Wanderlust

Wanderlust 4 Life!

June 9, 2008 at 8:24 pm parisheartsrj 3 comments

It finally happened. The two weeks that seemed so long and so short to get to Atlanta is here. While pedaling thru LA, MS, and AL, the hills, people, conversations, lovely lady legs, and beautiful outdoors had me so caught up that getting to Atlanta just happened. The 400 or however many miles it took to get here just flew by. And it is easy when your days are filled with sun soaked/damaged days of riding, reproductive justice conversations on the road, chammied hands, sandwiches, and ice cold water. The world doesn’t seem so tough and at the same time is so hard when you have a community of women to support you, to make consensus with, to feed with food, words, and cuddles… and to do one of the most radical things we as warriors can ever do- take the time to LOVE.

It took love for me each day. Love in the face of fear of being able to endure the 50-60 mile days, the hills, the hard conversations, the reality of my body moving thru the South and my historical relationship with the land and this region. Love helped to guide me, keep me present, and remind me of my fierceness. Love was exercised. It was the climbing of a hill and the sweet, fast, breeze right after, the honk of the wagon, the waving of flags, a massage train, and knowing that you will never be too far from the support you need.

I was given the gift of love by 11 women who all heard the call to be bold, fierce, and courageous. In each of your own ways(that became our ways), I have been so deeply moved. From making a home each night with my amazing Megumi who I adore and respect immeasurable, to laughing to tears and filled with wit by Liz Bright and my love Elisa, to talking about sex and sexuality with Heatha, to being inspired by everyone, and experiencing the depth, beauty, challenge, and the possibility of real, meaningful connection across lines of difference and experience with my 2nd love Erin. You have no idea what what those moments have meant to me, my spirit, and to my understanding of our crazy world.

And then there is Nora. I do not have the words for the immense love, respect, joy, and delight this woman gives me. Nora, you are a gift, a solider, a visionary, a doer. I am amazed by you. Your spunk, your fire, your desire to turn things right side up. I love you in a way that will always endure- get ready

Right now, I am sitting at my desk at SPARK, dreaming about ya’ll. I am processing this journey, crying a little, laughing too. It was the hardest thing to leave all of you last night. To make it back to my other world filled with people, community, doggies, and blissful things that love me and I love. It so hard because I love Wanderlust in a way that I never expected. I never knew I needed it until I had it.

I’m plotting my return. Making a way back. I am not sure what or how that will look like but being with ya’ll again, riding my bike and taking up space, thinking about reproductive justice, and revelling in the push and pull of love keeps this pouty Paridisical a float!

You are fierce, bold, and amazing and this is LOVE!

paris

p.s. get ready for your neck tattoos ladies!!!

Entry filed under: On the Road, Paris Hatcher. Tags: .