Tschuss

Seventeen large boxes are all that’s left of Studio Mailbox.  They’re nestled tightly in a garage storage unit.  I’ve been contemplating what to do about this and I still haven’t come to any conclusions. 

I came across these photos which made me want to say goodbye to my old space.    I’m pretty sure these are the last pictures taken there.  I remember being very stressed while sorting and getting rid of things.  I selected each and every tiny thing very carefully before deciding if I should pack it or not.  I put as much effort into it as if I had been asked to save the human race.  I worked among half-filled boxes, chaos and indecision for a long time.

Some of the stuff was really hard to let go of.  I wouldn’t exactly call myself a hoarder, but I do make attachments to the strangest things.  You can’t believe how tough it was saying goodbye to my paint cup, so much so that I clearly felt the need to do a photo shoot before I threw it away.  Years and years of watery glue was stuck to the lip, which had a way of enclosing layer after layer of paint drips.

So now that you know how hard it was to let go of a cup, image how hard it is to tell you that I think I'm done here.

I've been kicking this around for awhile, and I'm pretty sure it's time.

When I moved to Europe all those years ago I waited anxiously for the container with all my worldly belongings to arrive.  And when it got there, I had dishes that didn't fit in the cupboards and pans that didn't fit in the oven.  I had sheets that didn't fit the bed and I had appliances that couldn't convert to the electricity.

Right now, this blog feels exactly like one of those things that isn't going to fit into my new life.

I'm letting you know because I think it's horseshit to disappear on people and not let them know what's up. You've all been so good to me, I'm not going to leave you hanging. 

There's no question that I'll miss you. 

"Tschuus" is the informal goodbye in German.  It's not the dramatic, embracing, wipe tears away "Aufwiedersehen."  It's just "see you later."  

That's all this is, a casual "cheerio" until our paths cross again.

Comments

[lee]

I am going to miss you, why are your quitting, because you dont have time, you dont have your supplies, what, you are a true artist your not giving up on art. email me

[Linda]

Awe.............. Sweet post with beautiful photos of your arty time in Germany. Great memories.

[fiona]

Oh no!!! Surely you are going to continue being creative???? If this is goodbye, then I would like to wish you the very best and thank you for all your support since I moved to Germany. So, thankyou. You've been very inspiring! xx

[Anne]

My dear tj - you know I understand, but I do have to say I always so love seeing your posts because you are a truly talented and witty writer and artist. What I will hope for is that perhaps you have something grand planned that you need to focus on right now and that one day, we will open our readers and find out you have your own book or something!

Or maybe it means you will have some free time to come down and do art with me here in Alabama!

Either way, keep in touch and let me know how you are.

[Sarah (UK)]

Oh dear, you 'read' sad :( I hope I have just read it wrong. Is there some other place online we can stay in touch? I hope so. Please email me if you have time , I would be sad to lose you . Sarah

[TJ]

Hey friends, don't worry so! Of course I'm a little sad, I've blogged for years and have a lot invested in this site.

There is just no feasible way for me to keep this blog going right now. There are lots of things happening that have made me realize it's time to stop. I'm not saying I'll NEVER blog again, I'm just saying I'm done for right now.

Of course I'll keep making art and cracking behind the scenes. I don't even know how to exist if I wasn't making stuff.

Sarah I'm going to keep my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/studiomailbox

Are you in FB? Let me know! I've tried to "fan" all my friend's pages. Maybe that's a way to stay connected! xxx tj

[Andria]

Best wishes for your fresh start back in the US. I feel pretty certain that I'll be seeing you in a book, or in magazines, or on retreats, continuing to share your humor and creativity with the world!

[Robin Norgren]

my gosh! it feels like a punch in a gut! I promise that I mean this in the best possible way sweet friend. I TOTALLY understand the need for it though. For some reason in Germany life seemed so much slower to me. Maybe it was the time difference with my U.S. friends but once I came back I too came to this same conclusion that my blog is now for spotlighting others and less about my writing my heart. I look forward to seeing your new evolutions sweet girl. xoxo

[Janet]

I'm so sad to see you go but I understand how much time it takes to keep a blog going. I don't do FB so I probably won't hear from you again. I've enjoyed the short time I've known you and I love your art. You will be missed.

[Jacqueline]

My goodness, I'll miss you, your art and your funny way of writing about all that is happening in your life... Please, don't be stranger - I'll check in on Facebook so now and then.

[Nicole Hyde]

Well, phooey. I just found your blog! Was it something I said? ;-)

I can imagine your life has been shifted into turbo right now. Enjoy the ride and I hope our paths will cross again.

Thank you for the great read and generosity in sharing your journey with us. Tschuss.

[1st. lady of kleinochsenfurt]

Hey Tari! Ich kann gar nicht glauben, was ich da lese! Schade, dass wir jetzt nicht auf deinem Wartweg-Balkon sitzen können mit einem Glas Wein in der Hand...Ich hoffe es geht dir gut, Schätzchen. Jetzt muss ich doch endlich Facebook-Mitglied werden, sonst bekomme ich ja gar nichts mehr mit von dir. Ich bin ganz schön traurig. So gerne habe ich deinen blog gelesen - selbst wenn ich oft nur die Hälfte verstande habe. Auch wenn du in letzter Zeit nicht mehr so viel geschrieben hast, warst du durch diese Seite nicht ganz so weit weg....;°((
Tschüß, deine Silke

[German Gems]

Oh uhm I don't know to say. Selfishly I want you to stay, but when it's time, it's time. I was hoping you'd turn this into an art site and show off all your work. Hmmm, I guess not. Good luck in all your pursuits.

[Eveline]

Ohnoes!! So sad to see you leaving blogland! Hope you are and will keep well, and that you will keep creating. Take care of yourself.

[TJ]

Thanks again everybody for these lovely comments. And thanks for all the emails so many of you have sent on the side.

I'll be sure and keep in contact and let you all know what's next. You never know...

xxtj

[Jul]

Glad you are keeping the FB page, so I know where to find you. :)

I totally understand where you are coming from. Blogs don't have to be forever, and if it's not serving a purpose in your present life, then good riddance.

[Mark]

Hope I get to see you in Minnesota sometime in the not too distant future, but I will miss your blog. I love your sense of humor and the quirky things that always seem to surround your life. You truly have the gift of bringing smiles to the people you meet.