63

After a slow start, I’m deep into research for a new creative non-fiction project. This project has been dancing around along the edges of my brain for a couple of years now, but it wouldn’t form itself into anything specific. I had scraps of ideas, but nothing that really brought them together into something coherent or enticing.

Burntcoat Head, Nova Scotia. Dusk.

When the project finally started forming itself, I pushed it away. It seemed too fantastical, too wild, too … audacious … and, ultimately, too hard. It was going to push me past the limits of my knowledge and into worlds I don’t know a thing about. But I held onto it. Tentatively, at first. But then with a bit more certainty.

I started arranging and rearranging my scraps, moving textures and patterns and colours around. I played with words. I played with research. I played with stitches.

Last week there was moment of Yes.

And then another Yes.

And then YES!

So much yes.

So so so so much yes.

Crystal Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia.

I’m not quite ready to share this, yet. It still needs a bit more massaging, a bit more poking around, a bit more play. But here is one hint: 63.

Oblique?

Yes. So much yes.