rooted, after roaming

I am tired. Let me say that first.

Living a life of constant new experiences, new people, and new lessons comes with a particular kind of exhaustion. It’s not the kind you can sleep away or fix with a long weekend. It lingers. It hums in the background. Its omnipresence persists because nowhere is entirely familiar or fully comfortable. Like a new pair of shoes you haven’t broken in yet - not painful exactly, just rubbing you the wrong way day after day. In that kind of existence, I find myself longing for my slippers.

And so, I am bringing my residency extravaganza to a close. It’s time to set roots.

This experience has brought me so much. The people I have worked with, connected with, and I made some ride-or-die friends. My design skills, my style, and my work have been permanently altered by all that, and all who have influenced me. There have been tears, childish giggles, and moments of standing stunned in awe. This is a generalization of it all, and when the true end of this adventure arrives, I’ll make a fuller accounting.

I’m sure that if I continued on, I would find incredible people and experiences in Vermont. But my heart isn’t in it for another residency right now. I’m ready to take everything I’ve absorbed and pour it into new work and new ventures; while wearing my comfy slippers, surrounded by familiar faces, trusted equipment, and yes, an assured parking spot. There is one more residency on the books for November, and by then I suspect I’ll have rallied.

In March, I will return to Minnesota to set roots. That small town, those people, and Bruno Press left an indelible mark on me. I’ve also been deeply moved by the neighborly support I’ve witnessed across the state; their hardy, can-do attitude that comes from being tested. That spirit resides in me too.

As with all of life, this is about endings and beginnings. And honestly, I can think of no better way to say it than to quote Kermit the Frog:

“Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending. We’ve just done what we set out to do. And you’re just getting started.”

You’re welcome for the earworm.