PLANTING SEEDS

The seeds of this trip to explore and rediscover the western states, our magnificent national parks and reconnect with family and friends were planted in my heart 25 years ago.  Unfortunately, my wish did not find the necessary nourishment to grow.  The circumstances never seemed right. 

My motives were not exactly what they seemed.  Beneath the surface of this time worn, and medically compromised body lies the heart of a woman who loves adventure, cherishes a day never the same as the last, savors every moment and creates memories for a life time.  Most importantly, I wanted to discover not only the many aspects of our country but better understand the aspects of myself.    My daughter loves to create mosaics and my son to create wood carvings.  So, much like their crafts, I will collect and connect the reflective pieces of my life.  I will then carve, polish and cure the images.  And who knows, I might start all over again next year, or years from now, taking another path.

I’m starting this voyage with only a few rules:  I promise to start each day with a cup of coffee while giving thanks for the wonders of the preceding day and ask for guidance on the new day’s journey.   I vow not to live in fear -- except for lions, tigers and bears.  I will allow my thoughts and memories to release a continuous thread of revelation.  I will only share with others those things I am comfortable with sharing.  Although there are multiple events and people that contributed to my standing on the threshold of adventure, four events were stand-outs.  

First, there was a trip in 1998 with my adventuresome daughter Tammy to the Alpine countries of central Europe that set the stage for a “can-do” attitude and a need for an organized plan.  No tour guide or crowded buses for us.  I planned the trip myself and learned the joy and fun of planning and dreaming never knowing until the last minute if we could really go – mostly financial concerns.  I learned many lessons, especially the merits of correctly pacing myself.  Slow down and take time for experiences, quality over quantity.  I don’t know the source of this saying but it’s one of my favorites.

“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”  ~ unknown

Secondly, my son Will was involved in a life threatening accident from which he thankfully survived.  Among the many feelings associated with such a horrendous accident, it reminded me of my own mortality and how fleeting our lives on earth can be whether you’re eighteen or eighty and what you do in the moment is of utmost importance.

Thirdly, I simply had the right genes for adventure and independence.  I always admired my sister, 5 years my senior, for her courage to survive life’s challenges and prosper.  She loves to travel, write, sing and meet life on her own terms.  She has overcome so much in her life and has taught me the true meaning of an indomitable spirit.

Finally, in 2010 I was recovering in the hospital from surgery where cancer was highly suspected but not found.  I became aware of my angels that day and would have faith in God and my many angels to show me the way and guide my decisions.   I rarely speak openly of my spiritual beliefs thinking, perhaps erroneously, that those beliefs are a private matter and who we are speaks louder than words.   I decided right there in my hospital bed that if I was going to make this trip come to fruition I needed to proceed “as if,” have faith that it was meant to be, leave the windows to my soul open, and most of all listen to and through my own heart.  It was my new mission to find and provide the nourishment for the seeds to grow.  Life would in turn sustain and nourish me.  I left the hospital with a goal, a time frame and a plethora of issues to resolve.   I called it my two-year-plan: attend to health matters involving two more surgeries and solve the logistics of exactly how I would execute my plan.

As Sherlock Holmes said, “the game is afoot!”