The Cordrays Head Into Short-Time: Memphis in the Rear View Mirror (almost)
My chest sounds like a crackling campfire as the thick congestion finally loosens its grip. I am happy to rattle, though, because it leads to release. Eleven days so far (including my birthday) of summer cold served up at the worst possible time has been my reality. Because of this ick, I missed lunch with nearly a dozen local ladies. Some of these members of The Ethel Gathering Group: Western Tennessee have been to an Arty-Party (or two) at my place and have become my friends. I was looking forward to seeing them again. I was also looking forward to meeting a few others before we leave Memphis. Look at this beautiful bouquet of flowers and the card new pal and Ethel organizer Sandra Gail left on the doorstep (and ran) on my birthday! I can’t blame her. I sure didn’t want to give this to her.
Dan brought me a huge slice of coconut cake that took me 4 days to eat with so little appetite. My phone rang and the messages flew for hours on my birthday. I have yet to respond to most of over two hundred birthday greetings on my Facebook wall. I sure appreciate everyone who took the time to wish me a happy birthday! I think that is the best part of tolerating Facebook.
The Ethels and I had an Arty-Party scheduled for last Thursday that I had to cancel. I even hung all of the art back on the wall for that event. I was holding off on making my post about all of my Memphis Arty-Parties pending the last one, which will not happen as time is very, very short. (I will leap-frog that post to update our status since I had previously started the days til we leave count on the last post.)
83 pieces of art on the wall, 83 pieces of art. If one of these thumbtacks should happen to fall, someone will holler as they limp down the hall.
Since I did not hang the 5 that were part of the local exhibition, I actually have 88 pieces of art on hand. I have made and mailed many and have created sketches for classes, so the number of works of art made in Memphis easily topples into the hundred-fifty or more range. I LOVE that, I truly do.
There have been many days when I have chastised myself for not making bigger progress on my travel book(s) while laid over in Memphis. In truth, I have been writing the entire time. My scratch-pad doodabs files in my notes app has always been the parking lot for the mined bits that haven’t found a home. The doodabs files runneth over. A folder full of Memphis stories exists, with a lot of it written hot, which isn’t as easy while navigating our route. My notebooks are full of timelines and notes, a completed book proposal and sample chapters. I have a better idea of how to eat this frog having listened to more books and podcasts about writing during our stay. I am not sure why I said all of that except to give you, my reader, and myself a big helping of hope that it WILL happen. Writing anything makes me want to talk about writing.
Two crystal ball prisms throw circular rainbows across every surface, adding color pops to the art-filled walls that surround me. Rainbow stripes stretch across my keyboard, my fabric scissors, my pens and paper, their hues just as much a tool for my creativity as any of these helpers.
I think back to the prism ball that threw rainbows in my van, and then in OUR van. These two crystal balls have no idea that they are headed for a life of adventure. They will be the last thing packed, along with Liberty and Layla, who have not yet visited our new rolling home. A 45 minute drive to the storage place and no dogs allowed is the reason. Boy howdy, will they be surprised! The ladies are couch-soft and clueless, not a bad doggie designation.
Circles of rainbows dance on the deep purple dress that I will wear for my son Jon and beloved Kale’s wedding hanging on the bathroom door, ready to be altered. The length is perfect, but mama don’t show no tatas. I have not outgrown my modesty. Twice, I have called in rainbows and have been gifted doubles both times as I hopped on my rebounder on the patio. Leap, they say. Leapity, leapity leeeaaaappp already!!
And leap we will, although the countdown is skewed. I will just say we will be leaving sometime in the first week of September. The built-in time cushion there at the end is paying for itself in spades. Score 300 bonus points for this navigator and her spidey-sense.
Our cargo trailer/extra room was picked up by Dan’s son Terry who hauled it to his farm, to become either an extra workspace or a chicken coop. Overages of all kinds will be heading to local homeschooling families, and Dan’s work friend will carry the food we can’t take along to his church food pantry. Some folks will be getting random “care packages” since our storage space will be limited. Nothing goes to waste at Camp Cordray.
In this very last Memphis meantime, this great Mississippi River Camp Cordray in-between time, I will continue to balance rest with forward motion towards our departure. There is still time for a lunch or two with friends. Mr. Cordray is working his second to the last Friday today, and tomorrow is another day of work at the travel trailer. Inch by inch, we prepare for miles and miles.
A huge thank you to all who sent birthday wishes, and another huge thank you for being part of this circus train in the first place. It won’t be long and we shall all be moseying down the highway, wind in our hair. Y’all got your bags packed?
Moving boxes and millipedes,
Brenda Cordray
The Desert Rose
