Yesterday, I unpacked my suitcase for the first time since mid-February. I have no excuse for this. Sure, there was the honeymoon, then a weekend trip to Notre Dame a few weeks after I got back, and a conference in Chicago a few days after my return from South Bend. However, taking things out of a carry on bag is not a huge task.
My problem is that unpacking has always been a metaphorical experience to me. It means that I'm settling back into my "real" life. The vacation is over, the excitement is done, and my suitcase is shoved back into the top of the closet. Not that I don't love my life, but is there really a choice when it comes to mundane reality vs. fun vacation?
In fact, it doesn't even have to be a fun vacation. My unpacking problem started in college after my first Thanksgiving break. I couldn't bring myself to put away all of the clothing that I took home. Each outfit held a memory that I wasn't ready to let go of at that point.... So the clothes stayed in the suitcase through finals. Then it was Christmas. Then there was Spring Break. Then there was Easter. Then there was summer.
Yes, I know it's sad to say that I pretty much lived at least partially out of suitcase for an entire semester in college. However, an open suitcase -- even if the clothes changed from sweaters to swimsuits -- reminded me of the upcoming break in my every day life. It reminded me of my mother's home cooking, listening to my father's jokes and stories (for the 100th time in 18 years), spending quality time with my sisters, taking my niece and nephew out for a day at the park, and meeting up with my friends.
I guess that feeling has stuck with me. From Costa Rica to conferences, a whole lot of things seem more interesting than sitting in Ann Arbor working on my dissertation and applying for funding for next year.
The good news is that now that I am officially -- physically and mentally -- back to reality, I can actually start blogging again regularly (i.e. more than once a month)! Get ready to hear about the honeymoon, as well as the various ups and downs of the last month-ish. So long suitcase, hello productivity.
My problem is that unpacking has always been a metaphorical experience to me. It means that I'm settling back into my "real" life. The vacation is over, the excitement is done, and my suitcase is shoved back into the top of the closet. Not that I don't love my life, but is there really a choice when it comes to mundane reality vs. fun vacation?
In fact, it doesn't even have to be a fun vacation. My unpacking problem started in college after my first Thanksgiving break. I couldn't bring myself to put away all of the clothing that I took home. Each outfit held a memory that I wasn't ready to let go of at that point.... So the clothes stayed in the suitcase through finals. Then it was Christmas. Then there was Spring Break. Then there was Easter. Then there was summer.
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| From Karyn Bryant's great poem, "Ode to My Vacation Suitcase" |
Yes, I know it's sad to say that I pretty much lived at least partially out of suitcase for an entire semester in college. However, an open suitcase -- even if the clothes changed from sweaters to swimsuits -- reminded me of the upcoming break in my every day life. It reminded me of my mother's home cooking, listening to my father's jokes and stories (for the 100th time in 18 years), spending quality time with my sisters, taking my niece and nephew out for a day at the park, and meeting up with my friends.
I guess that feeling has stuck with me. From Costa Rica to conferences, a whole lot of things seem more interesting than sitting in Ann Arbor working on my dissertation and applying for funding for next year.
The good news is that now that I am officially -- physically and mentally -- back to reality, I can actually start blogging again regularly (i.e. more than once a month)! Get ready to hear about the honeymoon, as well as the various ups and downs of the last month-ish. So long suitcase, hello productivity.
