Day Tripper, Part 2......

Another Day Trip. This time to far northern Missouri. Trust me when I say it was...."way off the grid". Our destination was the EcoVillage of Dancing Rabbit, near Memphis, Missouri. Now, I can say that I have been to Nevada, Versailles, Paris, Manchester, Trenton, Carthage, California, Odessa and Memphis. And, they are all in Missouri, USA.

This EcoVillage was founded about 25 years ago and has a population of around 60 folks. Rick's youngest son is a long-time resident of the compound and has recently purchased a home there. Rick, his other son Craig, friend Richard, and I decided to take a day trip up there and look around.

Tess did not go with us, on this excursion. I drove my trusty Ford Escape, roomy enough for 4 adults and a couple of coolers of snack provisions. Driving to Dancing Rabbit is not a quick easy trip. It took us right at 4 hours, and only about half of the journey was on 4-lane, divided paved highway. 

Upon arrival, we had a nice tour of the village. We saw the common houses, the vegetable gardens and the swimming pond. The new house turned out to be aptly named, The Tree House. It sits on a platform, held up by large Osage Orange logs. Most homes (house, yurts, pods or tents) at Dancing Rabbit do not have running water for kitchens or bathrooms. There was electricity in some of the buildings. This is not easy living, for the 21st Century.

Citified Nancy was happy to get back on the road, and headed for civilization and flush toilets. We had one very important stop, on our way home. We drove to Sumner, Missouri, to take a quick look at "Maxie" the giant Canada Goose statue in the City Park...and visit the public facilities. Maxie is mammoth. A vision to behold. He's quite a duck!

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Dear Lord. You have created all of us with individual gifts, graces, needs and wants. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We were created in Your image. Help us all to appreciate Your gifts to us. 

 * more information on Dancing Rabbit, can be found at their website.

 

"Day Trippers, yeah!" Part I.

                    Today, I am writing Chapter I, of my Mid-America Summertime Adventures. 

Last week, we had a Day Trip (from dawn to dusk), to our neighboring state of Arkansas. 

Our mode of transportation was the super reliable, but slightly stubborn EV. I call her Tess, and she can drive us anywhere, with only an occasional complaint from her humans passengers. Usually, our conversation goes like this....."I didn't want to go this way. Why is she taking us this way? How can this be the best route? This car is so stupid." Later, we almost always discover that there is a big back-up on our preferred route, due to lane closure or a detour. Tess has actually saved us frustration and time, as a result of her "self-driving" navigation.

But, back to the Day Trippers. Tess took us from Stilwell, Kansas, to Joplin, Missouri (Tess needed a re-charge) and then down to Bentonville, Arkansas. Bentonville turned out to be a charming little town, that seems to be booming economically. 

Our first stop, basically the reason for the trip, was Crystal Bridges Art Museum. Even though it was the middle of the week, it was packed and parking was difficult. Thankfully a shuttle was provided from the parking lots to the museum entrance. The architecture of the facility is quite stunning and the grounds (woods, paths, sculptures and water features) are worth seeing. The museum features American Art, mostly 20th century items.

Then, Tess drove us to downtown Bentonville. Lunch was a stop at the Flying Fish Cafe. Or maybe it was the "Frying Fish" Cafe. Fried fish fillets, fried hushpuppies, french fries. Yummy and greasy!!! Our next stop was right on the square in Bentonville. Lots of quaint shops and stores. It's also home to the WalMart Museum. We enjoyed looking at the artifacts of a young Sam Walton's empire, the old advertisements and some intriguing plans for the future. An amazing man with a dream. American entrepreneurial spirit at it's best.

We turned Tess off, and drove our "own" route home. We chose to drive over some familiar two-lane highways and visited some old childhood haunts. After all, living a long time, allows for storage of many memories, and it's fun to revisit them. However, I am eternally thankful that current memories can be made, every day.

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Dear Lord, Thank you for our many blessings. Thank you for the opportunity to create new memories. 

 

"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes"

How's your memory, these days? Frankly, mine is excellent. My memory of places, facts, incidents and articles, from years ago, is "practically perfect in every way". The catch is, more and more, I forget what I am currently doing. My memories of the day-before-yesterday are also getting fuzzier by the moment. Don't tell me what that is a sign of. I worked in a Retirement Community for seven years. 

Well, here's a description to illustrate aging memory issues. My latest road adventure took to me to places I had visited years ago. ...and not since. By seeing them, memories came trickling back.  A few of the places were unrecognizable, replaced by parking lots and strip malls. Sixty years can bring a lot of change. But, I remembered them. I could see them as how they were....... as an 8 or 10 year old.

Those were the good old days, you know. Our neighbor lady had an old Woody Station Wagon. A couple of times each summer, she loaded it with 9 (yes 9) neighborhood kids, squeezed onto the three, seatbelt-less, bench seats. I remember the number of riders because she had three children of her own and each of her three could ask 2 friends . Can you imagine the noise level, in that car? She drove one hour each way, on two-lane highways. Packed along were our our swimsuits, towels, snacks and lunches. We were there for the entire day, with no sunscreen, no sunglasses, no lifeguards, or life jackets. Just pure unrestricted water-fun, in the three, icy-cold swimming pools of the aging (even in the 1950s) resort. 

I don't remember what the older kids (all boys) did. They probably took self-guided hikes, looking for snakes, around the property, etc. But, Julie, Judy and I had a great time playing by ourselves. Maybe we slept on the way home. But, as I remember, no kids were seriously harmed in the taking of those trips and all the memories that I have, are pleasant.

Now what did I just eat for breakfast?

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 Thank you, Lord, for bringing us, to where we are today. We have enjoyed the journey. Yes, there were a few serious bumps and quite a few potholes, but we became who we are, by taking that ride and having those experiences. 

We don't want to go back. We look forward to the next adventure. We want to live our lives following Your example. 

 

Where did it go?

Whatever happened to ????.......seems to be a phrase that keeps popping into my mind. I've often written about change and I know that living in the past is detrimental to all of us. Truly, change is growth.

Bridges: Yet, the other day, I was driving across a brand new, multi million dollar span of bridgework. If I hadn't known that the "wide Missouri" was beneath that stretch of highway, I would have assumed that it was just a regular flat road. This bridge didn't resemble a "real" bridge. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned bridge structures? Some of the most iconic, man-made edifices are bridges! The Brooklyn Bridge, the Chain of Rocks Bridge, London Bridge. Gone, like land line phones!

Cell Phones: I refuse to carry my phone with me at all times....and, I won't start doing it. Am I supposed to carry my giant purse around the house all day? My phone (I usually preface that word with a descriptive adjective or two) is too big and heavy, to put into any of my pockets, so, it stays in my purse, in the kitchen. Do I miss calls and texts? Sure. But, usually important calls will come my way again. I miss the REAL convenience of a land phone. My cell phone is a necessary nuisance.

Letters: I received a real letter last week. I think I was so surprised, because I haven't sent a personal letter, myself, in a good many months. It was delightful to be reading a letter. Someone had taken the time to sit down and write to me. Personal emails, texts, etc., are great. But, an actual letter! I remember when personal letters were the norm. Now, the only snail mail we receive these days, is "junk".

Cash: Don't even attempt to pay cash or write a check, at a big-box store. Clerks don't like it. Cards are easier tender and definitely preferred. Or, God-forbid, your necessary item has an unreadable bar-code (scratched or faded). The clerk will freak out, attempt to look it up in a thousand-page print out, or call for a manager. So much for speedy, retail convenience.

I'm certainly not suggesting we return to smoke signals and unpaved roads, but I do miss some "old" stuff. But then, I'm old.

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Lord, overlook, our minor complaints. Our Blessings are many. Thank you for the opportunity to live a long life. We are Blessed, to be able to enjoy so much. Thank you God, for everything.   

 

 

 

"Alouette, gentile Alouette"

 I know next to nothing about wildlife. And, although I grew up in a small town, I consider myself a city dweller. Recently, however, I find that I often spend a bit of my leisure time, observing birds.

My current interest in Avian Lifestyle, doesn't focus on learning anything scientific about the natural habitat or culture of birds. I simply like to observe them, as I would humans. And, yes, I know that seems strange. My particular shtick is to project my experience with humans, into those little feathery bodies.

For instance: It seems they can communicate with each other. Do different species of birds talk the same language as other species? They all seem to know when the bird feeders are empty and the exact moment they get filled. And, what is the real reason that all of the other birds will quit feeding, when a big old woodpecker lands on the bird feeder? Are they afraid of the woodpecker, or do they just not like sharing!

All of the birds seem to pick through the assortment of seeds, that we put into the feeders. I mean, some of those birds eat worms, bugs and other nasty stuff. However, they will pick through the seed until they find the exact type of morsel they want. 

And, while I am trying to figure out the whys and wherefores of birds, I find myself switching over to characteristics of human beings. We, as a species, have a hard time sharing and taking turns. It has to be learned! Sometimes, we are not very tolerant of folks who don't look like us, or have different attitudes, habits or even heights. We, well maybe just us shorties, are cautious of tall folks. We all know picky eaters, in our species, who are very specific about their diets! I, for one, am never going to eat brains!!!!!

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 "Thank You for the world so sweet.

   Thank You for the food we eat.

   Thank You for the birds that sing. 

   Thank You God for everything."
 

"...just the perfect blendship."

 Have you thanked anyone recently? I don't mean send someone a Hallmark Card, with a cute thankful sentiment....where you just sign you name.  I mean actually tell someone how much you appreciate them and that you are thankful for their presence in your life. Or, perhaps, write them a note thanking them. Thinking about this, I realize that the older I get, the more reasons I have to thank folks. Therefore, time is wasting! I need to thank people, while I still can!!!!

Yesterday, I got notice that a teacher, I knew, had recently passed away. How many of his students had made it a point to thank him, for his years of service?  Judging from the number of teachers, in my academic years, that I had bothered to thank, probably not very many. Well, don't you want to make some old teacher's day or maybe week? Find out where they are and thank them, now, before it is too late.

You know, we generally have more regrets about things we did not do, than for things we have actually done. 

Okay, so maybe you don't think you want to thank a teacher.  My teachers were fairly old in the 1960's, so they are all long gone. But, how about the friend that has kept in touch with you, for years, or the friend that calls you, once in a while, just to check on your well-being. Sure, we appreciate them and their concern, but do we ever just thank them for being there for us? 

I know you've heard the expression, "It's the thought that counts". Well, your friends are not "thought readers". Reach out and thank someone right now! Do it today.

Thank you for reading this note. I appreciate you.

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Lord. Thank you.

 

 

 

Mistaken Identity

 Somethings are just not easily transmitted via the written word. Emotions are one example. My daughter has cautioned me to avoid capitalizing words, because in Internet writing, that means that I am angry! PHOOEY. I just like emphasis.

Pronunciation is another thing that often cannot be put into written language. Once, I tried to write a post about Peonies. Those large, outrageous pink and hot pink blossoms, that Southerners use to decorate graves. Grandma said, Pee OH nies. Most everyone I know says, PEE oh nies. (There I go, capitalizing for emphasis.) I'm not quite sure you can understand the difference in pronunciation, by written explanation!

Growing up in a town, known for its predominant immigrant population, most of us learned words from hearing, not from spelling.  The Italian, French and Serbian surnames of our friends and businesses, we learned as we got older, didn't match "spelling wise" with the way that we had learned to pronounce them. Names like Cujakti, Oertle, Fornaciari and Billionis rattled off our little tongues, but we sure couldn't spell them.

Oh, the joy of the written word. In school, there was a boy, I knew, Charles Ann Kelly. He was a great saxophone player and sat behind me, in band. His name seemed a bit odd, certainly, but we all (I thought) called him that. It was his name. After all, Johnny Cash had recorded that song "A Boy Named Sue".  Anyway, (Charles Zanichelli), wherever you are,  I'll remember your name, FOREVER!

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 Holy Lord. Memories are such a blessing. Thank you for remembrances of yesterday. May we look back fondly on these blessings, as we continue on with our lives, today.