Seriously, I figure I am not as different as I think I am. I am sure there are others out there who are insane enough to continue writing through the rejections, homeschool (upcoming) high school despite the shaking heads of practical peers and balance it all with a huge dose of downward dogs.

This blog is my way of continuing to write every single day, keep my homeschooled son on task and, oh yeah, remembering it's all about the journey, not the destination.

Come along and swim with me, the Beached Mermaid, daily (or close to it).