San Juan Island Report Part 2—This Time with Hospitalization at the End

Typewriter on Lime Kiln Point, cruise ship—a new perspective

Part II of San Juan Island Report

This is the second part of my San Juan Island writer’s retreat report, you can read Part I of my report here.

I do love the fact that the island wildlife is so different than ours in Woodinville—filled with blooming orange and red poppies, lush pink dogwood, and of course, more foxes and whales. I loved watching the sea for seals, porpoises, and orcas, although I consider myself more of a woodsy/mountain elf than an ocean elf, if you know what I mean.

And I really did have time to write a few poems, look at the order of the manuscript, tweak it a bit, and cut about ten poems (needed, unfortunately). I think the real benefit of giving yourself a dedicated writing retreat—be it in the desert, or the woods, or an isolated island—is that it forces you into new thoughts, new perspectives, and maybe even new inspirations. Does seeing new flora and fauna, even experiencing the discomforts of being in a new place, cause our brains to work a little better, a little harder?

Hospitalization at the End

Ah, in happier times, overlooking the ocean

Unfortunately, as soon as we arrived home from our trip, I was seized by the worst case of stomach virus I have ever had. I went to the ER, but they admitted me to the hospital.  Then, Glenn got sick with it too. So that’s basically been our whole week. We’ve been sick as long as we were on the road! During which time, French elections, a terrible Amercian debate, the Olympic trials, and a bunch of supreme court decisions. All of which I am just learning about now, as I’ve been too sick to even check my phone. (You know that’s pretty sick!)