Travelling

We watched a video this evening, of music and 11 short films created to represent the music in some way.  I liked the songs already, but something about the art that accompanied the music -- this time in the medium of film -- enhanced the songs and transported me for a moment to another place.  When each little short film was over I was glad there was a bit of blank screen before the next one because I needed that time to breathe.  I needed that time before the next musical journey began.

It is interesting to me how we can travel through music and art -- to a forgotten memory, an old feeling, or even newly dreamed futures.  And books can help us travel a bit, outside of ourselves to other feelings, other experiences, other lives.  We can see ourselves playing out those other lives or at least trying to understand them.  And I always enjoy travelling in that way.  But nothing seems to shake me out of my comfort zone like physically travelling to another place.  Something about being away from familiar patterns, routes, routines . . . it seems to wake me up a little.  Like Annie Dillard notes, it's as if I surface for a while and get out of the watery fogginess that sometimes day by day existence can evoke.  

I like travelling.  It helps me remember to connect with my life, both away from home and in it.  Guanajuato, may you bring many new, awakening experiences! :)