Slime Trails

Routine shifts are funny and it is interesting how long the adjustments seem to take, even when the changes are ones you were hoping and waiting for. Currently, I am settling into my life as a mostly stay-at-home mom and full time creative and wow, is it harder than I thought it would be. Although I do recognize that the dust is definitely still settling and I need a time of rest before truly digging in. This much needed and long awaited transition is exciting and yet daunting. Caring for the gremlin while following my creative passions full time is a feat. Not to mention, I am still trying to run the timelines of three different careers despite the fact that I left jobs in order to slow down. Nick gave me three months until I was looking for external jobs again and I am embarrassed to admit that I already have been perusing. I am restless. I am also a creature of instant gratification and while I am not afraid of the hard work, I don't always patiently await the fruits of my labor. Sometimes, I try to harvest before they are ready. Within Gastropod (that's what these blog posts are supposed to be record keeping after all),  I have made great strides (I originally typed slides by accident, what a wonderful mistake) and little progress simultaneously. It seems to me, as I have gone throughout the process, that this work is much larger than I originally thought. It is not just about the evening-length performance but also about the time it takes to get there. In the work, there is a piece temporarily (or perhaps not) titled, "Slime Trails" which explores the pace at which I relearned to walk post caesarean birth. Snails (particularly injured or ill), will occasionally save on slime production by gliding along the trail laid for them by another snail. In a lot of ways, my recovery was marked by this method with Nick setting the pace and letting me rely on his ability to move about with ease. Nick, my snail companion; Meanwhile, Eloise, a baby snail hitching a ride on my shell. The sound score is started with few edits left to be made and the beginnings of costume choices are coming to life. Choreography...Well, movement has been a bit evasive for the time. However, the pivotal moment of the story, or close to, has been choreographed and that is most encouraging. For now, I am simply trying to follow the slime trails laid before me, wherever they lead.