The last several weeks have been a series of accidents, leading to (among other things) a new windshield, a cast, two new phones (yes, two), and lots of cancelled reservations. I had to let go of the idea that I would see the Great Smokies and Shenandoah this year, both places I had been looking forward to very much. Yesterday’s blown tire made me wonder why I’m doing this vagabond thing at all.
So today’s Serenity post is really just for me. I spent a long time looking through my photos of the last 13 months, and it made me see the current stuff is just a blip on the radar.
From my first National Park in my Alto…
to months spent on the coast in Washington, Oregon, and California…
to the coastal forests and mountain ranges…
to the surprisingly diverse and beautiful deserts of the southwest…
it has been a amazing journey so far.
And more than the scenery, I’ve appreciated the friends and family I’ve met up with along the way. From my three Wisconsin great-nieces to the newest one in Colorado, from old friends doing well and new friends met in real life, I realize how fortunate I am to have them. And you, reading this.
People have been kind and generous, encouraging and supportive of my crazy life.
Two lessons learned in looking through my people photos: (1) Having a paper doll for a traveling companion was fun and (2) I need to remember to take more people photos.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver
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And you have inspired so many of us! Especially me sistah! I SEE you, I see the frustration, the doubt, the courage, the love. Remember those stones you gave me? I touch them when I am wondering if it is worth it. If upending our life to do something completely new, completely brave is worth it. And they remind me, that yes, yes it is. Just like those photos remind you. It IS worth it, even the setbacks, the injuries, the flat tires, the house sale fails (ok that is us LOL) but it is ALL part of the journey. Embrace it my dear Annie, because the most profound lessons almost always come from the hard stuff. But you already know that. Remember I SEE you and you are deeply loved. ♡♡♡
Hang in there, kiddo. These things will turn around and you’re due for a good long run of great things!!
Oh good. I was afraid I’d violated some website rule…
You are doing the right thing-you will never regret what you are doing. Who knows the many you may inspire to fully enjoy their lives ❤️
Don’t worry about the website, it’s an optional field and I don’t know how to remove it from the form.
If it wasn’t for the setbacks how could you truly appreciate the past experiences and those yet to happen? Amazing photographic review. Looking forward to you making it to the tristate are
Ah, Mary Oliver, one of my favorite poets. She’s good company I suspect. Be interesting to do a comparison of her and Emily D.–
And as to your trials–sounds as if things will be OK and that you have, indeed, managed quite well so far on your journey. Fun to read about, thanks.
Laura
PS: This site asks for my website, but won’t let me post unless I take it off. No problem, but it asked…so I put it in (it’s really not ready for prime time anyway)
Glad you’re looking through pics. It’s the tough times that make us stronger and appreciative of the beautiful country you’ve seen. There must be a reason that this time around you make these detours.