I am the darkest shadow at the bottom?
Defining solitude as being alone is never the whole story, and shifting from socializing to a state of solitude doesn’t automatically happen the minute I’m alone. Today I met a high school friend for lunch (I had a popover filled with smoked salmon). For two hours we hashed over the past, present and future, and what a cottage by the sea means to each of us. Conversation was particularly rich, in part because we both knew each others mothers (and families). I loved every minutes of it. Thanks, Ann.
On my way home I stopped alone to walk the beach, thinking that I could step with ease into my solitary mode. Not so. The wind was surprisingly nippy, I forgot my scarf, and the lunch conversation kept going. So I went back to the cottage and before going in and taking a nap, I went out on the little lawn between the house and the rocks and ocean. A very satisfying day.
On my way home I stopped alone to walk the beach, thinking that I could step with ease into my solitary mode. Not so. The wind was surprisingly nippy, I forgot my scarf, and the lunch conversation kept going. So I went back to the cottage and before going in and taking a nap, I went out on the little lawn between the house and the rocks and ocean. A very satisfying day.