A long winter's day

A Sunday night
       weather-beaten hoodie, my cotton nest
       please cover me up, so that I may rest
Warm-soup-belly
      Glass of bourbon, not too much
      ice so hot it burns to touch
Melancholy walks
      dilly-dallying, so as not to end so soon
      a gorgeous request, just to save some room?
December sunset
      Parking lot star-gazing and an evening meal
      Fresh cut balsam; carts with crazy wheels
Warmth
       Breath upon skin; a lingering stare
       Breath, an icy plume held present in the cold, thin air
Discovering
       Nothing is really something after all...
       and then back to nothing; rise and fall
Salt
       the purest white of truth--coarse, healing, real
       in the wound; a lover's solitary appeal
Waking moments of a girl, age thirty
      "let the golden days begin...."
      when I might find that which I actually intend
To be, To withhold, To make light
      who I am, what I have, when I ache
      music listens to me and never hesitates
And, at long last, I am found on the longest winter's day
     feeding with my soul's bread so that water-foul can live
     their receiving this love...I have so much left to give

The Collapse of Logic

It's been asked to the point of becoming an old cliche:  Why do bad things happen to good people?  This question begs logic to fill the chasm between the two concepts of "bad things" and "good people."  Maybe the answer lies somewhere in "good" and "bad" being words that serve us less and less as a people.  These modifiers limit our understanding of this world.  This is not to suggest that we should run out and knock over a convenience store, rather that when a convenience store is robbed, there may be a lessen for those of us who take notice.

We are so absorbed in our own lives that we frequently fail to hear God speaking to us.  We crave guidance, but distract ourselves away when easy lessons come.  So, God speaks louder until we understand.  Human emotion and response to these times provide the perfect warning flag that God is speaking, and we should turn inward in order to hear.  Our feel-good culture preaches distraction to ease the pain.  When we turn to food, entertainment, drugs, or perhaps Medieval Times (I'm still in Dallas), we split ourselves in two as one self stays with the pain and the other self becomes engrossed in the twinkle of our chosen pacifiers.

Yes...I love delicious food and I have many, many, many times used it as an escape.  Yes...I drink adult beverages.  Yes...I watch stupid-as-they-come movies when I'm blue.  Yes...I'm guilty of seeking distraction to deal with pain and sorrow.  And--I believe in the lessons that come from hard times.  I believe God speaks to us.  We need to be ready to hear.

When logic is gone, only our hearts can comprehend.  In that, there is awe because we are not incapacitated when things go wrong.

Way To Me

There are so many things for which I am thankful.  Most recently, I'm thankful I have this time in my life to stop, listen, reflect, and grow.  My journey over the last several weeks has taken a change from an external course to a (mostly) internal course.

I am thankful my imagination is so malleable because it has been stretched and reshaped into a device of healing.  I have visited and named the pieces of myself that are the key to unlocking my purpose in this life:  the creator, the peacemaker, the healer, the diffuser, and the stage presence...to name a few.  These are referred to as "my naturals," as in my natural gifts.  These pieces of self are my true essence--my identity.  I'm not learning these things for the first time, rather, I'm remembering who I am.  I'm finding my way back to me.

The mystery of the direction of time ("time's arrow") refers to the mathematical impossibility of the human ability to remember the past, but not the future, and change the future, but not the past.  A smile draws itself across my face as I remember who I was, and, simultaneously, who I will be.

My thanks extends to my family and friends who have stood with me on this adventure.  Internal adventures are much harder for others to understand.  I'm fortunate to have a family that is willing to support me, even when they don't understand.  That is love.

Blue in Green

Every waking moment in my life has a soundtrack.  Currently, Miles Davis' paramount work Kind of Blue runs marathons through both the computer and iPOD.  I say "waking moment" because most of my life I've been asleep, watching some very well cast actor play my roles in a half-assed way...she just can't quite capture me.

This trip has opened up a lot of space in my head and my heart.  There has been nor will be no better time to unearth my true and full self.  Logic has long been my best friend, and it made perfect sense that now is the time to go into deep reflection and analysis.  So, with the help of my cousin, Melissa, who I call Missy, I found a therapist here in Dallas that knows exactly how to track down a person's true self and unburden it.  I also found a temporary home that is nurturing and supportive.

What this means is that I've been spending 12-16 hours each week telling my life's story, identifying bits of me that I've put away, giving them a name, a color, a feeling or sensation, and a location either inside or outside of me.  Sometimes these parts are based on trauma that overwhelmed me so I sealed away either a good part of myself to preserve for safer times, or buried some or all of the pain that I felt.

This does not serve me any longer.

In the past two weeks, I have slept but not rested, and sometimes neither.  In the last week and a half, I cannot eat without extreme nausea.  After three and a half years together, Colleen and I have decided to officially end our relationship.  I'm surrounded by friends and family here in Dallas, Poteau, and San Antonio, so I intend to stay until after the holidays.

I'm trying to rebuild by body after not being able to eat for over a week.  I feel physically weak and haven't been able to run except for one time this week.  I miss it.  Running grounds me and makes me feel strong and steady.  Max misses our VERY slow runs too.  My boy is a great dog, but he only has two speeds----ON and OFF.

Tomorrow brings a new day, new air, new time, a new run, and, hopefully, new eyes.

Technology Failure

Hey gang!
So sorry it's been so long...every piece of technology I own and have with me broke at the same time...so now I have a new computer, a new cellphone, and a new wireless card.  I will be posting more soon because.....there is a lot to say.

Cheers until then!

North Central Expressway

Friday night I had plans to join my friend, Andrea, to hear her friend's band play at the Lakewood Bar and Grill in Dallas.  I had unloaded, vacuumed, and washed the car until it was finally dark blue with tan interior once again. 

I headed south from my cousin's house and glided down the freeway.  It was sundown.  The tangerine sky silhouetted the skyline as it hurried passed me.  I love driving in Dallas.  It is such a provocative city with a million different offerings as varied as trailer-truck pulls, to world-class art exhibitions, to some of the best food in the country. 

It was good to see Andrea.  She is so kind and low-maintenance.  We can pick up where we left off without feeling bad that we were living our lives in the meantime.  It didn't take long to remember how good it felt to be with my friend.  Through college I had a couple of friends who I could always turn to while I was sorting out my life, my first couple of relationships, and probably my wardrobe.  Andrea was one of them, and I'm glad she's still in my life.

Tonight...something uber-exciting....will post more later...

Homesickness and other observations

Hello all from the great place of my childhood...yes...Poteau, Oklahoma.  I am on a temporary stopover.  Why?  Well...I finally got homesick.  So, when last I wrote I was all a-glow after my D.C. experience.  After leaving there, I made my way toward Louisville, KY by way of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park located in Virginia.  I think that is where the trouble started.  Apparently, everyone in D.C. and the surrounding areas thought it would be a great day for a drive, and they all landed there.  It took me an hour and a half just to get into the park from Front Royal, the northern-most entrance to the park.  From there I had to stick with the drive for about 30 miles to the next exit.  You may be wondering why there are no pictures of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains.  Well--the pull-outs where completely packed with people!  All of the campgrounds were full before I arrived, so I just had to keep going for the day. 

The next day, en route to Louisville (still), it occured to me that it would be nice to sleep in my own bed, to see my partner, to be still for a while, and have food that didn't make me feel sick as "road food" often does.  Unfortunately, home was 4,000 miles away...but my MOM's home was only about twelve hours away.  So, I changed course just after driving the Bourbon Trail (no, I didn't get to taste because it was Kentucky and it was Sunday), and headed toward Oklahoma.

I drove directly into a storm.  I had been afraid of severe weather when crossing the plain states and hoped I wouldn't be exposed to any rough weather.  Rain came down in sheets and the lightning flashed like I was being greeted by the paparazzi. 

The next morning, after getting Max out of bed and heading out onto the road, I saw a sheriff's deputy had pulled off the road near a deer that had been hit the night before.  He didn't have anything to haul the deer away in, so I can only assume he was checking that the sweet beast was dead.  I can't imagine having this responsibility, but after hitting a deer on this journey myself, I am very glad to know someone does.  It brought up some emotion in me that I can't quite distinguish, like doing the right thing even when its not easy.

On the way through Memphis, I stopped at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed.  The motel is now the home of the National Civil Rights Museum.  There is no easy way to give you a verbal snapshot of my experience there.  I can only tell you that the message seeped into my veins and ran through me with the motion of my blood to ebb and flow through me for the rest of my days.  Living in a country that is a "melting pot," is like being in a relationship.  When one person has a problem, it must become the problem of the both so that it can be resolved with finality.  Racism and oppression is not an African American problem, it is our problem as a nation.  To erradicate it, we must all take responsibility.

So, after leaving Memphis, I headed to Ft. Smith, AR where my mom would be arriving from Dallas on an American Airlines flight.  She had no idea I was there, so I hid!  As she sauntered by, texting as she went, I came up behind her and grabbed her butt!  Dear friends....if looks could kill, I would be dead.  She was so stunned to see me, but quickly gave me a great, big, momma hug. 

This morning--pancakes.  It's good to be home.

Our Nation's Capital

I cannot explain what a wonderful time I had in D.C.  In fact, I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking.  Forgive me please for not posting more frequently, but I covered so much ground in the last few days I've had little time for the computer.

The Supreme Court building was my first step after Union Station.

The Library of Congress is one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen.

Gorgeous sculpture outside the Library of Congress.

The Apollo 11 space capsule greeted me as I entered the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

The Washington Monument at just the right time of day and angle.  Stunning.

Notice there are two tones to the stone.  This is the largest free-standing stone structure in existence.  It stands 555 feet tall without the help of morter, framing, bolts, or duct tape. 

Thanks to my pal, Cheryl, I met her sister, Anne, whose family put me up (or put up with me) for several days while I was in the D.C. area.  Thanks to Anne, I had a great time, found the right trains, AND saw one of the best concerts ever at the Black Cat.  We saw some weird guy followed by The Heavy, and Mayer Hawthorne...who blew me away.  He has "an interesting falsetto" as an put it.

Sadly on the way home late that night, I hit a deer...and lost my mind sobbing.  It was an emotional day beginning with a trip to the Holocaust Museum.  The museum was haunting and stunning, ending the feeling of lore with regard to the stories I've heard and confirming even the most unimaginable horrors.  The museum split my breast bone in two and shattered my internal protective barriers just as easily.  All around there was black, charcoal, and versions of shadow.  It was cold and metallic.  You could feel the collective conscious gasp and begin to resign themselves to their prefered coping strategies.  The cold makes you think of fear and how it must have gripped the victims.  What was the most astounding was how not only was there an abandonment of justice, not on a governmental, but human, level, and how Nazi doctors had used captives, including children to perform medical experiments. 

When I left, I spent a lot of time walking around outside and clearing my mind.  I found my way to the National Portrait Gallery because it was the only museum open after 5:30 pm.  This museum was the highlight of my time in D.C.  Not only does it house all of the official presidential portraits, but also portraits of great Americans, and a room dedicated to Katherine Graham, former editor of the Washington Post. (If you haven't read her autobiography...pick it up, it is a fantastic retrospective.)  The museum also had an exhibition of Norman Rockwell works on loan from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.  Rockwell is fabulous with color and detail.  He was able to make his characters look accurate and real, while maintaining an animated look at the same time.  Rockwell captures the most comical everyday ordeals and goings-on in the most loving light.  My favorite was "Hung Jury" with 11 men all exasperated by the single woman who looks back at cranky old guys with sheepish reserve and absolute determination.  I also loved "High Dive" where a pair of giant eyeballs, a nose, and two hands peek over the edge of a diving board as viewed from below.  Sheer comical terror!

The Lincoln Memorial outside of which Martin Luther King, Jr. stood to deliver his "I Have A Dream" speech.  As I stood in this spot and looked out over the capital mall, I choked back tears from the feeling of what it must have been like to be there that day on the verge of cultural revolution and to hear those words.

Ever get a chance to take a Segway tour....DO IT!  Mine had a name (see below)...

This is a mineral foundation on display at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum....it was mesmerizing.

From the "Went With The Wind" skit on the Carol Burnett show.

A portion of the Berlin Wall at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Julia Child's kitchen

The original decision in Brown v. Board of Education...separate but equal is not equal afterall.

Abe's stovepipe hat

My last day in D.C. I had the nicest lunch at Ella's--wood fired pizza.  I had a glutein-free margarita and a great beer called Wyld Organic Extra Pale Ale.  I sat next to such a nice man that I was not surprised to find that he is Canadian.  Julien and I talked about everything from sustainable food, to the coming paradigm shift in human consciousness, to politics, to his little boy (he has another on the way).

What a great time...

Hallowed Ground (Wednesday, October 20, 2010)

This foggy, cool morning, I found myself in Gettysburg, PA where roughly 150 years ago the bloodiest battle ever fought on North American soil was won in three days by the Union troops during the U.S. Civil War.  There is no easy way to discuss the feeling of this place, or my feelings as I entered this place.  What I know based on my trip is that the battle could not have gone to the other side for it would have changed the very definition of freedom.  I was surprised to find that many in the North were not particularly inclined to support abolition, but were compelled to uphold liberty and the new president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. 

I can't say that my drive through the battlefields was particularly spectacular, it really isn't my thing; however, the movie, cyclorama, the monuments, and museum depicting the times, the soldiers, their leaders, and the politics behind this war were certainly incredible. 

Notice the cannonball hole just below the second diamond

Autumn's portrait

Max and I taking a moment on top of Black Mountain, New Hampshire

Carriage Road in Acadia National Park

Pam, Arvid, (Me), Caroline, and Nate from Bradford, Vermont

Covered bridge in Vermont

View from halfway up Mt. Parkman, Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park

 We made it to the Atlantic Ocean.

 Self-explanatory...

Jordon Pond, Acadia NP

 View from Cadillac Mountain, Acadia NP, highest point in the park

Cadillac Mountain, Acadia NP

The Comfort of Strangers

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

(From Burlington to Bradford, Vermont)

This morning, talking to my mom, I found out that my former babysitter and dear family friend, Ms. Betty, passed away.  She had the most pleasant voice that I’ve ever had the privilege to hear.  I can still hear her, despite not having seen her for a couple of years.  She was bubbly, but also calm.  She sounded like wind chimes, but not in a strong gale.  She was sweet, but also to the point.  She was motherly, but laughed with you like a good friend.  She knew how to wake you up in the morning—with gentle cheer and the promise of homemade hot chocolate.  She always made a hot breakfast.  She was the secretary at the elementary school.  When my tummy hurt or I didn’t feel good, I could go see Ms. Betty and sometimes that was enough.  She had the unfortunate news of telling Mom that Larry B. had broken both of his arms on the playground.  (There was burned rubber leaving the driveway.)  She was soft and always smelled good.  When Mom and Dad were away, she filled the house with warmth.  I am so thankful for the memories of her.  I hope to live the way she laughed, with love and honest enjoyment.

This morning I made my way into the mountains near Stowe, Vermont.   By the time I had reached a scenic area on the mountain, I was filled with excitement.  Max and I spotted a trailhead and just set out…or…should I say…UP.  Now, Max at times has a hard time getting into and out of the car, so I was concerned that he would not enjoy much scrambling up rocks, roots, and dirt.  Not to mention the fact that what water that was coming down the mountain came down via the trail.  Max held his own.  I’m so proud of him.  At one point I thought for sure he couldn’t make it up a large boulder with a smooth stone face taller than my waist…but he scouted a different route and pushed on ahead of me.  So, I followed him for a while!  His smile was telling.  There was only one moment of panic when he tried to step up onto a root and his foot went through and lodged between the root and the dirt wall.  Momma to the rescue!

After coming back down, I toweled as much mud as possible off Max and myself, got water for both of us, and loaded Max into the backseat.  He was asleep before I pulled away from the parking lot.  Needless to say, he’s had a couple extra treats today.

The views are lovely, but, unfortunately, I missed the peak foliage.  However, Vermont is still the epitome of fall.  I am enveloped in gold, orange, maroon, and forest green leaves, boughs, and trees.  There are smells of wood-burning, crunchy leaves, cinnamon, and apples.  The vibrant gold that remain on the trees is outlined in deep shadows and set against a cobalt blue sky.  The sun shines at such an angle that the shadows appear in high contrast. 

I drove quite a way today, and had to stop to go to the bathroom right as I came to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory.  Awful timing.  So, after “going,” I got shuffled into a factory tour and had to go through a tasting room.  Next…the worst part…I had gotten so hungry, I decided to eat the next thing I saw.  So, I closed my eyes and pointed at the menu.  I had selected the Brownie Special with Whirled Peace ice cream and hot fudge sauce.  If only, I had landed on a nice crunchy salad.  (If only they served anything other than ice cream!) 

This evening, I pulled up to an adorable house, just beyond a dog-leg bend in the road, set behind some trees, and surrounded by chickens, and Leo, the rooster.  Pam, the aunt of my friend Nissa, was there to greet me, and I knew we’d be instant friends as she welcomed me with a hug.  (And she has a “coexist” sticker on her bumper.)  Uncle Arvid came home soon after, and we talked like we had known each other in a past life.  He makes extremely technical knowledge accessible to the not-so-technical brain (like mine).  Nate (son of Pam and Arvid) and Caroline (Nate’s wife) came for dinner.  They have a four-legged child who weighs 200 lbs and loves to play with Max…he’s an English Mastiff.  It’s like a Shetland pony loping through the dining room.

Dinner was a treat—pasta carbonara, fresh salad, and garlic bread.  I offered some help with wine and chocolate.  As a house guest, it is important to have both on hand.  

The next day, Caroline, took Max and I for a hike UP  Black Mountain just across the border in New Hampshire.  I was pooped from the previous day's adventure...or severely out of shape...and had to pause frequently under the guise of watering Max.  "Oh, that darn dog...he's a heavy drinker...whew..."  Caroline was very kind to pretend that she needed to stop to rest as well.  

Friday, October 15, 2010

Talk about having a hard time waking up!  Last night, a storm blew into Vermont bringing wind, rain, and chilly temperatures which made sleeping in a comfortable bed just the thing!  Alas, I left the warmth of the bed and prepared for the day.  Pam and I had made plans to do a little tourist-ing and shopping today, but first, she let a tall, blonde woman sting her with honey bees!  

Bee sting therapy is apparently very healing for many ailments including rheumatoid arthritis, lime disease, tumors, neuropathy, allergies, multiple sclerosis, bone spurs, sprains, and osteo-arthritis.  Pam is being treated for RA and a bum knee.  So I watched Pam be stung by twenty bees!  I also met Bobbi who read my fortune in African tradition with sticks and stones.  She was an engaged conversationalist with whom I connected easily and enjoyed hearing what she had to tell me.  

I cannot remember a time when I've met so many people that I so quickly felt comfortable with.  Being on this journey has opened a part of myself that allows me to simply be in the moment.  I can enjoy the comfort of strangers knowing that I will soon leave their company.  I've experienced a similar phenomenon in the past when I was leaving other places.  There is no fear to accept situations just as they are because they are mine only temporarily.  I hope to go home with the same fearlessness that I have been enjoying while on the road.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Bradford, VT to Bar Harbor, ME

FINALLY!  I have caught up with fall.  My path today led me through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, including a fly-by of Mt. Washington, the Northeast's highest point, and through the state of Maine.  I can't believe the color, it reminds me of the MAC counter at Nordstrom's with colors so vivid I can see them even with my eyes closed.  After a quick stop at the visitor's center, Max and I checked into the Days Inn....it is....let's say "blustery" outside today.  

Max had a lovely dinner of kibble, sweet potato, and flax oil.  I dined on FRESH MAINE LOBSTER...and all the fixin's.  Tomorrow, we are going to explore Acadia and Mount Desert Island.

Gold in the sunset...diamonds on the ceiling...

So...I just got back from comfort eating at a restaurant called the Texas Roadhouse.  Why comfort eating, you ask???  Because I'm cold, I'm tired, and my feet and back are killing me, not to mention a dose of homesickness.  Why the Texas Roadhouse???  Because it was close and "strapping on a feedbag" sounded promising.  Well...now I'm too full.  I feel dirty, probably something like how it feels to have an affair.  I guess in every situation one must resist having anyone else's honey biscuits.

Vermont is gorgeous.  The landscape is dotted with quaint little farms with, what seems like, an abundance of silos.  All throughout upstate New York and into Vermont the terrain is roller-coaster-y...my stomach was actually weightless for a few moments in time today.  Thank goodness Max has a seat belt!

It's cold...though it feels colder.  This side of the holidays feels colder because you know its coming.  It's not so much autumn, as the season of winter'a'comin'.  The sky today was the color of smoke.  I made it to Stillwater Reservoir today after 18 miles on a gravel road....no loons.  I'm thinking they don't come right up to the dock, though.  Perhaps I should have thought ahead and rented a boat.

This evening, I crossed Lake Champlain by ferry and headed into the Vermont countryside.  Looking back, I saw the most beautiful view of the Adirondacks all day...the mountains were varying shades of charcoal until they disappeared into the sky.  The sun sat low in the sky and the light changed from bright, to gold, to orange, to red.  I'm afraid the sunset was so beautiful, the sun embarrassed himself and turned beet red, and ran to hide behind the mountains.

Below are some pictures from the past couple of days:

Kelley's Island is such a lovely place, and very important to Colleen's mom, Elaine.  

Max on the ferry...doesn't take his eyes off me for a minute.

Leading up to Niagara Falls...

No...not everyone looked this good in their ponchos...only me.

The Herkimer Report (From Monday 10/11/10)

Today was like many other days camping…awakened too early by the sound of semi-trucks whizzing passed on a much-to-close freeway.  I found myself in Westfield, NY at a KOA just across the street from a state park that overlooked Lake Erie.  I got up, roused Max, and packed a moist tent away.  Yes, my first rain of the trip…I made it two weeks.  After breakfast and “walkies,” we departed for Niagara Falls.

My, what a sight!  The falls are breath-taking.  Water boils over the edge at an incredible rate.  I took the “Maid of the Mist” tour where a boat sailed out next to Niagara, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls.  I was surprised that the power of the crashing water created such a gale that my souvenir poncho was both plastered against my front and setting sail in the back.

Max couldn’t go on this voyage, so I took him for a walk of the grounds and showed him the falls.  He was impressed…and thirsty…and had to pee suddenly.  Oh, those falls are mighty.

Beyond the falls was Canada…yes, I’ve glimpsed the great, white north several times over the course of the two weeks.  Our neighbors—so kind, so mellow, so happy—were always waiving and singing “Oh, Canada,” I felt this odd so I simply waived back and kept on walking.  By the way, Alan Thicke says, “Hello eh!”

This evening Max and I found another KOA after having such a nice stay last night (with the exception of freeway noise).  We are in Middleville, NY near the Herkimer diamond mine.  I’ll get back to you as to whether or not I wield a pick-axe and go Zoolander.  Though, it would be interesting to see Max wearing a hard hat with a little hammer in his mouth. 

Max:  the steadfast companion.  He is by my side every moment he can be.  He loves our walks through the little hamlets where we take our pit stops.  As do I.  Tonight we arrived around 5:30, and after renting a KOA Kabin and setting up our gear, we took a walk around the grounds.  The “kampground” is set in the nook of a river.  As the sun was setting we found ourselves perched on a tree stump a few feet above the rolling water.  It smelled like damp earth.  Above us was a canopy of pumpkin-orange mixed with bright yellow.  The broken-vessel boughs were inky outlines against the autumn leaves.

The colors have been muted until now.  Maroons, olives, and sepias were the main colors.  The Adirondacks offer the first of the fall colors really brought to life.  Tomorrow, I drive north to the Stillwater Reservoir, hopefully to hear the song of the common loon, and through the Adirondack Mountains. 

Milwaukee to Kalamazoo--and beyond!

Hello from Kalamazoo, MI!  It has been a wonderful last few days as I have neat friends with a beautiful home with whom I'm staying.  First let me recap:

I left Milwaukee aboard the Lake Express ferry.  I parked the car, Max and all, and made my way to the sun deck to watch the launch.  As we were pushing away from the pier, I spotted an elderly couple watching from a park nearby.  So I waved at them.  They both immediately snapped their heads around to see to whom I was waiving then turned back around confused.  As I was still waiving, the man bashfully returned my farewell before settling back into the park bench.  Below are some Milwaukee sights...

The ferry departed through the jetties and quickly reached 39 knots where my hair was so completely touseled that I had to use nearly a bottle of conditioner to get it smooth again!

Kalamazoo is a charming little city of around 80,000 people.  I'm staying with Mary and Jeff, friends of my cousin, Missy's.  They have a beautiful building in downtown where they live on the second floor, and I am pretty well taking over the first floor.  Looking around me I can see a commercial kitchen, fully stocked with anything one might need or desire, a bare brick wall, the other walls with handmade wood-paneling and a blueish-gray paint, a huge antique scale, tons of "trench art," a bar where I sit, a comfy red leather couch, and a lot of books.  The bedroom is the best part.  It occupies a room roughly the size of the bed, has a small shelf as tall as the mattress filled with books and a reading lamp....and nothing more.  It has a low ceiling, which creates the warmth and tightness of a grandmother's hug, especially since the bed and covers are oh-so-comfy.

A note on my hosts:  I have now met...wait for it.......someone that is a member of both the A.C.L.U. and the N.R.A.  I will refrain from further comment.

On Thursday afternoon, Mary took me for a bike ride through the woods.  I looked up at one point and the near trees were sillhouetted against the far trees which shined as a sulfur-yellow backdrop.

Max is quite comfortable here.

Yesterday, Max and I drove to Lake Michigan at South Haven.  We walked along the jetty and out onto the beach.

This is Max's first glimpse of waves.  I laughed for nearly five minutes because he tried to bite and catch the waves.  We soon found a stick and made the most of the water. 

I had lunch in a quaint little town called Saugatuck while Max slept off his play in the warm car. 

My hosts and I have shared several delightful meals together, I was even privileged to cook for them.  Last night we went to Jeff's son's land in a town called Paw Paw where they had set up a very well appointed camp.  There was a big, warm campfire burning between the camper trailer and the creek.  Max immediately found a friend of comparable body mass named Lucy.  Lucy and Max played in the creek and had such a grand time.  His two baths left him fairly clean.  Last night ended with many welcoming, kind, new friends, and s'mores by the fire.

This morning Mary and I went to the Kalamazoo farmer's market and I purchased provisions for the next leg of my trip.  I found a ton of organics, including chicken!

Tonight, I will clean and organize the car, cook some food for the road, buy ice and gas, and get ready, once again to hit the open road.  It has been a nice stop.