FRENCH GETAWAY HEATHER STONE
October couldn’t get here soon enough for me this year. I’ve felt like I have been running around most of this year like a chicken with its head cut off; (intentionally I admit) cramming my calendar full of activities, creating and performing in War with the Newts, seeing shows, going to a couple weddings, general overbooking of myself and not taking time off from work. The candle was most definitely burned at both ends. Time to get out of town. A good thing I was saving my time off at my day job!
I was in France this month for three wonderful weeks. It was a family trip to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my folks. We did Paris. It was hustle and bustle from sun up to sun down. We saw all the sights, did all the walking and hit all the train stations it seemed. Paris is great – but very exhausting when you try to cram it all in in 6 days – which we did. Where were the slowing down and relaxing and recharging?
We left Paris and drove to Normandy for three days – I held some sand at Omaha Beach. The three days flew by as we followed our family made itinerary and saw so many wonderful and moving things. The Paris overload was still with us, but we were starting to slow down and relax more over those three days until we finally ended our France trip in true relaxation mode just outside of Sarlat in a blacksmith’s shop and home that was built in the late 1740s.
We were definitely ready to sit with our feet up, read, play cards and stare out at the countryside. I don’t get to see my family much – just at Christmas – as we are all spread out to Virginia, Arizona and I’m here in MN. It was great to reach that final week to catch up and reconnect with my family – and to reconnect with myself. The quiet of the countryside was so calming and energizing. We all needed it.
I’ve always said that you need to live life to portray it on stage. One doesn’t need to travel to faraway places to live life but being in France reminded me that I was pushing it too hard keeping my calendar full and that I wasn’t having a lot of true and honest connections. France was a fortunate trip that made me slow down, really see what was around me and remind me that I am living life and that it doesn’t have to be planned out every day.
Now it’s back to reality and moving onward and upward. I am recharged and reconnected with myself. Bring on 2016 – I can’t wait to see what happens!
Heather Stone is a founding member of Sandbox Theatre. In 2016, she'll be part of the creation ensemble for our May production Queens, at Park Square, and creating and performing in our fall ARTshare production 600 Years.