I discovered a small beautiful book, "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, on the shelf of our guest apartment in Portland Maine. The author, a young woman who lives in Maine, wrote of the extended period she was bed-ridden from a mysterious disease that felled her while traveling in Europe. She did not dwell on the impact this illness had on her but of the deep observations she had with a small wild snail that shared her room. I am unable to finish the book now and will pick it up again when I return home. I feel good about leaving the story at this point even though it is a bit open ended.
Her examination of the snails movement, habits and wanderings appear to have carried her through a dark and dangerous period. I marvel at how she was able to see and think so clearly while being so limited and challenged otherwise.
"Each evening the snail awoke and, with an astonishing amount of poise, moved gracefully to the rim of the pot and peered over, surveying, once again, the strange country that lay ahead. Pondering its circumstance with regal air, as if from the turret of a castle, it waved its tentacles first this way and then that, as though responding to a distant melody."
"We are all hostages of time. We each have the same number of minutes and hours to live within a day, yet to me it didn't feel equally doled out. My illness brought me such an abundance of time that time was nearly all I had. My friends had so little time that I often wished I could give them what time I could to use. It was perplexing how in losing health I had gained something so coveted but to so little purpose."
Good thoughts to remember as we rush headlong into the lives we lead.
Other good words to remember and apply as possible
Sitting in a small local coffee shop in Portland Maine I am thinking about this story, looking back at the first half of this wonderful trip, and ahead to the remainder. It has been both a familiar journey and one of discovery. Starting at home we stopped at several familiar places and continued on through territory seen long ago on a summer of adventure near the beginning of this shared life. The details of that time long ago are fuzzy now but included traveling by bike, trains, and VW bus started by leaving familiar Santa Cruz with work and studies for a summer of exploring the NW to return to Davis where we would start new studies and as it turned out a family.
Traveling across Canada on this trip gave us time to reflect, meet fellow travelers and try to transition from local hustle to the steady pace and forward view of the journey ahead. Three weeks later I think we are closer but not able to hold that focus. Things waiting immediately upon return and our renewed ability to stay in touch with family, friends, events and more certainly demand time too.
The all day ferry ride from Nova Scotia was also a reminder of the nature of tourists and unfortunately some of the US ones stood out with their noise and self-centered views. We seemed less tolerant of that exposure and perhaps the daily challenges and interruptions that keep one off balance when traveling.
We have slowed our pace with our time in Maine. As I looked out the window at the warm windswept trees and clouds beyond I could feel the Fall season and will try to hold these thoughts and pace as we move on tomorrow for Boston and then Burlington Vermont, New York, Washington DC, and finally New Orleans briefly with hopes to return next spring and then home roughly three weeks from now.
Meanwhile today we enjoyed the blustery winds and mild temperatures as we wandered about on trips for food and packing extra things we don't need or have collected so far. We also mailed some gifts and cards and explored parts of Portland we hadn't seen. We picked up some local salads and bread for dinner while we relaxed and listened to the wind. We two fat cats walked down to Two Fat Cats bakery for "Woopie pies" for dessert. Tomorrow we will pack up and head "Downeaster" for a short stay in Boston.
At home dining thanks to Aurora Provisions market and Two Fat Cats bakery
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