Ready or not...

I've been away from work for just over a week now and I've spent that time visiting with friends (to cuddle babies and say farewells), thinking about what I need to pack for my travels (allowing for a variety of climates but limited to what I can easily carry), stocking up my reading list* (both paper and kindle versions), generally preparing things for my absence (making sure bills will be paid, spare keys have been distributed and other such mundane stuff), and trying to gather what I know the creative space in my head will need when the time comes (fresh notebooks, lovely pens, camera... you know what I mean). It's been busy and, with only three days to go now 'til I fly South, is only going to get busier. I think it's fair to say that the "relax and restore" phase of the agenda hasn't kicked off yet. Underneath the tide of all this activity there's a tiny ripple of anxiety at leaving certain things behind for a while, some, perhaps for good.

However, much deeper, at the level where the heart beats faster and faster as dreams take shape; below all of the surface agitation, there's been a gentle and consistent swell of excitement, anticipation and something which now borders on inner glee. I say "inner" because I think on the outside I still look the same but inside, I am all alive with possibility and not just smiling; grinning. I'm not quite ready but ready to be ready. I know that doesn't make much sense but it's as accurate as I can get at right now. Preparing to go... ready or not.

*if anyone has any good reading recommendations, please do share. I'm open to anything - fiction or non-fiction - I intend to do a LOT of reading!