There’s no better way to see a city than by foot. That’s why my East Coast Adventure Pal Nichola and I are happiest taking long walks on our trips.
This is how you can stop to admire an alleyway mural. That’s how you notice the flower in a sidewalk crack or the nifty little architectural detail on the windows of an old building.
As a matter of fact, we are the kind of people who will set out on a walk and then find ourselves six city blocks in the wrong direction all because someone said “hey, look at that!”
It’s truly amazing we get anywhere at all considering how pleased we are to stop and study the odd and quiet things that others drive right past.
Most folks do, however, notice the Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia. We didn’t go in but I did enjoy seeing the massive 36 foot guitar on a historic building that might otherwise have been lost. That’s the historic Reading Terminal which dates to the late nineteenth century.
I didn’t even know the place existed until we went wandering on our last morning in town and found ourselves looking at murals and art installations around the neighborhood. That guitar is certainly a conversation piece and so is the building.
I’m grateful anytime someone chooses the historic instead of tearing it down to make way for the new.
I recently bought a new mattress pad. It’s feathery soft and a little like sleeping on a cloud. Scout oversaw the unboxing and the arranging of it on the bed before hopping up to inspect the quality.
As you can see, he gave it four paws just before settling in for a long nap. I had a hard time getting him to move so I could finish making the bed and finally had to offer him a treat in exchange for dislodging himself momentarily.
He has been napping here most days and has even been sleeping through the night. I can’t believe he abandoned his nocturnal shenanigans just because the bed is more comfortable for sleeping but I’ll count my blessings for this small victory.
In case you’re wondering, I’m enjoying it as well. Not that my comfort is as important as that of the house panther! All the same, it was a good investment for us both!
A colorful table with a bouquet of flowers deserves notice. That’s because in this dreary world where everyone agrees that the country is a mess but we’re all divided regarding why, we need more than ever to celebrate the small stuff.
A pop of color here and there, little bits of beauty, and small doses of positivity may be what’s standing between you and the loss of your mental well being.
Turn off the news, stop reading comments and memes, and start snoozing people on Facebook who stress you out. They do not deserve your energy. I have no problem leaving rooms where I do not belong because I would rather be alone than feel preached at or bullied. I would rather keep my circle small than be with people who judge the world and me using their narrow views as guide.
My cat and I are good pals and he has never once ruined my day.
Look for the good stuff – the new music, the volunteers who are improving your community, the sunsets, and the flowers in the window. If you can’t find anything good, maybe it’s time you take matters into your own hands.
Become the volunteer, plant the flowers, adopt a pet, share a meal with a friend, stand outside and watch the new day dawn because living to see a brand new day is worth celebrating.
Do something useful in this world. Even if you are the only person who notices. It’s the only way things will get better.
Yesterday took me on the road to a couple of neighboring communities for work projects. I normally enjoy these days because I get to drive and see things, maybe eat somewhere out of the ordinary or pop into a store on my lunch break. I get to see different people and maybe even meet new ones.
Yesterday was odd though. I left home early and it was still kind of dark, a little gloomy even. As the sky lightened and visibility became easier, it seemed the world was determined to throw at me every obstacle available.
First, a bobcat crossed my path. This was a happy occurrence because it was the second I have seen in a week and their mere presence in the wild always makes me happy.
Then came a parade of school buses, emergency vehicles,cars that pulled out quick only to go slow, a front end loader carrying a big box, mail cars, and an 18 wheeler blocking the entire road as it attempted to back into a driveway. That was all first thing in the morning and conditions really didn’t improve for the entire rest of the trip.
I drove up on an unplanned road closure so I detoured the best way I knew how only to run into a detour on the detour. A horse in the edge of the road and a couple of Amish buggies later and I was back on track. The most terrifying event of the day though came while traveling on Lancaster’s busy Memorial Drive where I encountered a young adult man in the middle of the street. It is a miracle that I could swerve without hitting him or another car. I felt bad for just driving on but both lanes of traffic behind me stopped and I saw someone running across the street toward the man.
Here’s hoping he got the help he needs – not just in that moment – but in the grand scheme of life.
I traveled far less than a hundred miles yesterday but it seemed longer and was an eventful trip at nearly every turn. Some of it was kind of entertaining while many of these obstacles felt frustrating, distracting and downright scary. Yet I tried not to let it all distract me and to get to where I needed to be safely.
You see, this kind of day always makes me think that someone is looking out for my best interests. The time spent behind the buggies or waiting for the trucker to back into his destination may very well have thrown off my timing enough to avoid an accident. Things happen in the blink of an eye and just a fraction of a second could mean the difference between life and death or at least damage to body and property.
Things didn’t go as planned. So what? I made it home safe and I lived to tell the tale. I got a story out of it. Tomorrow is a new day. Maybe it will be more productive.
I tell you to make the journey fun but we have established here that the journey isn’t always fun. In fact, it can be pretty hard at times. But the journey is life and life is the journey. If you try letting go of the angst and worry and simply enjoy the trip,, you might find it’s a lot easier than you believed.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Be safe out there, friends. Look out for those obstacles but exercise a bit of patience and try to enjoy your day – wherever it takes you!
PS – the above photo was made during yesterday’s unplanned shenanigans.
Four years ago this month, I was wandering around the Old Town neighborhood of Winchester, Virginia.
This is one of my favorite places anywhere because it’s so rich with history and art, small town charm and beautiful things to see. Patsy Cline grew up here. Long before that, it was a vital location for both sides of the Civil War – or the War Between The States, as they quickly tell you it was called.
I have been twice but am feeling a pull to return someday. There were things I didn’t see and others I would like to revisit. Honestly, it’s rare for me to visit a place more than twice because there’s such a big world out there begging to be explored. Still, I wouldn’t mind.
