Getting away from it all

I spent last week in Yosemite, hiking a 60-mile High Sierra Loop. No television. No computer. No cell phone. And, interestingly, I started having some writing ideas pass through my head. I brought a journal and multiple pens with me (because I have this odd fear of running out of ink when I really, really, really need to get something down on paper), and I jotted down some notes for a potential short story and a potential essay. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but I haven’t really done any writing outside of work in ages. Today, I revisited my notes and started adding to them, not wanting to stop. That hasn’t happened in ages either.

It’s harder and harder to get away from distractions these days. There’s work. And text messages. And Words with Friends. And HBO. And Showtime. And books to read. And recipes to try. And people to love. I hope I don’t have to rely on once-a-year vacations in the boonies for inspiration. We’ll see where this current surge takes me. For now, I’m just grateful to feel the energy again.

I’ll conclude this navel-gazing with a little laugh: