smack dab in the middle

Well apparently smack dab in the middle —

—of whatever—

—is where more than half of us like to be.¹ At least smack dab in the middle of creative projects.

Does this hold true, however, for things that are not directly creative—for times (just for instance), when a person is smack dab in the middle of knitting a sleeve while smack dab in the middle of an hour-long traffic stoppage on a Utah pass that comes smack dab in the middle of a very long day of driving—

—smack dab in the middle of a road trip?

If you’d asked me then (in the middle of said traffic stoppage), or better yet asked Beryl (who luckily didn’t need to pee at that moment but wouldn’t have minded another little side-of-the-highway stroll), it might have been a hard call.

But later, when the two of us were finally at the campground snuggled together in the back of the car with sketchbook and sleeping bag and kibbles and tiny spindle, being smack dab in the middle of it all felt like the best thing ever—the endless seeming traffic halt a mere interlude.²

And honestly, how not to at least try to relish the chance to knit a few rows (actually several inches of that sleeve), while giving my highway-glazed eyes a break, knowing all the while that the following few days would be spent with the amazing Rebecca Mezoff³ chatting about the myriad techniques and processes that bring us to life?⁴

How, once in this amazing part of Colorado, not to appreciate the realization that the drama of madrugadorial strolls—

— between rollicking thunderstorms—

—in a place that the smells of wet sage—

—only enhances the elemental pleasure to be found in all that is at hand ⁵—

—be it wool, local dye and fiber plants, awesome sticks—

—or compelling new friends?⁶

Indeed, it all makes smack dab in the middle a most excellent place to be.

And writing about it now reminds my homebody self that even when we’re a teensy bit nervous about what is ahead —

—finding a gusset of time in which to embark on something other than our beloved, home-based, familiar and engrossing creative projects—⁷

—is thoroughly worthwhile.

1. I also love that that there are still nearly half of us who prefer all the other parts of a process.

2. And honestly, how not to appreciate the pleasure of playing rock-paper-scissors through the window with the kid in the car in the next lane while we wait?

3. Rebecca Mezoff — I talk about her work all the time so feel like she needs no introduction, but if you haven’t not seen her tapestries or her book or heard of her awesome in-person or online tapestry classes, and if I haven’t bored you with mentions of Fringeless, the extra cool four selvedge warping class I teach with her, well, this might be your moment! Also she’s got two fabulous dogs (see footnote 6)….

4. And particularly tapestry weaving; you know, interlacement to the max.

5. I have to apologize to those who clicked wool assuming they’d get to choose something else as well and then found they couldn’t (thereby possibly skewing the results in favor of wool). At the same time I am tickled by thoughts of all the wooly love out there and want to make sure that all you wool lovers know of Clara Parkes’ fabulous Wool Channel.

6. Sal and Beau are adorable miniature dachshunds. You can read more about them (and their recent camping trip) at this post on Rebecca’s blog.

7. Knowing that we had several of those projects tidily packed to bring with us was also helpful, as was knowing that there would be plenty of time to think and talk not only those familiar, beloved projects, but also possible future ones.