| Transition is a place all of its own. Transition is a | | | | jam in the passenger seat of the car and boxes |
| place of in-between-ness, of being on the move, | | | | that ride in the back. Another day I borrow my |
| and in motion. Sorting and packing. Yes this/not | | | | sweetheart's truck to haul back three huge bags |
| that. Clearing space, literally, for a new life cycle | | | | of organic packing peanuts from the Paper and |
| to follow, the unknown, fallow, yet fertile field yet | | | | Janitorial supply store. A nice older man driving a |
| to be plowed and sown. | | | | sports car helps me tie down my load on the |
| My boxes are evidence of transition. My studio | | | | back of the truck with its sideboards up. |
| has become a staging area for my move. The | | | | Not to mention the over a dozen trips to the |
| boxes propagate like fleas overnight and stack up. | | | | women's shelter. They know me there now and |
| My estimate of 50 boxes turns to the reality of | | | | fill out the itemized list after I leave. |
| 120 boxes and little else. Boxes of all shapes and | | | | The archeology of personal history is revealed |
| sizes. A tiny box for heavy things like my | | | | through objects. My past is discovered, |
| 3-legged pot from Botswana or my professional | | | | uncovered, and recovered as I pack. Bubble wrap |
| quality massager that feels like a floor polisher | | | | becomes insulation, protection, and transparency. |
| when it goes over my back. A huge 6-foot | | | | You can see what you're protecting. It's like |
| custom-made box for my hand cast paper boat | | | | another body in the car. |
| ready to float in a new body of water. Slowly all | | | | What is this place of transition asking of me? |
| the lumpy objects are boxed and cased. | | | | "Janet, you must be open, yet bounded. Strong |
| A neighbor comes to measure up the "Heartshell" | | | | yet vulnerable. Wise, in this newness." |
| clay and steel sculpture to build a crate for it. The | | | | "What does this place of transition know about |
| moving expenses keep mounting, but I'm in "Just | | | | me?" |
| do it" mode. "Just pay the price and move on." I | | | | "If this place could speak through me, what would |
| run up to town to get a roll of bubble wrap we | | | | it have to push aside in order to be heard? |