LeslieUpchurch.com

I Went to Vermont for 3 Days!

There was not a opportunity to write since I was away. My daughter and I stayed 2 nights at a farmhouse belonging to a good friend. They were away so we watched their dogs - and had my dog too - and fed their cat. I never saw their cat since it was hiding in the basement.

Our mini vacation had 3 components. We ate out quite a bit at old favorite places since we lived in the area for 13 years. We saw people we had known and had a good time reminiscing. We both had taught music there, me general music and piano and she, flute and a bit of recorder.

We also made some music. One friend we had lunch with asked my daughter, Alicia, to sing. I accompanied her. We also both spent some time playing the piano, a nice Kawaii with a great view through the picture window in the livingroom.

We found out that the house I had sold was once again on the market. It had been purchased to rent out, some seemingly lousy tenants lived there (we would see it from time to time and the yard was trashed and we heard stories about these people). We went by twice, the first time it was getting a little dark. The second time it was not dark so we parked in the driveway and looked in. The drapes were down and the entire front of the house is windows. Things looked okay, we just assumed that the drapes that were only a little over a year old when the house sold, had gotten trashed.

It brought up relatively little if any nostalgia when we looked at the house. Vermont was not the place for either one of us. I do not regret having lived there, but it was not challenging in the right ways, and challenging in the wrong ways.

What do I mean? Well, I did not have to come up with anything all that amazing musically to be there. I did have the challenge of not finding that many people that I could relate to. My daughter got to do many things that gave her quite a bit of confidence, but since it was not really her "space" she did not have that many close friends. There are trade offs everywhere. But, not enough friends for either one of us was not the most desirable trade off.

Musically today I got a call from a piano student to schedule lessons now, I got discouraging news about the classes I want to teach - the place I wanted to rent space in has little availability, and I am going to practice some improv to improve my harmonies.  (On the TV show Will and Grace, the actor, Jack, is teaching an acting class on one episode.  He tells the class they are going to do improv which is short for improve!)

Being away and playing on someone else's piano is interesting. I lived in Vermont and my piano never faced any amazing views. It was not that I lived anyplace undesirable - I rented a log home and then purchased a small house with all of the windows. No matter what the view I believe it is difficult to relax into the music at home - or at work - as much as when you are on vacation. I sightread or reread Chopin waltzes and Mazurkas, worked on more interesting harmonies for some folk songs that I use in my children's classes, and also did some free improv practice.

The biggest excitement was a small kitten 20 feet up in a flimsy pine tree. I heard it meow when one of the dogs I was watching for my friend went there. It was sad and scary and we tried to coax the kitty down. We called the rescue squad who called the volunteer fire department who came - 3 guys and a fire truck.  They got the kitten down by using a 14 foot ladder and wearing all the gear - just one fireman did this.  The kitten was obviously domesticated and did not scratch or get spooked - which can make them go further up the tree! (Then, a bigger ladder would have been required I suppose.) It brought a smile to their faces and mine and my daughter's as well as an older woman who drove by on the dirt road and saw what was going on.

I carried the kitten by the scruff of the neck, wrapped it in a towel, we fed it and gave it water - it was not up there that long or it would have not been able to eat the dry food we had - and we were delayed in returning to the NJ/NYC area because of this.  The kitten was male and very muscular and adventurous.  I love cats but since I live in an apartment with a dog and it seemed to belong to someone, I did not make a move to bring it home.  I had 2 cats with my dog in Vermont, but they were outdoors much of the time.  I don't need more than my dog in my apartment.

I felt bad because my daughter missed an event she was looking forward to. She did get to go to the "after event" - always the best part anyway. I made it home in time for Bikram yoga class and my private lesson.  There I discovered that I am holding myself back in some ways.  Yoga is always a lesson in something, not just postures.

Today - off to Bikram, then call the student and then practice and organize myself for the fall that is 2 weeks away at this point. It is great to have breaks. I am going to the beach for one night this weekend - visiting friends again.  Viva Summer!

More later today!

This is later and this is more.  I am relaxing after a full day of work - and realizing that work is so many different things.  I have gone to the Dalcroze training a coule of days only.  I will admit I seldom visit this program but always mean to.  It occurs duinrg the one time of the year when I have about 3 or 4 weeks off.  I need this time off.

I "friended" - well, accepted being the friend of a woman who writes about creativity.  Her words made me realize how true it is to have different ways to divert our energies, though I already know.

This is from her Facebook page today:

ENGAGE IN ALTERNATIVE REALMS OF IMMERSION.

Experiences of immersion are strengthening and enhancing no matter where they occur. Immersion in artistic pursuits is but one realm of possible immersive experience. Other possible realms include intimate relationships, spirituality, nature, experiencing other art, learning, parenting, psychotherapy, athletic pursuits, and play. When you have a healthy balance of potential immersive realms, you wil naturally flow in and out of connection in different realms. This process of flowing among different types of connections enhances your capacity to immerse in any one realm. When you disengage from immersion in your artwork and need regeneration and strengthening, you can turn to immersive connection in another realm and experience the support and comfort there that you need to reenter artistic immersion. And so on and so on.

The development and pursuit of other immersive experiences is not a distraction. It is often a vital and necessary part of sustaining an artistic endeavor. In addition, it is often through these varied pursuits that we develop a solid support system of appreciative others where we get many of our psychological needs for connection met--not to mention that we find increased fulfillment and meaning in our lives when we have multiple realms in which to experience immersion.

--Excerpt from STANDING AT WATER'S EDGE: MOVING PAST FEAR, BLOCKS, AND PITFALLS TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF CREATIVE IMMERSION (2008, San Francisco: New World Library)

Great words for any truly present and creative person to ponder and act on. Feeling drained must be the result of not taking care of all aspects of our lives.  I have been there - taught too much or taught places where my full self did not fit in.  My life's work, besides teaching music - Dalcroze Eurhythmics and piano - is to find the proper balance so that I do not get drained.

More tomorrow!  Good night.