Meandery
Is meandery a word? Well, meandering. That’s my mind lately. I’ve been on a no-holds-barred quest since about mid-December to figure out how to work. And, like Tolkien’s wanderers, I’m not lost.
So, what do I mean by figuring out how to work? I know how to work, of course. My first paying job came at age ten when I went with my brother to the strawberry fields where my aunt Rayma was a field boss. (In truth, I ate more berries than I picked, but after a few summers, I could make $5 a day!) I started babysitting at age twelve, usually for my younger cousins. ($5 a night!)
And, unpaid work. I mucked barns and helped with hay. I weeded gardens and dusted furniture, folded clothes and made beds. Caring for a horse is work.
Homework.
And of course adult life was (was?) all about work — restaurants for me, to start with, then other jobs — typing class notes for $1 a page, tutoring, working as a bank teller. Eventually, teaching, which I was involved with for twenty-five years, and still am involved with, to one extent or another.
Rearing children is work. Keeping laundry caught up and a house clean is work. (I admit to being rather inept in all of these.)
And then…writing.
I have been fitting writing into the interstices for years — for decades! I’ve written in the very early morning, in spiral bound notebooks; I’ve written in my car (only when the car is stopped!); I’ve written during soccer practice and in between classes and beside hospital beds. I have written in many, many coffeeshops.
What I’m grappling with now, where my meandering is leading me now — is how to put writing on the front burner and really work at writing.
I think I can credit Author Magazine for introducing me to this quote:
“Have the courage to become who you are.”
-Nietzsche
That is what my meandering mind is working on now.
Photo of labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral: ©Jill K H Geoffrion, Ph.D., www.jillgeoffrion.com
Enjoyed reading this, Bethany. Did you know that today is actually Poetry at Work Day? Seems fitting:
http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2016/01/12/celebrate-its-poetry-at-work-day-2016/
Thank for the reminder. ..funny that my first thought was, But i don’t work…yes, i DO work!
Cheering you on. Yours is work worth figuring out. Always has been.
What good comments. Thank you!
I love your meandery…!
Hi Bethany, a breath of fresh air to read your blog. I was wondering if there was such a word as “meandery”. or its plural form, “meanderies”. I ended up here, and was delighted, even though I got out without my answer. My mind races through thousands of thoughts every day and this makes me rather anxious most of the time. This article made me step on the brakes. A very nice reading. Thanks, from brazil.
My pleasure and Thank you!