Wednesday, February 6, 2013

the midwest is in winter

I went back to chicago for work. there was plenty of time on this trip for exploring the strange places, the al marts and the doughnuts all day and the johnny pam cakes featuring adult entertainment nightly come in and say hi to pam breakfast served all day. there was also time for swimming alone in a hotel pool and for writing until the weird hours at a bitter cafe on the side of the highway. I'm not sure how i can feel so content in flat places where i know nobody and it's a stinging 4 degrees outside, yet when the plane sinks back into my drizzling city i have this ability to feel empty again. what is that?

6 comments:

Kerry said...

Short and perfect.

tdoug said...

"transport, motorways and tramlines - starting and then stopping - taking off and landing - the emptiest of feelings"
- Radiohead

...one of my fave traveling tunes when feeling like that

Ren said...

Have you read "Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson? It's one of my all-time favorites...the main character talks about soul delay, the time between when you arrive somewhere by plane and when your soul reels itself back in from wherever you were. :)

adventurekate said...

Contentment with not knowing a place, no sense of responsibility to get to know it. But with home, you already know the ups and downs? I like the idea of soul delay- I can feel that!

Lisa from CA said...

Hi Melina-I found you through Kelle a month or so ago. I just wanted to tell you to please keep going! You are a master weaver of storytelling. You so elegantly knit together your life's sorrows and dreams into the vivid descriptions of your adventures. I know one thing for sure—people will continue to find you, and will become invested in your story. Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to your craft.

PS: You are brave beyond my wildest dreams, and like so many other commenters, I am living vicariously through your writing. Keep it coming!

Jess said...

I'd recognize that town anywhere :) It'll always be home, no matter how far away I end up. Beautiful post.