The Two-Lane Re-Boot

And just like that, the paths aligned to do it again.

If you have been reading these emails since December, you know I had no plan for this newsletter. I simply wanted to write again, in my own venue, for my own audience. I mourned the loss of the Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine audience, and I missed writing for them.

So, I started a substack, not knowing what that meant, but the platform made it simple. And then I decided to quit my job and focus on my life as a writer and a business owner again. I dipped into the files of my computer to remind myself how and why Two-Lane Livin’ was so loved.

And BOOM! It all came together. I still have the trademark, I still have the domain name, and I still embrace (even after the pandemic) the facets of simple living, embracing nature, minimizing the effects of the world. Five years after I gave up on the magazine, I find I have not given up on making the best of life here amongst the West Virginia hills. I still have all the graphics, all the files, all the photos, all the archives of our print publication.

So, let’s do it again.

Welcome to The Two-Lane Renaissance, an online expanded multi-media magazine, born from the ashes of Two-Lane Livin’.

Why the name? Renaissance is a French word meaning “rebirth.” It refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival of classical learning and wisdom. A period of time following the Black Plague. A cultural rise from the previous darkness that produced some of the best literature, philosophies, and art in human history.

The pandemic has been tough. It’s been tormenting, dark, life-changing, frightening, confusing. I have been secreting hoping that the Covid pandemic would eventually bring about a renaissance in our culture, but had trouble supporting that hope with faith. I mean really, who sees the silver lining in a plague? Like you, I have spent the last two years buried under the fubar, “the sky is falling,” surrealistic, beyond ridiculous American response to the pandemic.

Buried under it. Burdened by its weight. Angry with the human handling of it. Frustrated by the idiocracy. I was scrambling to simply keep my shit together. And then, I simply let go of it all. Why? Faith.

Faith may seem contradictory to giving up. But letting go is not “giving up.” It may feel and look that way at first, but a tiny spark that believes that the Universe/God wants good things for you can erupt into an overflowing sense of peace.

If I were to condense my pandemic experience, it would go thus:

I’m okay. I’m okay. This will pass. Let’s remodel. I’m okay. Oh Shit. WTH? WTF? I’m not okay. This is not okay. WTF. Seriously? Ugh. Arg. Ugh. I’m buying a house. I’m not buying a house. Let’s remodel more. If not buying a house, why put up with good ole boy bullshit? Hmmm. Merry Christmas, I’m quitting my job. Happy New Year, Mother has Covid. I’m going to this, I’m not going to do this. Complete personal wipe out. Napping. Recouperation. Recovery. Reorganize.

And now, here we are.

You see, logic demands that if a. the Universe/God says “no” or “not now,” then b. there’s an unknown “yes,” — another path or purpose, or at least a reason why not.

I find I most feel the influence of destiny/fate/divinity when it saves me from myself. Training me like one trains a puppy - with a stern whack on the nose. It stings and makes your eyes water, but you get the message. “Stop fighting it. You are not in control. Resign yourself to the timing demanded by the big picture, which you cannot see.

Resignation. Rebirth. Renaissance.

I emerged from my percolation period and returned to work, not because I’m back but because I promised I would NOT leave them hanging and they still haven’t filled the position. But — I see a flower studio moving in on Main Street in Glenville. A new flea market with an art gallery inside. What? You heard a bakery was going in on the corner? And there’s local beef available at the Nutrition Shake store?

And these are all powered by women?! And a woman is running for county commission? And a local female doctor is running for the school board?

W00t! I’m lovin’ it.

I see signs of a renaissance in my community, a small college town with no town-and-gown connection. (I’m sure I’ll write more about that sometime in the future, but for now…)

And next door, in Calhoun County, they continue developing their Night Sky Stargazing Park (which I think is just flippin’ amazing), and the “worst graduating class ever” has formed a non-profit, purchased the old high school, and have major plans, funding, and support. The “1982 Foundation” has already made major improvements to the old stone building and campus.

And, you can now get lunch, guitar lessons, and chocolate-covered strawberries on Main Street in Grantsville. How awesome is that?

Do you think? Maybe? These are signs of our renaissance? Our rebirth following the covid catastrophe? If you have faith, you believe.

Julia Cameron, author of the classic “Artist’s Way” and recently released “Seeking Wisdom,” believes that prayer opens our creative souls. (I have not been so anxious for a book to be released since Stephen King finished The Dark Tower series.)

I had been praying, and Universe/God kept telling me no. I started writing again, feeling called to do it, without any purpose or plan. And it naturally, with minimal effort, just fell into place. This is how the Universe/God says “yes.” A path clears and opens up for leisurely, pleasant travels forward on our quest.

I believe we are at the beginning of our renaissance. Can you see any signs of it around you? What does your renaissance look like? Are you feeling a spark of it inside you?

Think of it this way: Do you believe in a Higher Power? Do you believe that power wants you to be blessed and happy? If you answered “yes,” then just let go. Resign yourself to say, “Okay, let’s do it your way, according to your timing.”

Don’t give up. Embrace the renaissance. Even if you don’t have full faith inside you, look for the signs. Trust the Universe, and trust your heart.

~Lisa

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Two-Lane Paving - taking the reckless path of this journey’s beginning and smoothing out a plan.

1. With this official re-birth announcement, a paywall has been installed on the online magazine. Free subscribers will receive this weekly email and have access to written content. Paid subscribers will have access to podcasts, audio readings, mini-webinars, and videos. See our about page for more information. (Also, if I have it set up right, the header or footer of this email should give you an idea of what your current subscription status is.)
   
   Do not panic. I’m not going to be whipping out any mini-webinars anytime soon. You know that I’m just letting myself naturally do what I do - without any pressure, deadlines, or demands. I have faith that there’s already a plan - I just don’t quite know what it is. Your paid subscription is an offering of faith in me, I guess, at this point - promises of what’s to come. I believe in the coming renaissance. Do you?
   

2. Although this weekly email is (and always will be) from me to you, other writers and columnists will be joining me on the website. The first is Robin Holstein. Robin and I “met” online in the late ’90s. We developed a friendship long before we ever met in person at a WV Writers conference. She and I have similar values, and similar lives (She too is an amazing, talented businesswoman and writer). But we share an additional skill: the ability to disagree with the other respectfully. Of course, we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything. But we still trust and respect each other.

   
   Robin was a regular contributor to the original Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine, and I happily welcome her to our Two-Lane Renaissance.
   

   Long before I felt the same calling, Robin felt compelled to become an ordained minister. (Sidenote: I am curious about the spiritual paths of others, no matter the perspective or religion, because of a core concept I need to know from the shrinking few who consciously practice some kind of spiritual process: Is it working for you? ‘Cause I’m not sure I’m doing mine right.) I am interested in Robin’s spiritual and creative processes because I feel like it is working for her. Robin will be a contributor to the “Spiritual” renaissance section of the magazine. She posted her first column online on February 15.
   

3. In order to set up the paywall, substack offered a simple process that allows me to set specific email headers and footers depending on your subscription status. A very logical process that took far too long for me to wrap my brain around it. If this were a paper letter, I would enjoy sorting out who gets which hello and who gets which salutation, who gets inserts in their letter, who doesn’t. Who gets special stamps and heart stickers on the back flap? There is logic. But in the digital realm, I had no piles. I just had concepts and imaginary letters floating and flapping around in my brain. In the end, I think I got it?
   

   If there’s some confusion or funkiness about the welcome or goodbye of this weekly email (header or footer), please let me know. I think I got it. Pretty sure. Maybe.
   

4. I want you to know, as we monetize our magazine, we do so with two core precepts.
   a. First, much of our quality written content, the columns and themes you felt with Two-Lane Livin,’ will remain free to readers. I know that by going online-only, we have already shut out access to those without reliable internet (common in West Virginia). This is the downside of not offering it free in print. But I want the free “spirit” of the magazine to remain. Paid subscriptions get access to multi-media features. These cost more money and time to produce.
   b. You are not going to see a bunch of block or banner ads on our site. I hated selling ads for our print edition, hated hated hated it. I will not do it ever again. This magazine will be funded, in addition to paid subscriptions, by affiliate links, advertorials, and sponsored content. It’s illegal for us to be sneaky about our “native ads” (as they’re called in the marketing business) so I want to be clear about it right upfront.

Wow. I fear this week’s email might be perhaps a bit too long. After 10 years of writing for Two-Lane Livin’, I could almost automatically write to a certain word count to fit in the space available. But here, on the web, the page has no end.

Hmmmm. This might become a problem for me. I trust that you will help keep me in check. ;-)

~Lisa