Sunday Snippet: The We’re on Retreat Edition

I think there’s a chance that this is the most-anticipated writing retreat Liz and I have ever had. Seriously. We both have been beyond ready for this getaway. Not sure why this one has been such a star in the distance for both of us. Maybe because it’s been a long time (January) since our last retreat or maybe because we’re both feeling our ages a little more this year and life somehow feels shorter. Or maybe we both needed a getaway. Whatever, we’re here and it’s already been nearly twenty-four hours of bliss.

Oh, we both miss the husbands–so each retreat evening we spend some time on the phone with those guys, but we are in a beautiful place and we have writing to do. Stories to tell. Liz is working on the second book in her Colors series and I’m starting book 1 in my Dykemans of River’s Edge series.

A little recap of our time so far. We drove to Kalamazoo for a luncheon with my publisher at Tule Publishing, the amazing Jane Porter, and some other readers and authors at a wonderful old B&B in the downtown area of Kalamazoo, which is a charming old town. The time with my publisher was lovely. We talked books and writing and life for two hours while we ate lunch. Ten women around a big table talking endlessly about their love of books–how we read them, how we generate stories, how much we love words. Liz and I came away refreshed and energized.

South Haven and our little condo are charming–we’ve been here before, so nothing new, but it’s Lake Michigan and the air is redolent of rich childhood memories for me. I think perhaps I may have lived in Michigan in another life…or maybe I should have. Either way, my heart expands here, and each time we come, I soak in the Lake Michigan of it all to hold dear until next time.

A funny (or not depending on your outlook) thing: One of us always gets hurt in some way when we’re on retreat. Not sure if it’s just old-lady klutziness or the nature of Liz and I, but it seems almost mandatory that one of us trips and falls or bumps our head or … well, you get the idea. It was my turn and I figured get it out of the way early and enjoy the rest of the trip.  Um…trip being the operative word. I tripped on the dock outside the door of our condo when we walked down to look at the Black River and tumbled right down onto a floating dock next to the wooden one we were walking on. Thank heaven for the floating vinyl dock or I’d have been “in the drink,” as Liz said. I’m fine…a couple of bruises and some achiness that Tylenol took care of just fine. So, I took the hit. (Liz just said that apparently, I missed the memo about doing the putz thing on the last day of our retreat rather than the first. On the other hand, no ER this time, so…)

We’re up early this morning for coffee and writing. There is no plan beyond that, and that is exactly how we roll on retreat. At some point, we’ll head into town to wander, to go walk the jetty and look at the lake and breathe in my Michigan. We’ve been here enough times in our twelve years of friendship, though, I think I can safely say it’s Liz’s Michigan, too.

Gratitude for this week: I turned 71! I’m on retreat in Michigan (that could be all five gratefulness items this week!), Spent my birthday with my family–Husband, Son, DIL, and Grandboy–what joy! Birthday lunches with Sister PJ and my dear neighbors. A meetup with Jane Porter–always a rare pleasure!

Stay well, breathe in the crisp autumn days, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!