Right Now- June Recap

 RIGHT NOW...

I'm listening to my inner voice that says "Whatcha waiting for?"...it's time to update the blog.

Yes- yes it is...as so much happened in the month of June.   Big things-little things- and everything in between things.

I'm loving 

That we got to spend some quality time

 in the company of family..

Ever so grateful that these two answered our call 

when we found ourselves homeless in Mansfield Ohio..

providing us with a place to stay while  the RV was repaired...

We had a chance to catch up with  friends who 

not only put up with my silly shenanigans

*as yes- we were getting a little travel weary 

by the time we made it to their place in VT

But had a great suggestion for somewhere "cool" 

(literally and figurately) to spend an unseasonably hot day

in Ticonderoga New York..

For while this community is known for it's role 

in Revolutionary history...

by day 45 of our travels...let's just say...we were done...

Time to celebrate our own moment of nostalgia..

the first time I met Hubby- he was in costume as Captain Picard..

June brought time for cold brews for just the two of us..

And a lovely lunch with our youngest..

who is thriving in her new community in Philadelphia...

There was a  chance for quiet conversations with 

the best man...

and his wife...

their generous hospitality will not be forgotten!

But alas...after so long on the road..

It is time we mosey on home..

for during this month...

we  have indeed wandered through the past

and reconnected with friends who

have been there since our story was first started..

And while Uma our reliable old gal

gave us a bit of a scare on the return trip home..

I am still very grateful for all the adventures she has taken us on...

We agreed that this would be the swan song- for epic road trip adventures using the RV-

but what incredible memories we have had with her as our ride.

*do not despair- she will still see plenty of love from us

we just plan to limit her range to "border states"..

Until next time...

May you too have a chance to wander...

for it is through the wandering..

that we often find the most peace!

Spring Fling Week 3/4

SAW-HEARD-DID

Saw…these past few weeks we have seen so many friends from back in the day. 

From college pals…

who have known us since 

our story first began

To online friends 

Where few of us still practice the craft that brought us together…

But we so enjoy growing old together…

There was lunch to be had with colleagues..

From way back when..

To not so long ago…

And of course no trip to Virginia is complete without

Spending time with our own match-makers in Williamsburg.

Heard…The echoes of the past…as we wandered through battlefields..

From the optimistic views of the people

Believing the argument could be settled with a single battle…

To the realities that this war would linger for much longer…

We would wander further back in time…

Where the surrender of the British…would 

Signal the end of British rule 

And lead to the birth of our nation..

A mere baby at 250*

*we didn’t make that connection when we started to plan this fling-

but it sure has been a happy coincidence to see special exhibits thru out our travels. 

DID.. While these past 2 weeks were indeed filled with a lot of “doing”…I am indeed grateful for 

Not just a pit stop for a cold treat on a hot summer day..

Or a quiet lake to catch our breath..

But also

I’m very grateful for a brief intermission from our adventures..

Giving me a chance to take care of an appointment or two..

And check in on these two

Until next time..

May your days contain

A reminder of your past..

An opportunity to make some new friends..

And the time to take it all in!

Spring Fling- Week 2

SAW-HEARD-DID  

SAW…This week we saw the end of phase 1 of this multi-phase adventure to the eastern part of the US when we crossed into Virginia

HEARD…The silence of the forest…along with an occasional pitter patter of rain.    It’s a very calming sound as long as the radar stays green!  

DID…it’s been a pretty quiet week in terms of exploring.   

We did swing by Mammoth Cave National Park- if just so I could get a sticker and a stamp for my NP passport book 

The visit confirmed I’m a “wet” cave kinda gal- where the cave is filled with cool dripping stone formations.   We toured just the basic self guided section that -while indeed proved to be mammoth- didnt have any of the  cool rock crystals that I typically expect to see on a cave tour.   Thanks to a conveniently displayed placard- I learned it’s all about where the moisture goes. 

Until next time…

May the path- no matter how long and winding it may become- get you where you want to be

For us that means  moving into phase 2- a few weeks reconnecting with cherished friends from our past! 

Spring Fling Week 1.5

 SAW-HEARD-DID

SAW- I saw an opportunity and I took it!  

 Yep- for this road trip- I set myself a goal to blog weekly.   Historically- the blog gets updated monthly out of habit- so switching to weekly seemed like a lofty goal for me.   But, today- being a lazy day at camp- I thought- why not use this quiet afternoon to   reflect on yesterday's adventures.   As both had very special meaning to me.  

HEARD-  I heard the call to post at Churchill Downs!  

As a kid,  I grew up knowing exactly what we would be doing the first Saturday in May.   Dad would have made a pitcher of mint juleps (often using mint from his own garden) and the TV would be tuned to "the race".    Mom would be sitting in her cardinal chair (a chair with large wooden armrests- upholstered in cardinal fabric)-  ready to cheer on whatever horse caught her fancy (usually based on the name that she found most amusing).    It is as  they say these days "a core childhood memory" for me. 

Richard sporting one of his Derby day creations..

most likely as he perfected the batch of mint Juleps

So- when I looked up and noticed that Churchill Downs was in striking distance of our campsite for the next few days- I just knew I had to go.   

Hubby, without such childhood memories- was far less interested- even more so when we discovered that "Spring Meet" is a 9 week run that includes  44 days of racing  at Churchill Downs...and while  May 8th was not nearly as crowded as the 145k people that attend the Derby- it was still way too people-y for him!  

He dropped me off at the museum entrance with the instructions to "take your time- have fun!"  (He's a wise man that Hubby!)

The museum has some colorful exhibits and a fabulous film shown in a 360* format- where you feel like you are in the center of the track.   After that- the docent shows up to lead a tour out to the racetrack.

Imagine my surprise- when this guide announced that we had all timed it just right- as the horses were due to race in a few minutes!  

And sure enough...soon after we reached the grandstands- the bugle was played- signaling the arrival of the horses to the track and noting that the race would soon begin.   

Not often do I feel the presence of my parents these days...but in that moment I did...that bugle sound took me right back to my childhood family room...surrounded by my family.    Feeling their love yet again on a sunny day in May!

DID- In the Spring of 1984... I did a "thing".   

Taking my oath- becoming a 2LT

I applied  for an ROTC scholarship.   A decision I made at the time out of perceived necessity.    A decision that would teach  me solid  leadership skills long before my nursing peers.  A decision that would indeed change the trajectory of my career as a nurse and put me on a path to meet some really good people...to include the man I call Hubby!   A decision to this day that I take a tremendous amount of pride in having made!

So yesterday- when we stopped off at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership just outside of Ft. Knox Kentucky- the last thing I expected was to take a trip down ROTC-Memory Lane.

But- unbeknownst to Hubby and I- the museum is not just dedicated to General Patton but also serves as a tribute to  junior leadership programs such as ROTC.   I guess when the tanks left with the relocation of the Army's Armor school- they needed to restructure the museum.   And now that the base serves as the command center for all things ROTC- well, it just made sense to the museum folks to add in some ROTC history to fill those large galleries.

I am glad they did...for it gave me an opportunity to learn more about one of the military's greatest combat leaders.  

Oh sure- he had his flaws- but he also had the courage and conviction that inspired his men.  The museum in the curation of their exhibits did an outstanding job of framing his career thru the lens of core leadership skills- all of which are taught through ROTC programs across the country!  

Wrapping it up

It has indeed been a busy few days...with weather gradually warming up- and us both finding our way on this spring fling adventure...

Until next time...be it a week, or a month or maybe just a few days...

May you find yourself having an opportunity (or two) to revisit the past thru new experiences

...and may they fill your heart with joy!