“Midway along the journey of our life
I woke to find myself in a dark wood,
for I had wandered off from the straight path.
How hard it is to tell what it was like,
this wood of wilderness, savage and stubborn
(the thought of it brings back all my old fears),
a bitter place! Death could scarce be bitterer.
But if I would show the good that came of it
I must talk about things other than the good.”
–
There’s something ominous about using a few lines from Dante’s ‘Inferno’ to kick off a blog post about a wonderful winter weekend with friends, but the one thing that always ran through all of his work was the progression toward something better – in this case there would be no paradise without a little burn. Besides, life without drama is no life at all.
Happily, there was only fun and loveliness on this almost-spring-like weekend in Connecticut, where I got to visit my friends Missy and Joe and their kids Julian and Cameron. They always make me feel welcome and warm, and in the midst of a winter, no matter how mild, the heart rejoices at such company. I don’t have an extensive list of lifelong friends whom I trust implicitly, and visiting with Missy is like sharing a weekend with family.
The weather smiled upon us as well, with temperatures soaring, and a bright sunny sky of blue being the glorious backdrop for our shopping and dining excursions. Still, it was winter, and the fireplace alternately roared and settled into a slumber just as needed when the dark arrived and the cold returned. At such times, we spoke of the trials and tribulations of middle age – a lament that recalled the opening lines of this post, as the three adults fought to find our footing when our bodies were falling apart, and our minds were fatigued at seeing all that we have.
Positing a new project, we entertained what that might look like, and with two teachers backed by a lifetime of academia, I was inspired to head back in to the creative process – something that often happens with this inspirational crew. Mostly though, our visit was a reminder of the enduring warmth and power of friendship, and the way it provides a haven in the most ravaging of winters.
We set up another visit for spring, when at last I will make a lifelong wish come true of visiting White Flower Farm (which is turns out is only about half and hour from their home). That pilgrimage will hopefully fulfill a full-circle moment that started decades ago…
