Happy Trails To You

...speaking of adventures, just recently, while driving in south Kansas City, I viewed some 200 year old ruts or swales, left by the thousands of wagons that traveled on the famous Santa Fe Trail. Now, it was not a surprise that the ruts were there, after all, there are "Santa Fe Trail" markers, all over the area. (Fewer than the number of "Hideout of Jesse James" signs, however. That man was everywhere!!!)  

The Santa Fe Trail, began in Franklin, in central Missouri. William Becknell is considered the founder of the the trail, and he made his first trek in 1821. Franklin is a tiny little town (markers say that there was both a New Franklin and an Old Franklin) on the North Bank, of the Missouri River. The trail crosses the river at Arrow Rock, and goes along the South bank, towards Independence. Independence is known as the spot that became the headquarters, for "outfitting" all of the travelers, on the trails.

Independence celebrates its history, of being the trailhead for 3 major trails, with a yearly celebration named SantaCaliGon Days. Each Labor Day Weekend brings thousands of revelers to this slightly bizarre combination of Craft Show, Fried Food Orgy and tacky Carnival. Attending once, is probably enough.

The travel on the trails peaked in the 1840's. In 1846, the United States Army used the trail to invade New Mexico. By 1863, railroads were beginning to span the county, and the trails ceased to be the best way to move goods and settlers.

According, to my quick and certainly not expert research, the life of the trail was a mere forty-some years. A very short lifetime, indeed.

Dear Lord:  Our life's journey may be long or short. Sometimes we wonder whether one life can make a difference. But, we must remember that we may never know, how our lives might impact our fellow 

travelers. Be kind. Be loving. Care. Help us to remember your commandments.

"Kodachrome gives us the nice, bright colors....."

As of today, I am halfway finished, sorting through my husband's collection, of photographic slides. For some reason, and I can't remember why, Scott insisted on taking slides, instead of photographs. His father did it, too, so maybe it was a hereditary thing. By halfway, I mean, I have looked at approximately 4,000 slides of our family, friends and the kid's sports teams. I've been huddled over a little, one by one, viewer for days, now. 

Before I started this process, I was tempted to just pile all 8,400 slides into a couple of giant trash bags, haul them to the curb on Tuesday morning, and call it a day. I told myself, no one had looked at these slides in, probably 30 years, and no one will, in the future! But, then I felt guilty and began to to tackle the chore.

The first slides were taken in 1965. Vacations, holidays (50 years of Christmas trees and kids opening packages), school programs, Halloween costumes, sports teams, and graduations. Scott took slides, all the time, until about 2010. Then, he switched to a digital camera.

My process, for dealing with these slides, is to view each one and put it back in the reel or toss it. Then when I finish, I will go back and cull some more of them. I have reduced this first 4,000, to three hundred, at this, the halfway mark.

I have come to the following conclusions: The photographer never takes his own picture, so I have very few slides of husband and father. All Christmas Trees, no matter what year, look pretty much the same. You can't distinguish one kid from another in a sports uniform, especially from the bleachers. Most scenery, although beautiful, isn't worth keeping, especially if there are four butts in front of the gorgeous view!!!!

Dear God. I know that I have to do, what I have to do. It's hard. Please, grant me the wisdom to make wise choices and live my life, in a way that honors You. 

5 Top Reasons Why the Super Bowl is Played in February!

 #5. Except for President's Day, sometimes Ash Wednesday, and Valentine's Day. There is nothing much going on this month. And, depending on whether your team wins or loses, you can be too sad, to buy your sweetheart something for Valentine's Day, or too hung-over, to go to the store! It's a marvelous excuse, for poor behavior!

#4. It's so cold, in most of the country, that you can't go outside. You have to stay in and watch the game. It's entertainment. And, by mid-February, even stupid TV commercials look Great.

#3. The Game gives you a great excuse to wear your weekend Sports Jerseys, every day for weeks.....and in this town, delay putting away any Christmas Red Clothing, until March!

#2. The Super Bowl gives you a great excuse to put off doing the taxes, until after it's played ......maybe, until early April!

#1. When the Super Bowl includes your hometown team, the whole city is involved in the pre-game Hype. It's fun. Every building, that can be lit at night, turns RED. The whole town is glowing like an ember! If you are not wearing RED, you're ignored. The Game is on everyone's mind. Everyone is talking about it. We are on a High! Happiness in the middle of Winter, is a good thing. Go Chiefs!

"I've been everywhere, man." TWO

 I'm thinking about a Doctor Seuss book today. No, it's not Horton Hears a Who, even though most of you know, due to my deafness, "What" is my favorite word! As I reflect, on the places I have been this past year, I'm remembering words, from,  Oh The Places You'll Go.  

A couple of my voyages, have been solo, but I have also traveled with old friends. I've visited relatives, stayed with friends and met amazing new people. I've returned to my birthplace and even seen a new country. My trips have utilized trains, planes, vans and automobiles.  I've seen two oceans, mountains, skyscrapers and grassy huts. My life had been expanded by new experiences.

Everyplace I went, I had a wonderful time. My travels have been a blessing. I'm keeping my bags packed. I want more.

"You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!"

New Ventures

 I have discovered the best way to start a brand new year.  You have to try something absolutely new. Travel. Experience a totally different culture, eat something you have never tasted before, attempt to communicate in a new language and reflect on the possibilities of what may lie ahead. Any or all of those things are the answer to a better life.

Two weeks ago, my biggest worry was "how can I cope when MODot shuts down the Broadway Bridge?" ( A scheduled March activity). Now, I'm thinking, so go ahead, Highway Hackers!! It's only one bridge. There are 4 more and I know where I am headed, once I get across the river. Egad, it's not as if I have to swim the Missouri River!

I need to redirect my priorities. Quit worrying so much and focus on being the best person, I can be, for myself, my family and my friends. Life is way too short! It doesn't do any good to concentrate on what has happened or what might happen....fears are negative. Fear never solved anything or changed very much. From now on, I'm going to focus on the good possibilities. Just like Balsamic Vinegar or really good Chocolate, it's going to change my life.

Dear Lord. Thank you for the Hope that You give us. Open our eyes, to the best of life.

The Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the Truth.

 A lot of words have been written about honesty. I think the adage, "Honesty is the best policy", is the best advice, that anyone can give. Recently, I read a quote that said, sort of, "When you tell the truth, you don't have to remember what you said." Very thought provoking.

And, although I do not think of myself as an untruthful person, there is one big lie, that I have been telling. Okay, maybe two. I don't think the weight on my driver's license is correct. If a policeperson should ask for my photo ID, there will be a pause, followed by hysterical laughter.

My most serious lie, which I recently corrected, has been highly visible. I'm telling the truth, when I say that I had not changed my picture on Facebook, in well, let's say it was my original photo, from way back when. In my defense, it was a good picture, and it was me, 15 years ago!

So now, check it out, my new photo is current. It was taken last month. It's truthful, but not youthful. There you go...and that's the truth.

Dear Lord. We can't hide anything from You. You are all wise and all knowing. We praise Your Holy Name.

Happy New Year

 To quote a line from one of Irving Berlin's, holiday songs, "I've been ringing the New Year in.", this week. But, before I did that, I made a few spectacular "old year" memories. It is an understatement, to say that my life has had some deep, dark moments, in the past year, but I have rallied and ended 2022 with a resounding bang! 

Here's a list of just a few of my "end-of-the-year" remembrys.  (Yes, I am aware that is not a word, but it should be!)

#1. A Christmas, that includes small children, is very loud. But, the anticipation and joy of Christmas morning, is well worth the break in my normally quiet existence.

#2. Rediscovering an oldie, but a goodie. For a good time, pull up a video of Groucho Marx singing, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady". And if you can't decipher the lyric, Google it, and get ready to laugh, blush and enjoy. I'm generally not a fan of Ink, but OMGolly, I might request this tune at my funeral!

#3. Discovering that my adult daughter is not the only person, in my life, who can begin to laugh, and in a matter of seconds, be reduced to sobbing. Her brothers and I have witnessed this phenomena, since their childhoods, but now, it seems, her daughter does it too. My thought is, that although it is a little weird to witness, it is an excellent release of stored-up emotion, that most of us couldn't do, if we tried. I think it's very healthy!!!!

#4. Solo Travel is an adventure. Red Caps, for Amtrak, are worth their weight in GOLD. For assistance and information, during busy holiday travel, they can't be beat. Why can't air travel, be improved with such help, or in the least, can they hire folks that speak plainly and slowly, on or off their PA systems? Although, one TSA guy did tell me "you can't be 75." I guess, that was worth the hassle of everything else!

Dear Readers....here's hoping your New Year is the best yet. Stay safe and keep moving forward.

Lord: We thank you for our many, many blessings. Help us to focus, not on ourselves, but others. Help us to enjoy the present and look towards the future.