an object in motion

The first of Newton's laws may be a tad more transcendent than he had intended. Anytime I travel, it seems to stir up more wanderlust.

I recently got back from visiting old friends for the holidays. I've spent the past four Christmases with them, and one of the things I always look forward to is the way they've been able to preserve memories from our time in Senegal so well. I don't know if it's just when I'm there, but the nostalgia is downright tangible.

The inherent problem with this nostalgia is that dredging up all those memories of adventure and internationality bring on an ache for movement and change. Every time I had to re-explain what it is I'm doing in Knoxville and what my plans are for next year/the future, I become less and less excited about the prospect of putting down roots here. Being with those people and completely cut off from my community in Knoxville gave me the freedom to dream about infinite possible alternative futures, set in exotic locales and punctuated by transience.

But those longings dissipated just as quickly as they came on as soon as I rolled back into Knoxville. What had felt like a jail cell slowly closing became a warm blanket enfolding me. But still, in the back of my mind, there's a slight itch in my feet.

Wanderlust, inspired by travel.

Permanence, inspired by stability.