The End

Last one!

I didn’t plan much of this trip, if you remember. I was making travel decisions as late as 6pm today.

Today. So many trains and buses and shouty bus terminal men.

I spent at least three hours curled up in a ball with my feet on my backpack. It was my own unfortunate doing, but I committed to it and just didn’t move. I’m not as young as I once was, but looks like I’m still plenty young enough to do that. Though it did hurt a little when I depretzeled my legs and finally moved the Gatorade bottle pressed into my foot.

It was a good and important trip, and I’m also glad to sleep on something still.

I remembered what day it was when I noticed how quickly sunset came. A change in the season and nights getting longer. It was delightfully broody, especially while reading Virginia Woolf and watching Norman Rockwell portraits of a collapsing society go by.

I wasn’t in any rush for it to be over. Which was convenient because there were plenty of delays, and stops, and somewhere along the way I learned that I apparently don’t really know where Indiana is.

But the cool thing was that somehow, I made it to my final destination with absolutely impeccable timing for an autumnal equinox bath. The knees that had been pulled to my chest for  hours were very excited about this.

I harvested some rosemary and lavender. Lit a candle, drank good wine from a little Earth glass. I rubbed salt on my arms, and washed my face. I dunked my head three times (and thus almost certainly have herbs in my hair.)

I thought about balance and letting things go. What has been, what’ll be new. How it’s finally time for summer bugs to go back to hell where they belong. I asked myself what season my spirit was in, all that jazz.

I also thought about the time I piggybacked a barefoot friend off the ground after they had shattered a wine glass while doing the Time Warp during an equinox hymn sing and bonfire. Scout’s honor, that is a true thing that happened in my life.

I once read somewhere that the fall equinox is a liminal space between action and stillness. It’s about taking stock and being attentive and open

That sounds about right.