When I get to the desert, I find a place to park. I turn off the engine, then just sit back and let the quiet envelop me. The emptiness expands and something shifts inside.
I once had my radio/CD player stolen from my car while on a solo trip to Seattle. I dreaded the nine hour drive home to Montana. What will I listen to! Nothing!!! and it was the best nine hours I had had in a very long time. I was alone in and with my own thoughts. It was nice company.
I love music, always have, and yet I often opt to drive in silence. Sometimes, people driving with me will get antsy after a while and tentatively say, "Hey...want to put on some music?"
I lived in the east village for 30 years - Houston street was under construction the whole time. I moved to New Mexico 2 years ago because I love the desert and quiet so much. (Like you, I would have to escape the city and road trip out here once a year minimum.)
2 years in and I’m still de-stressing from NYC.... there’s a fantasist hotel/restaurant in Las Vegas that I drive up to every couple month for lunch. I’ve met so many ex-east coasters who’ve said the same thing - we have no desire to ever go east of the Rockies again....!
Thanks, Diane. I always used to think that there were construction workers who began and finished their careers on Houston Street. Never have I seen a project move so slowly - from west to east - as that one. Where are you in New Mexico?
What an ode. ❤ This reminds me of my dad's stories in some ways, little snippets of life that offer me a window into something I've never experienced but can feel as I read.
This stood out most to me: "the glory all around me."
I think silence, quiet, and deliberate alone time awaken us to that glory. There's so much noise inside and outside our heads these days, so many distractions, that we need to step back to appreciate that there is still much glory and beauty in the world.
Thank you so much, Theresa! Not to sound immodest, but you might want to check out my book, “exit culture.“ It’s filled with stuff like this. I just came out with a Kindle edition, although I have not publicized that yet. It’s on Amazon. Or just stay tuned here. Thank you so much for your kind words. I read them and thought “she gets it.“
I feel like you and my dad would have a lot to talk about. He has a creative streak that I wish he leaned into more often. I think he could write some amazing books.
Exit Culture looks interesting. :) Thanks for pointing me to it. You take amazing photos!
Right on, Paul. The desert is my sanity preserver and driving away from the chores is an itch that never really goes away.
Thanks, Sue! We are on the same wavelength! Good to hear from you.
I once had my radio/CD player stolen from my car while on a solo trip to Seattle. I dreaded the nine hour drive home to Montana. What will I listen to! Nothing!!! and it was the best nine hours I had had in a very long time. I was alone in and with my own thoughts. It was nice company.
I love music, always have, and yet I often opt to drive in silence. Sometimes, people driving with me will get antsy after a while and tentatively say, "Hey...want to put on some music?"
I lived in the east village for 30 years - Houston street was under construction the whole time. I moved to New Mexico 2 years ago because I love the desert and quiet so much. (Like you, I would have to escape the city and road trip out here once a year minimum.)
2 years in and I’m still de-stressing from NYC.... there’s a fantasist hotel/restaurant in Las Vegas that I drive up to every couple month for lunch. I’ve met so many ex-east coasters who’ve said the same thing - we have no desire to ever go east of the Rockies again....!
Thanks, Diane. I always used to think that there were construction workers who began and finished their careers on Houston Street. Never have I seen a project move so slowly - from west to east - as that one. Where are you in New Mexico?
Santa Fe. I bet some people have spent their whole career digging up Houston!!...
What an ode. ❤ This reminds me of my dad's stories in some ways, little snippets of life that offer me a window into something I've never experienced but can feel as I read.
This stood out most to me: "the glory all around me."
I think silence, quiet, and deliberate alone time awaken us to that glory. There's so much noise inside and outside our heads these days, so many distractions, that we need to step back to appreciate that there is still much glory and beauty in the world.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Theresa! Not to sound immodest, but you might want to check out my book, “exit culture.“ It’s filled with stuff like this. I just came out with a Kindle edition, although I have not publicized that yet. It’s on Amazon. Or just stay tuned here. Thank you so much for your kind words. I read them and thought “she gets it.“
I feel like you and my dad would have a lot to talk about. He has a creative streak that I wish he leaned into more often. I think he could write some amazing books.
Exit Culture looks interesting. :) Thanks for pointing me to it. You take amazing photos!
Thank you so much. This is high praise, eloquently phrased.
xoxox