Rebirth and Hope

I've come quite a bit of the way cross country already and am now spending time with family in Iowa.  I left Massachusetts on Tuesday after a fabulous visit with family, as well as various points of interest -- the butterfly emporium, the Yankee candle factory, and the Peace Pagoda.  Plan to get some of the pictures published, but loved the time there -- forgot how beautiful it is in New England.  My favorite of course was the Peace Pagoda, which after a tortuous hike uphill in the hot, hot sun, we came upon a most unexpected site -- a Buddhist temple and prayer sanctuary on the top of a hill.  Just awesome and truly restored my belief that all things were happening for a positive purpose.  Can't wait for you to see the pix!  

Then Tuesday morning I started heading west and the great news is our country's empty parking lots and manufacturing plants are once again full and/or being rebuilt and bringing new vigor into abandoned landscapes -- not all done, but truly the sites restored my faith that we were heading in the right direction as a nation to strengthen our American roots.  Let's keep the momentum moving and not allow politics to take away the might and grandeur of what can be done if we make the effort to invest in our country once more.

On through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and finally Iowa.  The earth is still black and fertile here, crops growing and life sustained, and as tired as some of our smaller towns are, there is still much hope for a brighter future in the hearts of the people and families here -- hope we don't fail in making our American dreams survive and continue to waste and exploit its potential or worst yet, to not even try! 

And then turn left . . .

Didn't quite make it all the way up the coast, but did cover FL to Massachusetts -- good effort.  Brief visit with my extended family in Jersey who I dearly love and will miss ever so, then this morning I started heading west; tonight I rest outside Buffalo, NY; forgot how beautiful Mass and upstate New York are.  Would love to have stayed longer but have to get to MA to visit with my uncle.  Great trip so far -- so many friends I'll miss, but awesome that I had the chance to spend a little time with them along the way.  Wednesday night I sat in an outdoor cafe on 111th/Broadway in New York City with a very dear friend, and I realized this was the "missing piece."  This is what I have been and am still searching for and need to have back in my life again.  When I left Jersey/NYC, a piece of me went missing -- damn!  But I know that nothing is forever and that I have now been lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet new family and friends who I have added to my best ever list -- awesome!  Sometimes it just clicks and you know that these people will be in your heart forever -- a quick shout out to Lexi, Nikki and Shelly! Still sucks though to know that a piece of my heart will always be in NYC -- was, is and always will be -- and with my all-time favorite guy with awesome blue eyes!  Serious sigh!!!!!