[We can't figure out who took this, either Denise or Susannah!]

I am coming up for air today after an intense period of work finishing up my book. There are still a few loose ends to tie up before everything is delivered to the printer next week, but I am far enough ahead of where I thought I would be today to burst out of my studio and play hooky. There were a few days in high school when I ambled slowly downstairs with a “sore throat” (cue raspy voice) so I could get out of geometry and government class, and I kind of feel like that today. Yes, I am on the verge of serious book burnout, growing rather weary and bored with my own writing, but it isn’t as if I’m about to have a meltdown. I am feeling really good about everything in fact, so I feel a tiny bit rebellious just skipping out to ride bicycles with Marianne down the Venice Beach bike path.

Marianne has been here for a little over two weeks and throughout most of her visit both of us have been buried in work. After morning visits over coffee, we have each retreated in to our own worlds, her to study for final exams, me to finish my book. It has been a lovely gift to have this time with her, a kind of intimacy between friends we might not ever have again considering she lives in New Zealand when not traveling the globe. It is so easy to get used to our own little patterns and habits, particularly within the walls of our own homes, and as adults with jobs, relationships and other friends and responsibilities, it is not lost on me how rare it is to be able to share this time with a dear friend.

So today we will head outside and celebrate our victories, goof off and enjoy the sun. For this day, we’ll let the world go about its business while we do nothing more than enjoy one another’s company.

*****

P.S. I’m having a free print giveaway over on Sparkletopia starting this Friday…head over there for details.