Without a purple chair

I’ve been reading this interesting memoir, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovetch. In an attempt to reclaim her joy in life after her sister’s death, Sankovetch decided to read a book a day for a year – hoping to find solace and direction.

“Books. The more I thought about how to stop and get myself back together as one sane, whole person, the more I thought about books. I thought about escape. Not running to escape but reading to escape. Cyril Connolly, twentieth-century writer and critic, wrote that “words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.” That was how I wanted to use books, as an escape back onto life. I wanted to engulf myself in books and come up whole again.” ~ Nina Sankovetch

When I was getting ready for this vacation, I started to research the places I wanted to see. But then I got enamored with the idea of just taking a lot of time to sit and enjoy reading. Not for dramatic reasons like Nina Sankovetch, but as a way to relax, to explore new ideas, to take a respite from a busy life.

So today I packed up a couple of books and drove on up to Marconi Beach – my absolutely favorite place in the world. Three hours, two long walks, and a bit of a sunburn later, I had finished a book. This one was a fun romp called The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond’s memoir of meeting and marrying a cowboy, thereby transforming her “from black heels to tractor wheels.” A perfect beach read. (Not exactly literature, but fun nonetheless.)

  
Today’s favorite wave pictures.

  Fog rolling in…
It was actually kinda weird to be sitting in a bit of a fog bank, but it was cool and the waves were music, so I stayed until well after it dissipated.

 Company… I always come out of season and miss the seal-watching trips… but I got to see a few anyway.

By mid afternoon, I was back at the Freedman Inn for a shower (a little hot and sandy) and then I parked myself on a chaise lounge by the pool. I started another book, but one that I won’t finish… too sappy and predictable. I decided a long time ago that I would allow myself the freedom to lay aside any book that doesn’t capture my attention in the first 50 pages or so… there are far too many good books to read to waste any time on the bad ones!

By 5:30, I was ready to stretch and move, so I took off for Breakwater Beach again – this time walking the ten minutes down the road to get there (all the while dreaming of owning one of the prototypical Cape Cod beach homes along the way). Pretty, quiet twilight.

  
That beached sailboat is the pic of the day!

At dinner, I pulled out The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry – a book that gives advice on how to maintain creative energy as a knowledge worker – and I find I want to figure out how to make use of some of that advice. None of the strategies Henry shares are new… but it’s good to be reminded, especially when I’m in a plan-making, goal-setting kind of mood.

I’m looking forward to more reading, in a lovely setting with the breezes blowing and the waves crashing. Bliss. No purple chair needed.