(my friend Erika’s picture of Scotland)
Day 26 – They guy subletting my place moves in 3 days from now. I leave in 7. I bought new luggage and it is orange and I love it. My office is filled with to-do lists. Sudden insights and story ideas are scribbled across manuscripts’ blank back pages. Every empty space has something that was floating around my head pegged down to it.
I take a lot of deep breaths. I rub Frankincense on the bottoms of my feet and tell myself that I am relaxed. Breathe in, “I am,” breathe out, “relaxed.”
I’ve been practicing German and have become very good at telling people what they are, should anyone in Germany forget. I’ll say, “You are a man. They are men. I am a woman.” I mean, “Er ist ein mann. Ist sind manner. Ich bin ein frau.” I’m adept at identifying both water and bread, too. Helpful if I find myself in prison.
Also this, l want to visit Scandinavia while I’m there. Denmark, Sweden and maybe Findland. In one day, I thought about Helsinki like 100 times, even though I’ve never before thought about Helsinki even once. Have you seen that show SLOW TV on Netflix yet? I watched one about the Northern Railway in Norway. I dream of riding it through a snowy winter landscape while drinking a hot Norwegian beverage, as tunes from the 1954 film White Christmas (specifically the train scene) and Bing Crosby’s sweet voice drift through my heart.
I learned that there are other things to eat in Berlin besides sausages. I don’t eat sausages, so this is great news. Nedelle wrote a piece for PETA about the veggie spots in Berlin. She says Berlin is a veggie foodie haven, actually.
My dog is moving to Athens, Georgia with my ex. Thinking about not seeing my dog, Fritz, again makes me feel like I can’t breathe. Luckily, it is really easy to fall in love with dogs, and cats too, and trees and rivers. Most all living things. Thank god for that.
I met my best-friend’s baby. I see how things can be difficult and wonderful at the same time.
Erika is in Scotland and posted the picture above from Glencoe Valley, Highlands. It makes me feel that sense of “fantastic” that Knausgard describes, which I wrote about yesterday. Like, feeling both hungry and full. The picture also relaxes me.
To Do, 9/7/16
I need to go to Whole Foods
I need to call Verizon about international data use
I need to edit my essay A Living Thing
I need to do laundry
I need to grade papers
I need to practice German. Das ist wasser. Ok. I am, too.
30 Days to Berlin 