We are all travelers here

I daydream a lot.

I think about the worlds and places that we have yet to visit. How we might fly far and away, up past the moon, beyond our stars; a one-way trip to distant isles, and unexplored realms; unsolved probabilities, and untamed possibilities.

I dream.

I close my eyes and breathe.

This past month I haven’t been reading much.

IMG_2711 - Copy
Old loves.

I’ve been too busy with different things – comedy, writing, work, running, volunteering. Things that I love, but things that take time.

On the metro in the mornings I wake my brain with crosswords.

The repetition.

Of synonyms.

Of puns.

I miss the feel of bound paper between my fingers.

At daybreak, my quiet commute, punctuated by the flipflipflip of pages, chapters, worlds.

At nightfall, crisp, cool sheets, and the sweet scent of sleep. My heavy eyelids and my frantic panic to read just one more (just one more) paragraph, before giving in to rest.

I miss this.

So tonight I will not daydream,

I will sit swaddled in blankets, surrounded by text, exploring a distant, but (not-so) long ago land.

And I will feel my fingers burn with envy. With passion. With zeal.

To create.

Break.

Participate.

To write. Read. Believe.

I think Ray Bradbury said it right:

And so to all of you, goodnight.

Safe flight.

Published by

Vanessa Woznow

Writer, runner, ranter, reader. I write about all things.

196 thoughts on “We are all travelers here”

        1. Hi Peter! Thanks so much for this lovely comment. I definitely appreciated everyone that takes the time to comment, and I for sure want them to know that! :)

          Reply

  2. Ah! I’ve missed reading your posts. They always inspire and breath life! I’m glad you got to lose yourself in a book again. You’re right, there’s nothing quite like it and nothing can replace transporting yourself through the writer’s mind to a new place with new people and endless possibilities. I don’t imagine there would be a starting point for some of those daydreams without the inspiration of books we’ve read. So read away and dream away, sweet traveler!

    Reply

    1. I miss you here too pretty! Your words always evoke some fabulous emotion/tug at the heart strings/spur me to action!

      And you’re right. I couldn’t be the person (real or imaginary) that I am without my precious books! x

      Reply

  3. I know exactly what you mean! This past year has found me with little time to read a book. This weekend I read a 400 page book in 2 days. There is just nothing better than losing yourself in a good book. I never wanted it to end! I love doing puzzles too. I subscribe to Penny Press’s Logic Problems and I love how they really keep my brain moving!

    Reply

    1. Aren’t they the best? Sometimes Marc and I just sit down with a giant book of NYT crosswords and go to town. I lovelovelove them. Plus the sense of accomplishment is pretty good too :)

      And that’s amazing! It must have been an amazing book. :)

      Reply

  4. Man, you make me want to read. I do read a bit but your love for reading is kind of inspiring me to just get a book and read it through one sitting. I’ve started reading Kafka on the Shore but maybe I should go pick it up and read again aha.

    Reply

    1. Kafka on the Shore is one of my favourites! Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without Murakami in my life. All of his books are just…it’s hard to explain. He speaks to me in a way few authors can. I love his writing, truly.

      Let me know if you ever want any suggestions! I am here with many! x

      Reply

  5. at least you been prettymuch CREATIVE, da comedy, posting more than most, you’re probably creative at work — and fortunately, anyway, i have about 4 pending posts, pending ’cause this darned work thing (i shouldn’t complain, not too long ago i wasn’t “working” — but was writing a lot more!) has been taking most the time.
    and thanks for mentioning / comparing a post to Ray Bradbury a few months ago. my “Moon” dream.
    i try to read a few pages of T Pynchon as many daze as possible (keeps my braying XXXtradimentional) — . yer gonna laugh: this recent 80-deg (f) HEAT has somewhat knockered me … and i’ll think that as COOL a month or so from now …

    Reply

    1. 80 degrees!! I am so, so jealous! That sounds be such an amazing change from the freezing weather we’ve been having of late. I look forward to reading your posts!

      I really, really need to get on the Pynchon train. I think after I finish my latest book (Black Snow by Bulgakov) I will give him a go. I like the idea of getting my extra-dimensional read on.

      Reply

    1. Thank you! It can be hard to find time to fit everything in, can’t it? Are you in school? I know when I was in uni, my time was gobbled up with studying, and it was hard to find time for reading for pleasure. I hope you get your hands on a fabulous book soon! x

      Reply

  12. Well, I’m new to this blog and this is the first post i’ve read. And, I have to admit..IT IS REALLY EXPRESSIVE AND IMAGINATIVE. Wow! What a welcome !! :)

    Reply

  13. Lovely post. My daughter was in the hospital this past week and I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. It took me three days into my five day stay to relax and reach for a book. I kept chatting on facebook, playing games or watching movies on my kindle, or checking my email instead of really settling down to read a book (and I brought several). Once I started, I kicked myself for not doing it sooner. Now that I am home, I have little time to read said book. Thank you for reminding us of the magic contained in the lovely pages of a book.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mithriluna! First off, I must inquire – is your daughter okay? I hope that she is back at home, resting up and feeling much better. :)

      Falling into a great story really does have transformative (and transportational!) powers doesn’t it? Although, when confronted by difficult situations, it can be hard to get to that place where you are ready to set off on that book’s adventure. I am glad that you had a chance to get lost in a good story, and hope that you have many more chances in the near future!

      Thanks for stopping by, and I love your name! x

      Reply

      1. Vanessa – My daughter is home and recovering nicely. Thanks for asking.
        And as for my name – it’s actually the name my kids picked out for our bunny several years ago. If you are a J.R.R. Tolkien reader, you will know what mithril is and also what color our bunny was. The kids liked the name una so that was added on.

        Reply

        1. Excellent! So glad to hear that she is doing better. :)

          I absolutely love that name for a bunny! I am a huge Tolkien fan, and thing that is both gorgeous and adorable. :)

          Reply

  18. Book reading has saved my train rides. And made me realise Murakami is a literary god. Actually, you could remove literary from that sentence. Also got me back in touch with Richard Brautigan, which is always awesomesauce.

    Awesome post. It’s always good to talk reading.

    Reply

    1. Totally agreed! They make my morning commute totally blow by!

      Also OMG. Murakami is my all-time favourite. WInd up bird is probably the book I would bring to a deserted island if I could only bring one. I love him, truly!

      Must check out Brautigan! And thank you! It’s lovely for you to stop by and for this note. :)

      Reply

  20. Lovely Bradbury poem. I feel taller having heard it. I love your picture with Jane Eyre in the middle and Susan Cooper leaning drunkenly. Could be my own shelf. Great poem!

    Reply

    1. Isn’t it magnificent? I love to listen to it. It makes me feel taller too.

      And that comment about Susan Cooper made me laugh out loud. I love it! Thanks for the fab note and for stopping by! x

      Reply

  22. SO much better than drifting off with a glowing screen in your hands. : -)
    But I’ll bet because you were Freshly Pressed, you had to spend your evening answering comments instead of reading! Happened to me last week and I was stunned. Congratulations!

    Reply

    1. So much better, is it not? Congratulations on your recent Press! That is awesome, and I will be sure to check out your blog.

      And thank you! This is actually my second adventure as a FP blogette, so I am happy to go to bed in the glow of my screen. :)

      Reply

    1. Thank you so much! And oh my goodness, I LOVE Terry Pratchett. Love, love, LOVE him. The Night Watch series are some of my all-time favourite books. I think I might follow your lead! x

      Reply

    1. Hey Joe! Thanks so much for this lovely note. :) Daydreams are perfect little escapes (although sometimes they last much longer than I initially planned!)

      Reply

  30. I remember that a year ago I could read one book after another. I couldn’t live without books, where now I am just too busy to even start searching for a good, inspiring book, not to mention I have absolutely no time reading it. And just recently I pushed myself to go to library to pick up some new books. It feels so much better when I’m reading something. Now whenever I’m not thinking about studies or other everyday stuff, I can travel through the alternative worlds that books give us.
    Thank you for your inspiring post!

    Reply

    1. I totally know how you feel. I usually read so, so much, but lately I have been so unbelievably busy that I’ve been having a hard time finding a spare moment to sleep, let alone read. But like you, I feel so much better when I have a book in my hands.

      Good luck with your studies, and I hope that whatever you are reading right now, it is absolutely marvelous! x

      Reply

  31. http://www.dlmchale.com writes: Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. I enjoyed reading your post and will spend some additional time on your blog in the hopes of experiencing some more of your talented and “authentic” voice. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. It was fabulous!

    Reply

  34. What a beautiful post! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. I’m glad you were because it led me to discover your blog.

    The first few lines of your post reminded me a little of the wonderful cento (a poem composed of lines taken from other poems) that the BBC recently aired: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00vztlb/profiles/cento

    “Much have I travelled in the realms of gold,
    And many goodly states and kingdoms seen,
    But still I long to learn
    tales, marvellous tales,
    Of ships and stars and isles where good men rest,
    How others fought to forge my world.
    What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What wild ecstasy?
    How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
    We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams….”

    The video for the cento is in the link above…watching it and listening to the words always fires up my imagination and makes me daydream. :)

    Reply

  35. Great post! I often think of the same things. I’ve said my ideal way of living would be to travel the world, living in different places for a few months to experience the culture and share it with others! Thank you for sharing :)

    Reply

    1. Thank you! One of the greatest adventures I have ever been on was living in the UK for four months when I was in grad school. I often daydream about going back!

      Thanks so much for this fab note. Have a lovely day(dream)! xx

      Reply
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  38. have been of reading since a while now even though i attempt reading, i think ive lost that momentum (though i hope i get it back soon).
    i think we’re all daydreamers and travellers too – our mind always takes us to some place afar and makes us colour our life more brilliantly.
    a very well written post, enjoyed reading it.
    congratulations on being freshly pressed.

    Reply

    1. Hi there! I definitely know what you mean. Sometime life gets so crazy, it’s hard to find your way back to the basics (which for me, has always meant a book in hand!) I too like to think that we are all daydreamers and travelers. :)

      Thank you so much for stopping by, and for this lovely note! x

      Reply

  40. You know sometimes I think people these days are very dependent on writing with the use of laptops or computers. I am , too, miss writing in pen and paper. Old school writing is just awesome and a different experience.

    Reply

    1. There is actually nothing better than writing with a pen and paper. Especially in cursive! Thanks for this fab note, and for stopping by! x

      Reply
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  45. For one reason or another I haven’t had the opportunity for many years to read as I used to read. Oh my, how I never used to be able to put a good book down. I was forever late for work and tired for having been up too late reading.

    However, I read a novel, for the first time in many years a few weeks ago. It whisked me off to far off lands, times, and spaces. On a beach chair for two days, book in hand. I finally had the solace I needed. The world completely blocked out and my imagination ran amok. It felt so good, so right, turning the musty pages of this found book. My hands are no longer very good, can’t put a pen to paper to save my life, and it’s the same for holding a book. Thinking of getting a tablet! Pretty sure I can find Bradbury there too! That solace … I want it back!

    Thank you so much for this article.

    Reply

    1. What an amazing note! Thank you so much for letting me know about this experience. :)

      That truly is the power of books, and the written word, is it not? The power to take you away, to transport you to a different time and place?

      I hope you have many more years of reading this magic! (I know Bradbury is just perfect for that!) x

      Reply

  47. Brilliantly written. This post just made me realise how much I miss reading a good book. Feeling the smooth pages between my fingers as I turn in anticipation. I think I’ll go and read something now :)

    Reply

  53. I just recently discovered your blog and you articulate your thoughts really well. They are neither to light nor too dark. It’s very human. :)

    Reply

  55. I’m tickled pink that Ray made it into your post. His words are ever with me, be they from Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and so forth. I applaud you for reconnecting with literature. It is so very important.

    I’m always on the lookout for new books to try, and the two titles I was most drawn to, within your picture of books, were Black Snow and Everyday English. I’d like to read them both, but am curious to hear which one you’d prompt me to start with.

    Reply

    1. Hi Laura! Thanks so much for this fab note. Dandelion Wine never fails to make me cry, while Something Wicked never fails to leave me with gooseflesh. Two of my favourites! I just finished reading Black Snow and it is marvelous. However, if you haven’t read any Bulgakov, I would recommend “Master and Marguerita” first. It is my favourite of his works and one of the best books I have ever read.

      “Everyday English” is actually one of the books my husband uses for work (he is a highschool English teacher) so I don’t think it would bring you too much enjoyment!

      Reply

      1. Vanessa, I now see why Everyday English drew my attention: I worked as a high school English teacher for 6 years before stepping away this past winter to pursue alternate paths, in hopes of finding more self and overall satisfaction. I have added both Bulgakov books to my summer reading list. Thanks!

        Reply
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  57. You write beautifully, no doubt a result of all your reading. I appreciate your passion, and I would love to know what you are reading. For so long I have loved the idea of falling deeply into another world, but for some reason my mind cannot let go of reality. Any sugguestions?

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! Oooer, I have so, so many books that I would love to recommend. In terms of falling deep into another world…I recommend “Fifth Business” by Robertson Davies, “Master and Marguerita” by Mikhail Bulgakov, or “The Wind-Up Birth Chronicle” by Haruki Murakami. These are three of my favourite books of all time. I hope they bring you as much happiness as they do me! x

      Reply

  59. In “The Outermost House,” Henry Beston writes, “Poetry is as necessary to comprehension as science. It is impossible to live without reverence as it is without joy.” Having Bradbury on that stage alongside the scientists was a stroke of genius and entirely appropriate. Thank you for sharing this. Also, I often feel as if I’m lost in an ocean of words, sometimes overcome by the waves, sometimes floating amid beauty. This post of yours reminds me of those days. Beautiful work. Well done. And thank you.

    Reply

    1. Dear Ted – Thank you so much for sharing this quote! It’s message is one of utmost importance, and I fear one we too often overlook in this day and age. I love Bradbury so much. He helps remind me of the beauty of which you speak. Thank you for such a lovely note! x

      Reply

  61. What a beautifully written post. I’ve been feeling the same lately due to the looming IB final exams and it’s so sad how reading becomes second priority. However, I plan on building up my collection of half read books that I will definitely tackle during the summer, and I was wondering if you have any recommendations of good reads? (on a side note, did you know that there is a japanese word tsundoku which is the act of buying books and not reading them and/or letting books pile up unread on shelves or floors or nightstands?)

    Reply

    1. That is such a cool word! I must, must remember it, and will use it often!

      Hmmm, good reads. Where to start? Some of my favourites for the summer include: Green Grass, Running Water; Tempest Tost; The Magicians Assistant; The Wind-up Bird Chronicle; and The Dogs of Riga. I hope any of these books brings you many adventures! x

      Reply

  62. I know the panic you speak off as sleep’s gentle tugging pull you in, while your mind desperately calls out for more, just that one blurry, half-realized thought or idea more….

    And the real adventure is when the next day you pick up and have to re-read the last page or so. Because the thought seems familiar – but you can swear you haven’t read it.

    Is it the mind’s eye that has read those last chapter before you drift off …

    Love your thoughts – thank you!

    Reply

    1. Such a beautiful note! And yes, that is exactly right. Having to re-read that page/those pages because you can’t quite remember if you read or dreamed those passages…

      Reply
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  74. The irony of not having time to read because we are writing. It is important to find the time though as I think it makes us better writers. Great post, thank you :-) Glad I found your blog.

    Reply

    1. Too true, too true! I think finding a balance between the two is key – that way we just keep getting better at both! And thank you! :)

      Reply

  75. este texto e fantastico tem tudo a ver com minha vida onde fico o dia todo em frente a internet lendo relendo textos como se fosse papeis passando pelos vaos dos meus dedos ate perco o sono e tenho insonias com o que eu fiz durante o dia

    Reply

  76. What a wonderful post. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed, and rightly so. I too miss reading when I don’t have time for it. Ah, to live in other worlds through the pages of a book. We’re tall! (Love the Ray Bradbury poem!)

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! Honestly, when life gets a little too bonkers, those worlds between the pages are the only worlds I want to live in. :) So glad you liked the poem. It’s one of my all-time favourites. :)

      Reply

  77. Wonderful poem. I love the space you give to your thoughts and the vivid feel of pages and their sound. And yes, Ray Bradbury said it well, “we’re tall” when we reach for our dreams.

    Reply
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  82. A post that passionate readers like myself can certainly identify with. Funny enough, I just started rereading Fahrenheit 451 last night. Of course, reading blogs can be just as enjoyable, if not more.

    Reply

    1. Awesome! Let me know how you like it. :) Bradbury is one of my most favourite authors. His use of language never, ever fails to leave me astounded and breathless.

      And I also agree! Reading blogs is just a different kind of glimpse into another’s soul. :)

      Reply

      1. Absolutely! I’ve read it before (several times, as a matter of fact). It’s one of my favorite books. I could read F451, The Martian Chronicles, and The Illustrated Man over and over and over again.

        Reply

        1. I love meeting fellow Bradbury-ites! Yay!

          Martian Chronicles…I swear, the first time I read that book my brain exploded.

          There have been a few books that have just blown apart my world, and that was one of them. :)

          Reply
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  88. Thank you for writing my feelings so eloquently! I need to get back to my readings, my “to read” list has outgrown my “read” list.

    Reply

  89. I do not know what address to send my
                          I’m writing poems this evening
    The feast of the labor share
    Words namahrem innocence raped ..

    Desperately orphan dumped sentences satırlarıma
    Maybe sometimes it makes sense to Bilinmezlikle
    However;
    My heart is on its way possible feelings of rebellion
    And slice everything haykırırcasına
    Hitting the streets himself
    Blowing the shutters of my heart
    the darkness fall out onto the ground …

    Abdullah Oral

    Reply

  93. I have a Nook and I love the portability, convenience and oh so inexpensive cost of obtaining books I’ve never read or ones that I’ve loved in the past. However, I still find turning the pages of paper to be so much more relaxing and sleep inducing…the soft whisper of a breeze you get when you turn the page. This may be imagined, but it soothes my soul nonetheless.

    Reply

    1. It definitely soothes the soul! Although a Nook is awesome – so many books to carry around with you at once. Plus the name is just so cute and cozy. Cuddling up with my Nook!

      Reply
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  95. So great! Relate to this so much. I’ve really been looking for styles that I relate to.
    If you get a chance, could you check out my blog and tell me what you think. I’m complexly new so I could use tips from the wise.

    Reply

  96. This is definitely true. :D That is one of the things I love about reading books. It takes you to places you’ve never been or you’ve never even considered of going. Definitely a cheaper way of traveling. :) It is also a form of escape from the stress and problems we encounter in our everyday life. A good book can take you away, make you forget for awhile, and entertain you with its words and its creatively made alternate world. :)

    Reply

    1. Everything of which you write is true! Reading is perhaps the best, cheapest, and quickest escape from the everyday world. :)

      Thanks for the fab note! x

      Reply

    2. Huzza for Martian Chronicles and Epic Trekker! “There were so many things a tree could do; add color, provide shade, drop fruit, or become a children’s playground, a whole sky universe to climb and hang from…” iheartbradbury

      Reply

  98. Yes. When I was growing up, way before video games and Xboxes, a tree was my most fun source of entertainment. I built forts, made saddles for my tire-swing (I was a little horse crazy), nestled in its branches with a book. I love books now that take me to time of just playing.

    Reply

      1. My “boys” (age 29 & 32) grew up without the power grid. And, though we had a TV, it was not turned on until they were in bed asleep. They learned to play. They were outdoors a lot, they read a lot and even today neither of them owns a TV. They’re both in the computer field but for them it’s mostly for business rather than for fun. They are both athletic…avid surfers, snowboarders, kite surfers, runners, hikers, etc. Books still take them to places they haven’t been.

        Reply

        1. Your boys sound just like my sisters and I! We never had tv for most of our childhood, and any television we did watch was strictly regulated and timed. And thank goodness too – I am so glad we spent so much time playing outside and living in books. I wouldn’t be the same person I am today!

          I know they appreciate it as much as I do. :)

          Reply
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