Miles of Metaphors

Back on Cape Cod at last!  It’s been a year and a half and a lifetime since the last time I made the trek to the part of the world that soothes my soul like no place else. I’m looking forward to five days soaking in the magic here. It’s too bad one day is spent driving, although the drive is a nice way to draw a line between there and here and gradually shift my mind to a different place.

 Welcome to the Captain Freeman Inn

There’s not a lot to do when driving from Delaware to Brewster, so I spent some of that time just thinking random thoughts. Today, I was looking for messages in some of the sights and happenings on the way up…

> Lots of road construction and a few new buildings along the highway. I took this as a metaphor for change and growth. I’m certainly a different person than I was the last time I made this trip, and I’ll be different again the next time.

> A few short traffic jams. It’s a truism… too many cars on the road and things slow down. I interpret this as a sign that I should consider the length of the list of things I want to accomplish. If my plans are not going smoothly, I see that I have two choices: to detour some things… or to simply enjoy the ride anyway. Stressing about it doesn’t help at all!

> Downpours on Cape Cod. Believe it or not, I only ran into a few sprinkles here and there on the entire trip… UNTIL just before I reached the Bourne Bridge to Cape Cod. Then it POURED rain – I’m talking a standing-water soaking. I was momentarily blinded a couple of times from the splash of cars passing through puddles on the opposite side of the road. I think the message there was all about deep cleansing – I need that kind of power wash to clear away all the stuff cluttering my mind so I can think. It’s one of the gifts that Cape Cod gives me.

> End of the rain at Captain Freeman Inn.  I kid you not. It stopped raining just as I pulled into the Captain Freeman Inn. It was down to drizzle as I unloaded the car, and all over by the time I want out to dinner.  And the weather promises to be lovely for the next few days – high 60’s – just the way I like it. How’s that for a welcome?!

> No sunset. Even though the rain has stopped, the cloud cover is still pretty deep. My after-dinner walk on the beach was cool and breezy, but sunset came with just a small streak of the barest pink along the horizon. When I pondered what that might mean, I decided it means that it’s not time for sunset yet. I still have plenty to accomplish and more life to live in this world.

Sunset beach walk at Breakwater Beach.
  

Here’s an additional insight from my soundtrack on the ride:

“Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game. Too late for second-guessing; too late to go back to sleep. It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap. It’s time to try defying gravity.” (From “Wicked”)

Amen to that!