Marblehead

I went to Marblehead Massachussets today to meet with a lovely couple whose house I am renting the last two weeks of summer. After spilling the big SeekExploreCreate vision to former scene study professor, friend, and mentor Dossy Peabody she asked "where will you reside and do your work?" Hm--she had a point. I hadn't quite thought about it...

Granted, this summer is packed with travel already: Mexico May 18th-June 17th to organic farm in Puerto Morelos, End of June/July New York City to visit friends and other lovely people:)....also project networking. A shit load of grant-writing in between all of this and website development.

And then for the last 2 weeks in August, I am renting a home Marblehead from a lovely couple named John and Jean whom Dossy virtually introduced me to.
An artist home...artist's studio...near beaches...kayaks....YES. I'll finally have time to relax, finish off grant writing, and spend time with family and friends.

I arrived to be greeted by John, one of the owners, at the Swampscott station. A man with grey hair and mustache. Our conversation in the car ride over centers on theatre and travel.
Jean, John's spouse with a bubbly and sweet disposition opens the door when we arrive.
After giving me the tour, she asks, "Does this home meet your needs for your work?" Absolutely--I couldn't ask for a more beautiful spot.
John asks, "do you have any more questions?" I knew that they were prepared to answer questions about the house/Marblehead/and the renting process but, I found myself loaded with questions about the both of them and the lives they've created for themselve.

"How long have you been directing?" I ask John. Jean laughs and responds, "when was he born?!" In the car to back to the train station, I ask Jean how long she's been painting. She says ever since she was little--she got into commercial painting and was a graphic designer but once computers took over that realm, she transitioned to different careers. "I liked the smell of the paint and paper. All the physical painting stuff--It was difficult for me to learn to create with mouse clicks." She answers lightly. Now, she paints bags and sells them at the farmer's market, she paints scenery for John's shows at the Salem theatre.

Jean John hands me a book his daughter wrote, "From Rogues to Revolutionaries," about Marblehead. Did you know it is ranked 4th as America's lovliest towns?

I don't know the piece I am going to have come a little less than one year from now. So, I know I will have a piece in a little less than a year from now. That's the goal. That's what I'm committing to.
Yet, I honestly have no clue what experiences the year will bring.

Originally, I planned for some outrageosly exciting story collection: Maybe like about to get get eaten by an alligator when in the perfect timing I manueveur my way away from it's clenching jaws to the shore, writing a memoir about the wild near death experience and how it's made donate everything I own to the Nature Conservancy.

Hm--perhaps some of my most fascinating stories will be inspired by life going on right in front of me.