Sunday, January 24, 2010

Been Missing You

Why is it that at some of the most important times in life journalling and recording habits show themselves the least?

It seems to be because sitting still and alone any longer than necessary shows itself as missing out on the fullness of the moments. At least for me. Especially in front of a computer (unless, of course, I'm watching Friends or Glee episodes with a friend or sister - let's just pretend that's justifiable).

So here I am after my longest break from One Hungry Soul, haunted by all those photographs I snapped and memories I now grip with a wistful heart. A degree of their narrative is forever lost by not leaping toward a pen and journal at the end of their day, the sharpness of their reality is vignetted and muted by letting days upon weeks upon months pass between their existence and this clicking of keys. And my mind becomes weary in the effort of recapturing. My heart grows achy.

I don't mean to slip into melancholy. I don't desire to turn this post into a complete recovery of times past either.

However, I do have some goals. I still want to share with you some of the highlights of my last five weeks in New Zealand. My plane lifted out of Auckland on January 26th, and I cried beneath that sleeping mask for a good duration of our flight over the Pacific. It was bizarre and unexpected behavior on my behalf, being a girl who embraces change and seeks adventure and is always pulling for tears when a goodbye is at hand. So my conclusion is there's something to be said for those four months in kiwi land. Something sweet and special and still not fully understood. In an outward sign of gratitude and joy in all I experienced, I want to share with you. I hope you find the pictures pleasing and the stories entertaining and it all of worth in your own travel plans, if they ever take you down to a certain little country near Antarctica that's known for its sheep and flightless birds and All Blacks and Southern Alps (let's leave Lord of the Rings out of this for once).

Here's a little preview of what's to come...

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Milford Sound - NZ

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I promise you won't have to wait too long this time!