Day Five

Half way through the residency. I feel as if the whole concept of time has altered -- things go slowly, yet suddenly we are nearing the end of this intensive 'kick off.' Then it will be home to teaching and trying to fit in all that has to be done by early February, when I have to send my teacher a fat packet of new writing and also reading responses (I am to read 100 books!). Somewhere in there, I also have to fit in being a Mom; a wife, even :)

Took off in the middle of the afternoon to go cross-country skiing, something I haven't done for years now. A very wonderful form of relaxing exercise, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk straight tomorrow. The sky was magnificent. Also borrowed a sled, since I aim, above all, to have fun! Meanwhile, back home, there is ice on the roads and the children are home from school for another day, and my mother still sick. I wish I could bundle them up and feed them good, warming things.

Tonight, all we 'newbies' read a snippet of our work to one another. I am so lucky to be among so many people who write so well, and 'get' where I am with my writing. I read non-fiction today, having read some poems last night, and can hear I have a lot of work to do in my prose, but we're all heading in the right direction, at least. It's good to be an apprentice at a craft like this one, where the older you get, the better you get. So, while my knees and ankles might fail, hopefully my writing voice at least -- and maybe my heart -- will get stronger and more defined.

Have to read 50 more pages before I sleep... It is set to snow 8-12 inches by tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to waking up and seeing the ground dressed in its thick layers. Can't wait to kiss my children goodnight.