June 30--Beauty Everywhere

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough.  --Toni Morrison

    Can you remember all the beautiful things you've seen in this world? I certainly can't. I have been to many places and have seen all sorts of beauty. I do take photos, but at some point I say to myself that I don't want to look through my camera lens--I want to just take it in and enjoy where I am in the moment. 

    One aspect of the world's beauty is its humans--all shapes, sizes, and colors. I enjoy people-watching, appreciating the variety, and reminding myself that we are all doing our best to thrive in this life. I would add that the beach, where I recently spent time, is an excellent place to people-watch. 

    Closing out June and its theme of beauty,

        Leta

Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix

June 29--Love Shines Brightly

Even after all this time. The sun never says to the earth, "You owe me." Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.  --Hafez

    I'm a big fan of the Astronomy Picture of the Day. The photo below is one. Note that the little dot in the upper right corner is the relative size of planet Earth compared to our brilliant star. I like to look at these daily images because so much of our Universe is incomprehensible to me, the size of the sun being an example. It reminds me that what I don't know and don't understand is HUGE, and what I do know is quite small. 

    Grateful for Something Bigger Than Me,

        Leta

June 24 APOD

June 28--You Never Know

The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs.  --The Be Good Tanyas

    So true! When I am walking Barney, I try to pay attention to the birds we see and their songs. No matter how common-place they are, I love seeing robins. We have loads of squirrels in our neighborhood, and sometimes it's tough to hear the birds over squirrel chatter. The mourning dove's song is quite common. That is especially fitting for this morning because...   

    Yesterday afternoon when I arrived to teach my MELT/yoga class, I learned that one of my long-time students made his transition while I was away on vacation. 😢😢😢 While I'm happy for him that it was a fairly quick passing, it is a shock. He was kind, helpful and enthusiastic. He was my most consistent male attendee in a predominantly female class. I miss him. 

    Reminded that we don't know how long we'll be here,

        Leta

Mourning Dove

June 27--HOME!

Going to the woods is going home.  --John Muir

    I am HOME! Here are the final trip stats:

• 17 days
• 4,658 miles
• 10 days driving long distance
• 7 days not driving
• 16 states besides Kansas (Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma)
• 2 rainbows
• lots of long scary bridges and tunnels
• gas price range from $4.35 to $5.33 (only one time over $5)
• 3 more stadiums (Braves, Rays, Marlins) checked off on my MLB map with only the two Texas stadiums (Rangers, Astros) remaining
• awesome time spent with the Hardin family in St. Louis, niece Debi, great-nephew Bryce and dear friend Paige
• the extraordinary blessing of safe and fun travels

Happy to be home!

    Leta

Rainbow #1 at Ocean City, MD

June 26--I Want "Beam Me Up, Scotty!"

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.  --Rachel Carson

    On Saturday's drive, I enjoyed the beauty of five states, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. I needed those "reserves of strength" as I drove from Panama City Beach to West Memphis, about 525 miles. Exhausting. I saw one billboard that said, "Go to church or the devil will get you." I kid you not. Isn't that inspiring and motivational!?!?! Then there were the two exits, one for Laughter Road and the second for Getwell Road (photos below). I was also treated to a rainbow. Those were the highlights, otherwise it was just a lot of pavement and traffic. The best part is that today's end is HOME!!!

    Westward and north from here,

        Leta

June 25--A Super-Fun Easy Day

 Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.  --Thich Nhat Hanh

    This huge trip has given me a lovely taste of Earth's wonder. The mountains of West Virginia compared to the flat lands of "Alligator Alley" in Florida; beaches and forests; rivers and bays; oak trees and palm trees. Though it has been a huge drive, I've touched just a small part of our magnificent Earth home. Our Mother deserves all the love we can give her. Note: Kansas is NOT flat; south Florida IS flat.  

    What a treat to sleep in and relax for a day before the 1,000+ mile (2-day) trek back to Kansas. I love to swim laps outdoors, and was able to do so at the local Aquatic Center. Then back at Paige's house, we lazed in the pool most of the afternoon, of course, chatting non-stop. We rode in the golf cart to the Sandbar Seafood & BBQ Joint for a seafood supper and cocktails. Back at the house, we played a few games of Sequence and Rummikub. We agreed that the Universe is going to continue to come up with ways for us to see each other, even though Paige lives in Florida and I live in Kansas. 

    Today's drive takes me to West Memphis, Arkansas. 

    Fly, Spaceship, fly!

        Leta

Words to live by...

June 24--A Break After the Biggest Driving Day

The poetry of earth is never dead.  --John Keats

    I covered a lot of earth yesterday, over 600 miles from Miami to Panama City Beach (PCB). My dear friend (and 2021 Jamaica roomie) Paige offered me a couple nights' visit to break up the drive back to Kansas. Her home is like a resort, so spacious, comfy and beautiful. She drove me in her golf cart to her favorite Thai restaurant where we had great Pad Thai. Then she drove me along the beach and around the shopping area. What fun to cruise in the golf cart! Plus I'm getting a "doggie fix" with her wonderful pup, Rosie.

    It was over 100 degrees most of the day, and I think the humidity was 99.9%. I am grateful for a lot of things:

• air conditioning
• safe travels
• interstate highways
• a new reliable vehicle
• the Waze app guiding me flawlessly (even yesterday around a closed FL turnpike section)
• talented engineers who design those scary bridges and tunnels, and the talented folks who built them
• all the angels working overtime for me to have such an awesome trip
• all the folks who let this confused driver from Kansas into the proper lane at the last second
• all the different vegetation, flowers, etc that I have seen in the many states I've passed through
• that I am just crazy enough about baseball and my MLB mission to make this trip

    My son said in a text to me: "Thanks for sharing your sense of adventure!" That makes it all SO worthwhile!!

    Relaxing today in PCB,

        Leta

Cool artwork outside Marlins ballpark