Where The Line Isn't Drawn

My horoscope from this morning: "You're very imaginative now, but try not to start any trouble."

I know horoscopes are ubiquitous; still, it's affirming when they're timely and especially correct, like today. I don't consider myself an overly creative or imaginative kind of guy. Sure, I like to ponder the What If from time to time, but I also need some tangibles to serve as stepping stones.

I've been stuck inside my head for the past few days. Not really in deep thought about anything in particular. But escaping from the weight and uncertainty of Life nonetheless. I've been carrying too in my head lately and it just became too heavy. I have to walk in the shadows from time to time so that I can enjoy the sunshine.

During my lunch break, I went to the indie record store just down the street. It's my favorite place to escape. I've learned that if I'm looking for something specific, I have to limit myself to one cd before I walk in. Because I always find more to buy and walk out with more.

Today was no exception. I quickly made my purpose for going there - Jenny Lewis' single cd Rabbit Fur Coat. I haven't listened to it yet so maybe I'll report on it later.

But I also walked out with a Nick Drake cd. I knew nothing about Drake so I spent some time talking to the guy behind the counter about him for while.

Like all good musicians, Drake suffered from severe depression. Like other musicians I admire, he died when he was 27 years old. In his case, he overdosed on anti-depressants in 1974. I was sold.

His music has partially pulled me out of my escapist and self-imposed exile and into a place of deep and pensive imagination, somewhere between the shadows and the sunlight. In fact, a few thoughts flashed into my head as I was driving back to work - just little bits of poetry, the words appeared in written form before my eyes. I had to pull over to the side of the road and write them down before they were lost.

That's how my imaginative side manifests itself. It happens when it happens and I have to submit to its unexpected but welcome wave. If I try to fight it, I get sucked in deeper. If I let it guide me, I rise to the top and have exhilarating bursts of energy.

For right now, I'm happy with the journey and not the destination.