The Old Man and the T-shirt

—03.13.2000—

So much has been happening. My notebook is full of strange dreams and things I’d like to say, none of which, I'm sorry to say, I’ve had the time to record here.

I had a meeting with the design instructor at the secondary school on St. Mary’s about volunteering there to help teach kids design. A web-design project is also on its way from San Francisco. The prospect of volunteering feels fun while the web design work hasn’t lit any fires. They thought my quote was a little high but wanted to go ahead. “We can work out the numbers,” they said. Lauren, my roommate, has generously offered to help find people to fill the flat if she and David (my other roommate) move out.

What all of this means is that obstacles of financial pressure and domestic responsibility are being pulled aside to reveal a path leading out and beyond to a sunny cove in which is moored a boat bound for the Azores.

What to do? What to do? There is some appeal to in starting to collect vintage travel and advertising posters again and put on another show and sale like I did last fall, or design a line of t-shirts, or research the vintage car club idea. But my God, a sea voyage. That sounds phenomenal. Those other projects can wait a little while longer can’t they? Can I justify going? Do I even need to? It feels strange to me to indulge the dream. Having said that, it’s only a potential dream at this point. Jack is due back in April and Patricia hasn’t mentioned my interest to him on account of my undecidedness. She advised me to bring it up with him directly when he’s here. Strange though (or not?) that once you start putting your thoughts and energies into something, the pieces start to fall into place.

I’ve been thinking a good deal about following my heart lately (or not following it, as the case may be). If I admit it to myself in quiet honesty, I think a sea voyage is a good idea. To set out onto the vast broad reaches I’ve been staring at for the past few months seems only fitting. There must be so many things that the sea and a good ship can teach a person about themselves. It’s a tried and true method. The other projects can wait. Has anyone ever written about The Old Man and the T-Shirt? No—the sea is where it’s at.