One of my readers (and it turns out there are more than I ever believed) reminded me that in my proposal I intended to keep posting. If I continue having readers, of course! But, now that I think of it, that's never the writer/reader bargain: 'if you read, I'll write.' In some ways, all manuscripts are written 'on spec' (on speculation?), as screenwriters and journalists say. So after two weeks of school, and an outdoor education trip to the Angeles Crest wilderness, I rededicate myself to this blog. And in some ways, I welcome this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of my original stint in the Peace Corps, on my recent trip reconnecting with the Nepalese people, the generous people of my village, my younger self, and the person I have become, reflecting on how those two people are similar or different. Many ask me "Has Nepal changed completely?" (My answer varies, depending on how long they have to listen. The wedding guest was forced to listen to the Ancient Mariner's tale by Coleridge for hours!). The relevant personal question for me might instead be, "Have I changed completely?" The frame of reference and who is perceiving contributes more to perception than we usually acknowledge. An 18-year-old girl on outdoor ed last week shared with me that she thought her 14-year-old's letter to herself would be immature and inane, but to her complete surprise, she found her younger self insightful and wise. "As I predicted then, I turned out pretty well," she told me, I smiled, hoping she didn't see the irony implied in her having completed her journey. How many of us can look back and see a throughline and like both the person we were and the person we have become?
No comments:
Post a Comment