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!!!!!

And So It Begins

Not much headway in the scheme of things, but did cover 3 states today - FL, GE, SC.  Worst part was packing up the last few days in 100 degree heat; whew! Ended up giving more of my things away than I planned, but there is after all only so much room in a vehicle. Have my photos, personal items and clothes, so should be enough, but oh so sad.  Glad that's over, and now the journey has begun. Tomorrow we'll just have to see how the car and my legs handle the 10 hour days and make up the itinerary as I go along -- nice to have the latitude!

A Rose Above the Thorns

The hidden shadows of my life

Thrust images toward the light

Given time their ethereal presence

Might intrude, but I forgive them.

All failures have purpose;

Limitations provide focus.

They are pieces of the woman I am

Giving incentive to the future

If not to a moment in time.

Each a petal upon a rose

Rising above threatening thorns

To bask in fullness and brilliant beauty

Becoming etched like friends in memory.

Each tear then in life provides the ocean

That keeps us buoyant and helps sustain.

So celebrate life in all its glory

And hold tight the hand of its dream!

                                              bg  2011

Early Morning Reflection

Only about a week to go and I will be leaving FL for good.  It's about 5 a.m. and rather quiet.  No cars, no conversation, no tv -- just me and my thoughts.  Will I be sad to leave?  Yes and no.  This has been a sanctuary, a hideaway, a harbor from the turmoil of my previous working life -- it was needed, it was necessary and I'm glad I did it.  Certainly didn't turn out the way I thought it might -- creating a family compound of a sort with my brother(s), but I have had the opportunity to become friends with that part of my family again, something I was denied in my youth, and I am happy that I went there.  Lessons learned, of course, are still many, one of which is you can't turn back time or wish things were as they could have or should have been, and that it is okay.  Appreciating people, especially family, for the real persons they are with faults and shortcomings (and that goes for me too) does not mean we love them less, but that we can finally accept that even with them, we have to just let them be..   Excited to see what there will be to come, so onwards and upwards to be sure!

Getting Ready

Up to my eyeballs in packing containers and things to sell -- the least favorite part of moving!  Removing "self" from belongings isn't always the easiest process as we tend to attach such sentiment to our things, but the harder part still is letting go!  I know I will get other "things" which is always exciting and planning to set up a new place is something I love to do, but dang, I love that old teapot and just can't take it with.  Reducing your life into a few boxes is seemingly impossible, but I do recommend the process every few years even if you're not going anywhere; it can be cathartic.  Then something I wrote nearly 20 years ago also comes to mind which helps:  "Become part of all that is or has been; live well, love all and you'll be again. And know things are as they need to be; each road is naught but a moment's journey."

Chiang Mai -- Possible Destination

 Chiang Mai is a historic and pleasant city claiming to be the second most important city in Thailand. Its temperate climate, cheap cost of living and laid back atmosphere make it popular with ex-pats and retirees whose swelling numbers have provided a pleasant ex-pat community supported by many useful services.

The city dates back to the end of the 13th century, when a new capital was founded on the Ping River for the Lanna Kingdom – one of the earliest organised groupings of the Siamese people. It retained semi-autonomous status until the early twentieth century but suffered invasion by the Burmese in the eighteenth century, a powerful earthquake a century earlier and several other setbacks before rising once more. Today its hundreds of historic temples remain intact, the unique moat is as beautiful as ever and the original bastions and city gates have been rebuilt around the ancient old town.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (Thai: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ) is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as “Doi Suthep” although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is located 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai and is a sacred site to manyThai people. From the temple impressive views of Chiang Mai can be seen and it remains a popular destination of foreign visitors.

Chiang Mai was the centre of a largely agricultural province until tourism and commerce changed the prosperity of the city in the early nineties and more foreigners began settling. Today it boasts half a dozen international schools, world class hospitals, foreign clubs and societies, competent business services, two large malls and endless restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

It remains one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for visitors who come to enjoy the Northern mountain beauty, trekking, excursions to rural areas, spas, cheap shopping at the Night Bazaar and Baan Tawai Crafts Village and plenty of history and culture. These all add depth to the lifestyle experience of those living here. In fact shopping in Chiang Mai is a major feature.

The more modern sector of the city now sits between the old town and Ping River, but narrow windy lanes and old teak houses remain. A series of concentric highways have opened up the outlying areas to rapid expansion into housing estates and pleasantly green suburbs with modern houses in a very secure enviroment. Beyond, at the periphery of the large Ping River valley lie some wonderful natural areas in the mountains and national parks of the area.

Chiang Mai’s increasingly busy international airport receives more than a dozen flights a day from as far away as Singapore with plenty of cheap flights from Bangkok. There is also good rail and road access to the south and well maintained routes north. City traffic is reasonable at the right times of the day, and getting about by motorbike is perfectly safe and convenient.

Welcoming visitors is an art perfected in Chiangmai, and recent decades have seen the city emerge as one of Asia’s most popular and best value destinations. Many of the Thai working in tourist services speak English. People come to experience the beautiful mountainous scenery of Northern Thailand, go trekking, eat, drink, party, delve into history and seek out adventure. The quiet winding lanes of the old town, lively riverside restaurants, colourful hill tribe folk and bustling night bazaar all contribute to make Chiangmai an unforgettable place for visitors and residents alike.