THE CHURCH BELLS ARE RINGING

It's Sunday morning and the church bells are ringing. Literally. I live across the street from a church and it's ten minutes to 9. The first sermon starts at 9. This same bell has been rung every Sunday for the past 150 years. Nevada City, CA, where I live, was built during the 1850's when they found "gold in them there hills!"

There's something about the sound of that deep, slow clang that I find comforting. I don't know if it's some DNA memory of western culture over hundreds of years, or just the fact that somehow after 8 months of living here, it now says to me, "good morning, it's Sunday!"

I work most Sundays so it's not like it signifies a day off, but I always try to take a walk or do at least one thing to clear my head before the weekly cycle repeats itself. People are more relaxed on Sundays. They sit at cafes or window shop. Traffic isn't as predicable. I like the energy of just walking down the street.

The bell will ring again about 10:15 as a call for the 10:30 sermon. I haven't gone to any sermons yet so I don't know how they are. I haven't even been inside the church. They sold hot dogs there during the Christmas festival and they have events in the back room from time to time. That door is right across the tiny street outside my window.

I'm not Christian or Catholic, so church visits have mostly been limited to weddings and odd special occasions in my life. But I love that big bell ringing. And I love Sundays. I love living next to a landmark. So much history in this small beautiful town.

With 3 new art + music shows booked before the end of the year, my plate is full. My days are mostly filled with painting, new songs, graphic design, and trying to find ways to pay for art show supplies while keeping my lights on. This schedule doesn't care what day of the week the calendar says it is.

It's a great life mostly, but I'm also feeling a lot of pressure. Even painting and music have a lot of logistics involved. I find it difficult to just "turn it on" and "turn it off" during the specified periods quarantined for creativity (if there are any). It lacks a certain romance. But I'm grateful to have as many opportunities as I do, and I plan on making the most of every one with the resources at my disposal.

Somehow on Sunday the load feels lighter. I'll probably be leaving Nevada City soon for work reasons, but I'm going to enjoy this place and those church bells as much as I can until then.