Archive for July 2nd, 2008
“Unbreak my heart”
Our last morning of Wanderlust 2008!
Erin here- Kathleen is singing Toni Braxton (oh yes, she’s magically tonedeaf!) and we’re all sitting around the breakfast table musing on what these final hours of the tour feel like. Kathleen’s friend Mona (our fabulous SheBeast volunteer van driver for the day, i.e we all want to bike into NYC together) asked if we think we’re in the best shape of our lives. A whole slew of answers is given- not just a resounding yes. ( I would say my thighs have never been so girth-y and phat -a significant fact from a soccer player of 23 years). So yes on my last morning I’m musing on how strong (physically and emotionally) I feel and being reminded of how I’ve changed. At the start of the tour I rode fast!, pounding along the route. But by this point i’ve slowed my pace way down. strolling and dancing on bike (yesterday we enjoyed mad nineties tunes through philly- our Sound Can is fixed and restrapped to the back of Nora’s bike Rhonda- thanks again Petri!), trying to take it all in. i feel powerful, full, confident and able to stand back and pause thanks to Wanderlust. This makes me stronger as a leader, a group member, an artist, as a community organizer, a critical voice, and as a woman committed to anti-racist work . I feel more competent and find myself looking at experiences in a comprehensive manner- I’ve been forced to accept the glory and the flawed nature of something large, complex and ultimately satisfying b/c of the inherent beauty in the dialectic. My heart and head have been trained to work together in a whole new way. Yes! I return to another world and have decided the only way to re-enter is to ride into New York in the Amphibian suit!!!
1 comment July 2, 2008
the last night
It is late, and it is Nora, lying on the couch at my aunt and uncles house in Princeton, the same house I set off from on Wanderlust 1, over a year and thousands of miles ago. There’s a very confused firefly flying around the room adding excitement to what has already been a very exciting evening. This whole trip has been a constant whirlwind of motion, and as I begin to think about coming to rest, landing in Brooklyn, it starts me thinking about how this trip has changed me. I can’t even think about writing about it, but if all goes according to plan there will be lots of writing about all aspects of the trip- the mundane and the gory, sacred and profane. There are so many emotions filling me right now, knowing that wanderlust 2008 is almost over, but most of all I am filled with immense joy and gratitude to the women of wanderlust- to Kathleen, Elisa, Heather, Shelby, Erin, Becky, Megumi, Vanessa, Heatha, Stacey, Paris, Mel, Megan, and Elizabeth - for being brave, and funny, and intuitive, and fierce, and creative, and uncompromising- for speaking your truths, for riding through the pain, for living deeply in each moment, and for trusting me. I was, and am, deeply honored that you shared this experience with me, and I have just two words for you - neck tattoo.
Wanderlust 4 Life.
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