I arrived in New Orleans late yesterday afternoon. Luckily I stopped at the Louisiana Visitor Center on Rte 10 and rec'd a coupon for a hotel in the French Quarter on St. Ann Street called Place D'Armes. It is beautiful, ornately decorated, complete with wrought iron balconies, chairs, tables and overgrown with ferns, azaleas and other unknown flowering shrubs. Since this is off season the rooms are very reasonably priced; however, after spending a short time walking the streets of the French Quarter I know why.... It is very hot and HUMID - my clothes were soaked with sweat within short order and I fear I failed as a tourist. I did make the eating hot spots - Cafe Du Monde for iced coffee and hot beignets(delicious)and a local 24 hour deli for a po boy shrimp sandwich and fruited bread pudding w/rum sauce for dessert. After walking thru Jackson Square, along the Mississippi and for a ways on Royal Street I called it a night and beat it back to my lovely and cool hotel room. I, unfortunately, noticed I was immune to some of the city's charms due to the heat and my discomfort with it.... The city definitely deserves another visit perhaps during their "winter" - but not Mardi Gras! Way too crowded and boisterous for the likes of me.
This morning I got up early enough to see the streets being cleaned (I wonder if they do that every day?)and sit on the balcony with my coffee (they don't look strong enough to withstand my weight but I did it anyway).
I thought of my grandmother Reiki Master Linda Keiser Mardis who when I was traveling to Paris for the first time shared a 10 page treatis with me on "eating in Paris". I'm sure one could do the same in New Orleans. However I must forgo any more eating pleasures - oh well, maybe a muffaletta sandwich for the road, and that iced coffee at Cafe Du Monde was really good but oh my how can one go there without ordering beignets? Maybe I could bring some to my friends in Houston - do you think there would be any left after 6 hours of driving?
And I must at least drive the famous Bourbon Street before heading further west. Well, maybe I need a little fortitude for that....
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Sweet Home Alabama
Over this past week I had the good fortune to visit my brother, Stephen and sister-in-law, Liz at their lake house in Arley, Alabama. Coincidentally it's on Smith Lake... The water is a crystal clear emerald green, natural rock formations mark its shoreline and the water off their boat launch is 85 feet deep. Perfect for diving, floating, and driving the jetskiis. Speaking of jetskiis I made my maiden voyage - while my older bro was dancing around at 65 mph I managed a cautious 25mph -although I did succeed at not flipping it over and getting dumped! Although warm and humid during the day; the evenings were mild, with a breeze and the 3/4 moon cast its shadow over the lake. Stephen commented that the best time is in the cooler Fall, with the changing leaves and the quiet absence of speed boats and people. A very relaxing and restful weekend, gearing up for the next leg of my journey to New Orleans and Houston.
On my way out of town I stopped for breakfast at the Arley coffee shop. I tried hard not to smile at the southern accents, the y'alls, and drawn out vowels - much the same someone from there would think about my "Bawston" accent. I often wonder how accents get standardized and regionalized, each distinct and unique. By the way the egg and sausage were nothing to write home about - but - the biscuit served with it was a winner!
On my way out of town I stopped for breakfast at the Arley coffee shop. I tried hard not to smile at the southern accents, the y'alls, and drawn out vowels - much the same someone from there would think about my "Bawston" accent. I often wonder how accents get standardized and regionalized, each distinct and unique. By the way the egg and sausage were nothing to write home about - but - the biscuit served with it was a winner!
"Hiking Laurel Falls"
On Wednesday, 7/9th, Carol, Janice, Frankie, and I hiked up Laurel Falls. The twist was that the three of us pushed Frankie (85 years old)in a wheelchair for 2 1/2miles up and down the side of the mountain on one of only paved trails in the Smoky Mtns. Did I also say that it is one of the most popular and crowded trails as well? Seems like alot of tourists want to see a waterfall, don't want to have to hike too far and the Laurel Falls trail fits the bill.... So as we were making way for people to pass us up and down the trail we took turns pushing the wheelchair with Frankie in it - having the time of her life! She confessed later that she didn't think she would ever get to see the Falls again - now that she is no longer able to walk any distance. When the going got steep, Carol said a silent prayer for help and within seconds our first angel, by the name of Glenn, appeared. He had seen our little group as he, his wife and two children had passed us. However, shortly afterwards he reversed directions and came back to us and simply said, "please let me help push her". He took over for a good 20 minutes - when we were all feeling fatigued and a bit overwhelmed by our "adventure"....
Periodically during the climb we saw this middle aged fellow and his wife; he was having a hard time hiking the trail as well. At one point he offered $50 for a ride up in the wheelchair (I don't think he was really kidding either....) and it was obvious that he was laboring to finish the hike and probably could have used some help himself. Towards the end, with about 1/4 mile left, this man (later we found out his name was Ransom - and that he and his wife were from West Virginia)came over to us and said he wanted to take over pushing Frankie and finish the last leg of the trip. So here was someone who could barely walk himself pushing Frankie; he seemed to have a burst of energy when he could be of service to someone else.
It was a miraculous day; made even more so when we descended safely, arrived in Gatlinburg for lunch and sat in the restaurant watching an impressive thunder and lightening storm sweep through the area, including where we had just "hiked".
Periodically during the climb we saw this middle aged fellow and his wife; he was having a hard time hiking the trail as well. At one point he offered $50 for a ride up in the wheelchair (I don't think he was really kidding either....) and it was obvious that he was laboring to finish the hike and probably could have used some help himself. Towards the end, with about 1/4 mile left, this man (later we found out his name was Ransom - and that he and his wife were from West Virginia)came over to us and said he wanted to take over pushing Frankie and finish the last leg of the trip. So here was someone who could barely walk himself pushing Frankie; he seemed to have a burst of energy when he could be of service to someone else.
It was a miraculous day; made even more so when we descended safely, arrived in Gatlinburg for lunch and sat in the restaurant watching an impressive thunder and lightening storm sweep through the area, including where we had just "hiked".
Townsend,TN
I have been off the internet grid for awhile and have some catching up to do about some my activities over the last week or so. At the beginning of last week (Monday and Tuesday, 7/7 and 7/8) I had the opportunity to interview Janice Sullivan and Carol Murray in Townsend, TN.
Janice has been living in Townsend for the past 10 years and was originally from the Manassus, VA area. She has a varied past filled with a myriad of careers including philosophy, women's studies, pro tennis player and teacher, lawyer, financial planner and more. One of her passions is to help create a Department of Peace at the federal level; she has attended many peace rallies, workshops and events to support the formation of an organization that would be devoted to world peace. In conjunction with this she has also been involved in Marshall Rosenberg's work on "nonviolent communication" and has for many years been a member of "Numina", http://www.numina.org/ In addition to being a vibrant and passionate spokesperson for peace Janice loves nature and is committed to her own and other's health. She is an Isagenix (www.isagenix.org) consultant and offers her experience with the product to be "the answer to a prayer" for the improvement of one's health and well-being. In her free time Janice plays tennis and basketball and is currently preparing for the Senior Olympic games of '08.
Carol, is orginally a New Yorker, and her story of how she ended up living in Townsend is nothing short of a miracle. She fell in love with the area the first time she visited a year ago and then returned to where she was living in Florida. Through a series of synchronistic events she found out about an employment option to be a live-in caretaker for a 85 year old neighbor of Janice's and jumped at the opportunity to be back in Townsend. After spending a week there I felt the charms and beauty of the Great Smokies Mtns and the gracious hospitality of the people lving there. Carol is also an Isagenix consultant, a NLP (Neurolinguistic Practitioner), Radiant Heart Practitioner and has created many businesses (travel agency, real estate development, customer service, network marketing) over the course of her career.
Their love of the area was infectious - whether it was visiting Dollywood, driving through the National Park, going to the local Heritage Center, coffee shop or bakery - there was a familiar, small town feeling that pervaded every experience and made me feel welcome.
Janice has been living in Townsend for the past 10 years and was originally from the Manassus, VA area. She has a varied past filled with a myriad of careers including philosophy, women's studies, pro tennis player and teacher, lawyer, financial planner and more. One of her passions is to help create a Department of Peace at the federal level; she has attended many peace rallies, workshops and events to support the formation of an organization that would be devoted to world peace. In conjunction with this she has also been involved in Marshall Rosenberg's work on "nonviolent communication" and has for many years been a member of "Numina", http://www.numina.org/ In addition to being a vibrant and passionate spokesperson for peace Janice loves nature and is committed to her own and other's health. She is an Isagenix (www.isagenix.org) consultant and offers her experience with the product to be "the answer to a prayer" for the improvement of one's health and well-being. In her free time Janice plays tennis and basketball and is currently preparing for the Senior Olympic games of '08.
Carol, is orginally a New Yorker, and her story of how she ended up living in Townsend is nothing short of a miracle. She fell in love with the area the first time she visited a year ago and then returned to where she was living in Florida. Through a series of synchronistic events she found out about an employment option to be a live-in caretaker for a 85 year old neighbor of Janice's and jumped at the opportunity to be back in Townsend. After spending a week there I felt the charms and beauty of the Great Smokies Mtns and the gracious hospitality of the people lving there. Carol is also an Isagenix consultant, a NLP (Neurolinguistic Practitioner), Radiant Heart Practitioner and has created many businesses (travel agency, real estate development, customer service, network marketing) over the course of her career.
Their love of the area was infectious - whether it was visiting Dollywood, driving through the National Park, going to the local Heritage Center, coffee shop or bakery - there was a familiar, small town feeling that pervaded every experience and made me feel welcome.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Pickin on the Porch and Dollywood
Here I am in Happy Hollow (Southern version of small valley) in the midst of the Great Smokey Mtns in Townsend, TN. My friends say that everything is done by "mountain time" here and after a few days I can concur with that sentiment.... On Saturday, 7/5, one of my friends noticed a sign at a local Dulcimer shop that there would be "pickin on the porch" later that night. A group of us went and were enchanted by the music of Joe Collins, the national Dulcimer Champion. What great timing that we were able to hear the sweet sounds of his dulcimer, voice, and guitar by the banks of the Little River in Townsend. Joining us was local author, Frankie Fonde Brogan, who regaled us with stories of her childhood in the mountains as well as lent me a copy of her book, "The Snare of the Fowler" - her personal account of experiencing her son's involvement in a cult and later recovery.
Sunday was devoted primarily to Dollywood, a theme park inspired by, you guessed it, Dolly Parton. It is a beautiful amusement park, wonderfully maintained, clean and landscaped and John Bates (Janice's husband and part time employee of Dollywood) hosted us to a wonderful day of rides, shops, lunch and two musical shows. The day was finished with dinner at Janice's friend and neighbor's home, Betty and Bud Jones. Their home is literally "above the tree line" in the Smokeys; I could sit on their back porch for hours watching the changing clouds in the sky, ridgeline of the mountains and the gathering blue mist.
Sunday was devoted primarily to Dollywood, a theme park inspired by, you guessed it, Dolly Parton. It is a beautiful amusement park, wonderfully maintained, clean and landscaped and John Bates (Janice's husband and part time employee of Dollywood) hosted us to a wonderful day of rides, shops, lunch and two musical shows. The day was finished with dinner at Janice's friend and neighbor's home, Betty and Bud Jones. Their home is literally "above the tree line" in the Smokeys; I could sit on their back porch for hours watching the changing clouds in the sky, ridgeline of the mountains and the gathering blue mist.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Tobacco and Horse Farms
Thursday, 7/3, I met with Holly Reese Tomlinson owner of "Healing Horse Farm" in Berryville, VA. In between trips to her farm in Berryville and getting ready for a 2 week trip to Houston Holly met with me at her home in Herndon, VA ; we talked about the beginning of her new business venture, Healing Horse Farm. Recently she rediscovered her passion for horses and has decided to focus it on developing equine therapy programs on the 700 acre farm. She recently acquired 7 horses that were rescued and are currently being fostered in other stables. This will be the beginning of her "team"; she hopes to beginning offering programs in the Fall of '08.
As I traveled along Rte 81 I saw acres of tobacco fields - I noticed, too, that there appeared to be many more smokers in this part of the country than on the East Coast. I guess it's hard to relinquish a habit that has been the backbone of economic prosperity for years..... It reminds me of Civil War history classes and hearing about the laborers working in the fields picking tobacco and the huge drying barns dotted all over the South - haven't seen a cotton field yet but expect I will as I travel further south into Alabama and Mississippi.
Last evening I arrived in Townsend, TN, home of the Great Smokey National Park and saw the blue hazed mountains in view as I climbed the mountains to reach the home of Janice Sullivan in Cutter Gap. Tomorrow we plan to go to Dollywood - Dolly Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, TN - what a hoot!
As I traveled along Rte 81 I saw acres of tobacco fields - I noticed, too, that there appeared to be many more smokers in this part of the country than on the East Coast. I guess it's hard to relinquish a habit that has been the backbone of economic prosperity for years..... It reminds me of Civil War history classes and hearing about the laborers working in the fields picking tobacco and the huge drying barns dotted all over the South - haven't seen a cotton field yet but expect I will as I travel further south into Alabama and Mississippi.
Last evening I arrived in Townsend, TN, home of the Great Smokey National Park and saw the blue hazed mountains in view as I climbed the mountains to reach the home of Janice Sullivan in Cutter Gap. Tomorrow we plan to go to Dollywood - Dolly Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, TN - what a hoot!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Spiritual Practice
While in NYC on 6/27 I had dinner with a long time friend near her office on W 38th Street. During our meal at "Burgers and Cupcakes" (yes the cupcakes are awesome!) she shared about a relationship that is challenging in her life and explained that one of the compelling reasons to maintain it is that - aside from its positive characteristics and shared bonds - it is the cornerstone of her "spiritual practice". We talked about how it's easy to use the common non-interactive types of practice such as meditation, journaling, yoga, Reiki,tithing, etc. but the "rubber really meets the road" when we utilize our tools in challenging (confrontational, negative, blaming, angry, etc.) relationships.
After leaving NYC I traveled to Maryland to visit with my sister, brother-in-law and my 2 nephews, ages 4 & 7 and niece, age 9. It's been a long time since I have been around children this age for an extended period of time (my daughters are 24 and 26) and it was in every way challenging - sibling rivalry, tiredness, being hot, hungry, thirsty, overstimulated, wanting attention, etc. - were common states of being. Not that it wasn't enjoyable - my special achievement was noting how my 4 yo nephew talked with me during this visit and let me read him stories (last year this would have been unthinkable!); however, it was demanding, all consuming and never ending. Hats off to my sister and other parents for responding to these needs with aplomb, patience and perseverance! During my visit my niece celebrated her 9th birthday - adding yet another dimension to the behaviors of her siblings who weren't the center of attention. I must honestly say that maintaining a sense of inner peace amidst the squirmishes was difficult; I aspired to use the philosophy of Eckhart Tolle, in his book, "The New Earth" - where he quotes a Zen Master who says the secret to happiness is "to never mind what happens - to always be in the present and the now...."
I confess that I was excited to get in my car by myself this am and head off toward Tennessee....
After leaving NYC I traveled to Maryland to visit with my sister, brother-in-law and my 2 nephews, ages 4 & 7 and niece, age 9. It's been a long time since I have been around children this age for an extended period of time (my daughters are 24 and 26) and it was in every way challenging - sibling rivalry, tiredness, being hot, hungry, thirsty, overstimulated, wanting attention, etc. - were common states of being. Not that it wasn't enjoyable - my special achievement was noting how my 4 yo nephew talked with me during this visit and let me read him stories (last year this would have been unthinkable!); however, it was demanding, all consuming and never ending. Hats off to my sister and other parents for responding to these needs with aplomb, patience and perseverance! During my visit my niece celebrated her 9th birthday - adding yet another dimension to the behaviors of her siblings who weren't the center of attention. I must honestly say that maintaining a sense of inner peace amidst the squirmishes was difficult; I aspired to use the philosophy of Eckhart Tolle, in his book, "The New Earth" - where he quotes a Zen Master who says the secret to happiness is "to never mind what happens - to always be in the present and the now...."
I confess that I was excited to get in my car by myself this am and head off toward Tennessee....
The Big Apple
While I was at Cape Cod visiting my mom there was a natural phenomena occuring regarding the insect called "ciccadas" - they live in the ground and every 17 years they come out of hibernation and fly in the air - the hordes of them make a deafening sound that begins at early dawn and contintues thru most of the day - a low insistent humming reminding one of the whine of jackhammers - in fact I asked the first day I was there whether there was road construction going on somewhere close by? No, just the insistent drone of the ciccadas...
While in NYC there was another kind of ciccadas - the rhythm of ambulance sirens, horns blaring, and the whoosh of people crossing streets or rushing for their train on the subway or railroad. These sounds are also naturally occurring - on a daily basis, only lessening during off peak travel and Sunday mornings....
My time in the Big Apple was exhilarating, stimulating and a bit tiring - one day started at 9:30 am to wait for the Long Island Railroad into Manhattan and ended at 10 that night upon its return. I had the opportunity to interview one of my fellow Dreamweaver's and SACAT coaches, Janet Wise, in Queens and attend one of her W.I.S.E. (wisesolutions4u@msn.com) power luncheons in the City, with a keynote speech by Betty Healey from Ontario, CA, also a fellow
Dreamweaver and Master SACAT(Strategic Attraction Coaches Academy & Training) coach.
Betty and her husband, Jim, are the owners of Road Signs, (www.roadsigns.ca), a company designed to provide insight, inspiration and leadership on navigating the road map of our lives.
Betty handed out a "road signs" inspirational card to each attendee and illustrated how we each attract the "perfect" sayings that speak to where we are in our lives. Fortune cookies without the calories, as Betty quipped.... Mine read "I am a source of inspiration for others".
After hearing about my plans to drive across country and interview people about manifesting their dreams many have commented enviously, "I wish I could do that - just take up and travel" - speaking to the common wanderlust we have in our souls for adventure, risktaking and facing the unknown. This was yet another reminder of how very fortunate and appreciative I am to have manifested this reality for myself and to hopefully serve as an inspiration to others to pursue their dreams.
While in NYC there was another kind of ciccadas - the rhythm of ambulance sirens, horns blaring, and the whoosh of people crossing streets or rushing for their train on the subway or railroad. These sounds are also naturally occurring - on a daily basis, only lessening during off peak travel and Sunday mornings....
My time in the Big Apple was exhilarating, stimulating and a bit tiring - one day started at 9:30 am to wait for the Long Island Railroad into Manhattan and ended at 10 that night upon its return. I had the opportunity to interview one of my fellow Dreamweaver's and SACAT coaches, Janet Wise, in Queens and attend one of her W.I.S.E. (wisesolutions4u@msn.com) power luncheons in the City, with a keynote speech by Betty Healey from Ontario, CA, also a fellow
Dreamweaver and Master SACAT(Strategic Attraction Coaches Academy & Training) coach.
Betty and her husband, Jim, are the owners of Road Signs, (www.roadsigns.ca), a company designed to provide insight, inspiration and leadership on navigating the road map of our lives.
Betty handed out a "road signs" inspirational card to each attendee and illustrated how we each attract the "perfect" sayings that speak to where we are in our lives. Fortune cookies without the calories, as Betty quipped.... Mine read "I am a source of inspiration for others".
After hearing about my plans to drive across country and interview people about manifesting their dreams many have commented enviously, "I wish I could do that - just take up and travel" - speaking to the common wanderlust we have in our souls for adventure, risktaking and facing the unknown. This was yet another reminder of how very fortunate and appreciative I am to have manifested this reality for myself and to hopefully serve as an inspiration to others to pursue their dreams.
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