Happy Beltane, my dearest reader!

Beltane, for those of you not in the know, is the spring festival of fertility and renewal, and it’s May 1st, so always a gorgeous day. I’m not a particularly devout member of any religion or faith, but I definitely feel a connection with holidays based on the season, the earth, a badass mother goddess, etc. Oh and familiars, got some of those. Oscar’s still in training but Dante is a pro at helping out with anything witchy.

My seasonal bipolar pretty much seals the deal that I’m awake early and asleep late during the spring heading into summer. I’ve established a weekday bedtime of 9pm to keep my head in the game with work….but I definitely cheat sometimes. It’s just unspeakably nice to wake with the sunlight pouring in my window, I feel alive and amped up for ANYTHING, but it has gotten me into trouble before. Its hard too focus on work, for one. I just want to be outside running across lush meadows and drinking in the sunlight. I want to do all the projects and crafts. I need sleep. But who could nap on a day like today, really? Come on.

So work is hard right now. I’m really struggling to maintain focus. I enjoy my company and the benefits of working in an office (thanks for the vaccine, seriously) and yet my wanderlust is strong. Had I a million dollars, I would take a long break…but I have a damn job, I don’t do it for free, and a life for which I enjoy having finances. I am going to take a break, mind you, but a shortish one. Longer than I’ve ever given myself since I started working as a therapist, but still fairly temporary.

The week of memorial day, I’m going to California to camp with friends/chosen family. I’ve been stocking up on gear and squirreling away extra money for the trip for months. I’ve confirmed my safety friends, just in case someone I don’t need to see is there. They actually reached out to me to ask me if I was coming, and promising me I didn’t have to talk to anyone I didn’t want to. They set me up on the Facebook page for the event as well as a side group for planning camp details. I’m very grateful, because I’m going alone on the drive, and seeing them at the end of a 12 hour trip (yes, I know it’ll be hard, but rewarding) will just be the cherry on top.

Now, Dante is not a camping cat, and Oscar is a baby….but he has to learn sometime. I’m taking the pup, while R watches Dante for the week. Oscar is going to be absolutely spoiled by the campers, I’m sure of that. He’s pretty damn cute. He also still nips a bit, so I’m bringing a muzzle, a crate, a little popup enclosed playpen for him to eat and chill in peace, and both leashes (retractable and not). Oscar is very good at staying with me when we go off leash. I’ve taken him to the park oodles of times and he always stays near. He also always gets weird around kids and pushy strangers. No, he doesn’t want pettings, back the hell off. He’ll check you out when he’s ready, thanks. My friends at the campsite are incredible with dogs, so I’m not worried about them. Frankly, Oscar only gets really nervous when I am, so it’s up to me to remain chill. He doesn’t like fire, either, so he gets to hang out in the tent for the evenings.

Which reminds me, I’m bringing his blankets, tons of blankets, too. He’s not very insulated with that glued-on handful of barber-shop clippings he calls fur. Remember how fluffy Cormac was and Oscar isn’t? Yeah, I chose a very weird second dog. Guess I’m stuck with his skinny ass now.

Ok, so I have a tent, mattress (thanks parents), cot, stove (birthday gift), Yeti cooler (another amazing gift), crate, pots and pans, dishes and silverware, so many helpful camping odds and ends, clothes, a spectacular wool coat (Thanks R) a Pendleton blanket (Thanks little sis) pillows and towels, and a few very nice knives. It’s car camping, and I’m making myself very comfy….so I’m aware it’s damn close to Glamping, but it’s MY vacation and ‘ll be as extra as I please. I’ll get food and drinks on the way from Reno, where I’m spending the night after the first day of driving. I wanted to go past Tahoe on the first day, but that seems like a recipe for worn out Jady, and I want to enjoy myself when I finally get there. So the first day is about 7 hours, and the second is about 5. Not too bad, really. Oscar is a very good car dog, and he’ll be in the back with his (did I mention) TONS of blankets. We will take as many breaks as I want, and since I’m going alone, that’s entirely up to me. I’m going to stock up on podcasts, audio books and music.

I’m going to drive some beautiful landscape, and I will have time, fucking finally, to think and absorb my feelings after these last two years. It’s something I very much need to do. I will be off my damn phone for DAYS, in lovely surroundings…I just can’t wait. 26 days to freedom.

So maybe it’s a bit late, but I’m celebrating Beltane on Memorial Day weekend this year, dammit. The season of renewal and the fertile mind is upon us, and I’m not going to waste a minute. Well, unless I’m sleeping, which is not technically a waste, but pretty damn boring compared to LIFE and SUMMER.

Blessings this season, loyal reader.