BREAK

I cracked a fortune cookie last night after a Chinese meal and was induced to a not-too-little smile when the crumpled little strip of paper gave away a timely reminder: “The principal business of life is to enjoy it.”

At the moment, there is nothing more enjoyable I can think of than this current state of breakaway. Breakaway from self-inflicted stress coping up with the demands of work, ignoring pleas to slow down and take breathers. Breakaway from the stressful demands of balancing domestic assets and liabilities (read: income vs. expenses). Breakaway from the nagging punctuation and question marks in the head, repeatedly asking and begging answers to oft-thought notions of being and becoming.

After more than a year, I am taking a long break to resuscitate a flagging motivation to carry on; to rest the ever-on memory load which has recently started showing signs of deterioration; to give way, even minutely, to the cry of the re-creator wanting to squeeze out another incarnation of either prose of poetry – which I am trying to do just now, and to which I will admit to being rusty and corroded.

But, hell, yes, I am getting the hang of enjoyment.

I will enjoy Chicago.
I will indulge in the Marriott.
I will walk the Millennium and Grant Parks.
I will cruise Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier.
I will scale the Sears Towers and step on The Ledge.
I will take an architectural journey into Chicago’s skyscraper.
I will allow Ronnie to lead me astray in Halsted.

I will enjoy New York.
I will savor the Park Suite.
I will stroll a half afternoon in Central Park.
I will watch Naked Boys Dancing because it is uncensored.
I will clap at either or both Memphis or Billy Elliott.
I will go to see Devil even if Ronnie just said he doesn’t want to.
I will say hello again to the woman in Ellis Island who holds the Light.
I will get lost in Time Square yet another time.

I will enjoy Boston.
I will visit Paul Revere's.
I will enjoy Washington D.C.
I will embark on an adventure to find Dan Brown's "Lost Symbol".
I will enjoy San Francisco.
I will enjoy Nevada.

And even when every ounce of energy and every penny is spent,
I will enjoy having nothing and being no one.
Because, if you ask me, being a void is being filled

To start the cycle all over,
Again.