May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you.

~ John O’Donohue ~

Charlie and Suzi wanted me early. I cheerfully greeted them. My daughter was leaving for her internship, so I got to reunite with her, chat while she got ready, spill all the quick news. My walking sticks were waiting. We went into the heat, and I strolled past all my plantings, grateful to see everything healthy, in bloom, surviving. Rich with weeds, yes, but alive. As I circled the river around our property, I found on the edge of the water some lovely swamp milkweed, bright and in bloom. I have never seen it growing there before, so I was so happy to know the milkweed is growing on my property. I found Queen Anne’s lace growing in one of my gardens – not because I planted it, but it’s growing wild and I hope will spread. I may move some of it into the meadow. Past the brook, into the woods, I cherish this homecoming. We stay out for over two hours, walking, walking. I have a long conversation on the phone with a dear friend and we go deep, I keep walking into our conversation, deeper and deeper. So many connections I want and need to make after my week away. My son is in the kitchen when I return. There’s another lovely hello. And later my middle daughter joins me for a swim on Farm Pond. We talk and breast stroke all the way to the brick house on the pond, and then swim heartily back. My husband arrives home from his business trip. In the morning, above the house, I note the bluest sky of clouds. A cheerful, comforting sign. A quiet day of taking it slow, savoring my return with the satisfaction of feeling the conference was a success and all the women gathered have scattered now to their own homes; yet, we are connected by this close and intimate creative journey we made together.