Conversations with Calliope- Finding a Direction

(Mayan Road- Cozumel)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. On Saturday you sounded stuck. Any progress?
JOE: I would say so. I found some time to reflect on where I am right now.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: I came to a standstill in my writing recently when I started reading Vein of Gold by Julia Cameron.
CALLIOPE: I thought that book was designed to stimulate your creativity.
JOE: It is. I started feeling more energized until I came to her recommendation of writing my history.
CALLIOPE: And that paralyzed you?
JOE: I'm not sure it is quite a matter of paralysis.
CALLIOPE: What is it then?
JOE: I have been mindlessly plodding ahead with little sense of direction, flitting from one project to another.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: I think I need a better sense of direction. As I thought about it over the weekend, writing my story might help me regain my momentum.
CALLIOPE: Is that you next project?
JOE: I don't see it so much a project as a refocusing. I will try and see where it leads me. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Checking Directions

(Sailboat by Peter Langen)

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: I hope you didn't just roll out of bed.
JOE: You should know me better than that. I've never slept this late in my life.
CALLIOPE: So where have you been?
JOE: Doing my part for medical research. I visited the University of Rochester this morning for a blood draw.
CALLIOPE: What are they doing with your blood?
JOE: Trying to see if we souls with rheumatoid arthritis have any different reaction to flu shots than the rest of the world.
CALLIOPE: How's the study coming?
JOE: It's beyond me and any case too early to know anything while they are still in mid study.
CALLIOPE: Did it take you all this time?
JOE: No. I stopped at Barnes and Noble for some browsing while bookstores still stand.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: Julia Cameron's book Vein of Gold. It is a follow-up on her book, The Artist's Way.
CALLIOPE: Any reaction you can share yet?
JOE: Just that it looks interesting. I'll keep you posted.

Conversations with Calliope- The Next Frontier

(Rocky Mountain Pass)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Starting to feel back to normal as my cold recedes.
CALLIOPE: Glad to hear it. What's on your mind today?
JOE: Not a great deal. I feel at peace this morning.
CALLIOPE: That's a good feeling.
JOE: Indeed. It seems from reading the news that not too many people feel that way right now.
CALLIOPE: I agree. What brings you a sense of peace?
JOE: Knowing that I am doing what I have chosen to do. Sometimes I think I would like to have more money but then I see people gnashing their teeth about lost money and realize it's not that important.
CALLIOPE: What is important to you?
JOE: Like I said, doing what I have chosen. I can spend my time writing and expressing myself. I know that I am reaching some people. I have come to realize that no matter what I say, some people will like it and agree and others won't.
CALLIOPE: Can you accept that?
JOE: I can now. I think it takes maturity to reach that point.
CALLIOPE: One advantage of living long enough.
JOE: I agree. I'm not sure where I am heading next but I enjoy knowing I have a choice. Talk with you on Monday.

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning, Calliope.

CALLIOPE: Good morning, Joe. Ready for a new year?

JOE: I believe I am.

CALLIOPE: What did you do yesterday?

JOE: Not much of anything. I remember reading about crop rotation and that sometimes a field is left fallow for a growing season to restore itself.

CALLIOPE: You're not going into hibernation for several months?

JOE: No. Just for yesterday. I thought I would let my mind rest and not tax it.

CALLIOPE: I guess I can live with that. What are your plans for today?

JOE: First I have a column to write about context for my life.

CALLIOPE: Where did that come from?

JOE: A talk by Steve D'Annunzio on Sunday. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I have a sense of where I am headed and why I am doing what I am doing, I will be much more focused. I guess you could say I just spent yesterday thinking about this and today I will write a column about it.

CALLIOPE: Sounds good. Anything else planned?

JOE: I finished another chapter of Marital Property after we chatted on Monday. I plan to finish another today about my two main characters in a counseling session.

CALLIOPE: Do you expect fireworks?

JOE: I don't expect them, but you never know. I guess I had better get on with it and see.

(Butterfly Museum- Niagara Falls, Ont.)