Friday, July 29

Journey to Half Dome - Yosemite (Part 1)

Who know when the invitation for six individual women to hike Half Dome arrived what each individual's experience would hold.

Years ago two of my friends and I went to the Kartchner Caverns in Arizona and it was enlightening to me to later discover that all of our experiences had been different. Chris, being a woman of science had a very scientific experience. Teddy, had just come along to accompany us and his experience was one of enjoying the moment of it all. While I had a very spiritual encounter.

That was the invitation the mountain held for us. She beckoned, "Will you come, without any judgments or expectations and embrace all that I have to offer?"

So six courageous women... different ages... different walks of life... and different life experiences all came together for a not yet known... pilgrimage to be Embraced by the Breath of God, as one put it.

Of course, starting off it was simply an adventure... a personal challenge for each... I can do it... I WILL DO IT!! Twenty miles round trip... we started at the trail head at 5AM and returned to the car at 9PM! Eight miles... straight up with a 4,800 foot elevation gain made the trek... what's a word that means more than challenging? Oh... HELLA HARD!!!!!

Now of course,  had I been training like my GI-Jane friend had be encouraging, perhaps it would have not been quite so tough. So while I was walking everyday, I just couldn't get motivated to climb stairs and do pushups! Sorry...  I wish I was... I really wish I was! But, I rationalized,  I've hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu  (watch the video) and Waynapichui (watch the video) in Peru and while it nearly killed me... I did it! So, I was confident that I could do this too!

Because of my Peruvian experience, the heat, humidity and high altitude, I knew that I wasn't going to carry ANYTHING in my backpack!! Then for sure I could do it! Oh.... except for the gallon of water and food GI Jane insisted I pack along! Holy Crap! In Peru I ended up, just like Hansel and Gretel, leaving everything in my pack along the side of the trail, trusting that someone would come along and exclaim, "Wow! Just what I need!" (To Be Continued)

Happy Trails!

Tuesday, July 26

ETL 2016 Summer of Hope Tour


When I left Tucson, I had a couple of definite places to go, but everything in between I would leave to gently unfold. This is the first time that I've been alone and able to write so here is a brief rundown on how things have gone so far. First, I drove to Huntington Beach, flew to Sacramento, hitched a ride with my son and fiancé to Fort Bragg where I had the amazing privilege of marrying them on the bluff overlooking the sea, in the presence of God, family and friends.

Then I left with my daughter, son-in-law, and shared the back seat with my 6 month sweet grand daughter and not so small, BIG DOG on a road trip down south, via Mendocino, The World's Largest Salmon Bake, 4th of July Celebrations and a stop at Vichy Resort in Ukiah, one of only 3 champagne (effervescent) water warm springs in the world. (totally fun!)

Back for another week in Huntington, housesitting, walks, swims, family get togethers, and drinking beer.

Again, back on the road, heading to Yosemite for a not-yet known, pilgrimage to Half Dome with my daughter and 4 other courageous woman, after which, I drove up HWY 49 through the Motherlode and into Grass Valley. Because of the kind and generous spirit of many, I've spent the past two weeks, swimming, floating, boating, hiking, visiting, working, volunteering, gardening, cleaning, organizing and yes, drinking beer! I've stayed down town, in the mountains and on the water. As this is where I left in 2009 for my journey that began with A Year in a Suitcase, it has been a time of grace.

As I continue practicing living in the moment, I've kept my days from being planned.  When asked, "What are you going to do today?" I answer, "I'm going to just wait and see what unfolds!" And each day has held something special and magical.

We don't have to go away to experience something magical. But it does take conscious effort as it is easy to fall into what my friend calls a Six Inch Grave…a rut! We can let our personal and professional lives become... rote, routine, boring, and mundane if we're not careful.  It's tempting to follow the same routine, go the same way to work, eat the same foods, watch the same programs, etc. Then we can have the tendency to become rigid, complacent and inflexible.. all the while thinking… "This is the way it should be! I don't like change!" But if we can just change one small thing each day, or even change something every now and then, we will stay awake and living in each moment, and then we too can experience the magic each moment has to offer!