Can you really ever go home again? And if so where is it?

I am planning a week long trip back to Paso Robles to see old friends and visit the sun again next week. I am really looking forward to eating at my favorite places seeing the people I have missed this past year and wandering around Paso and see how I feel.
I have found in the past that you can't go home again. Oh it is great to see everyone, and to visit your old job and the resaurants and places that you loved, but you no longer belong. You no longer have a sense of history that is more current. Everyone's life has moved on including your own.
What I do know is that you have strong ties and that your real friends are there and they welcome you with open arms and they are what make it feel like home again. It is like with your family. You pick up where you left off. With no gaps. That is when it feels so warm and fuzzy that you can't stand it. We all know how that feels.
I know the 9 days I will be there will fly by, but the memories are what will live on with me. After all that is what life is all about right? Having all kinds of memories when you are too old to go anywhere or do anything so you can sit on a porch and relive the good times and trips and people that made life good. My Grandmother taught me that. She gave me my wanderlust when I was very young, and I love her for that. She also said you always pay for good shoes, a good haircut and good perfume. Hmmmmmmmm.
Well, I am already packing to leave on this next adventure. I will take lots of pictures of it all so you will be seeing them here in the coming weeks.
Talk to you all when I get back! Keep kicking up your heels until I return!
Coy

Yosemite, my heart

I was talking to my tent mate Jane (via email) who lives in New York about our summer in Yosemite. I was there from May to August. Jane and I had a great time while we were there. I packed my side of the tent with "stuff" because I brought my crafts and my bike and then I bought other stuff while I was there. I think she was amazed I could still walk to my cot.

But what I loved about that time was the women who came together. I woke up each morning smelling the fresh air and the forest around us. I went for walks and saw the creatures that learned to adapt with so many people milling about in their habitat. I met Native Americans who outwardly accepted what has happened to their land. I saw their generosity to share the stories, and their culture and tried to give back to them some of the respect and care to the valley that they love. And they shared this wonderous place through their eyes.

I have always been drawn to the place since my paternal Grandmother took us there in the early 60's. We saw the famous firefall, the bears at the garbage dump, and the rangers telling tales around a huge fire in the campground each night about the Native Americans. I do remember most how cold the water was when we went swimming, and how magnificent Half Dome was at sunset. How El Capitan was bathed in gold as the sun began to rise in the morning as the low tully fog would dissipate. I loved to get up earlier than everyone else and go out to see it all before the crowds of summer.

Since then Nancy and I have gone there many times during different seasons. I have taken several friends for their first look at the valley and I never lose the emotion of seeing it for the first time again. Cal and I have been there a few times and have hiked in the snow in February.

We have seen many different sides to the valley, from snow to the warmth of summer, but the granite cliffs remain. Not the same, but still tall and grand. They reach to heaven and make a small miracle in between them. The meadows that John Muir loved and that Ansel Adams photographed are always there for us. They have changed over the last 50 years I have been going to the Valley. There have been floods, landslides, and fires. But the Valley heals itself. It keeps coming back. The trees grow back and become better because of a fire has cleaned out the underbrush and made room for new seedlings. A flood cleaned out the rivers and the streams so that they flow better and left silt so that more flowers will grow in the meadows that were underwater. The landslides are how we got half dome in the first place. If you look across form half dome when you are there you will see a full dome that is what it used to look like.

In high school I had a great biology teacher that taught me that all things change. Nothing bad or good just that all things change. Well, I learned it well. In the Valley that I love, it changes all the time. But it still takes my breath away every time I see it. I love the changes and accept that there are things that will be different every time I go.

Next time you go to Yosemite, try to take a side trip to Hetch Hetchy reseviour and take a walk to the falls there. This used to be as beautiful as Yosemite but they put up a dam in  and the water is for San Francisco. John Muir fought it until he died. It is a wonderful hike around it and you can imagine how beautiful this valley might have been.

So enjoy my amature pictures of a valley that I know makes my heart fill with joy everytime I see it. I hope each of you has a place like this.  

Do we really see around us, or are we passing it by?

My girlfriend Nancy of 20 plus years sent me an email that had someone else's blog posting in it. It was a short poem about how we are all so attached to our cell phones, I Pads, computers and jobs that we don't take the time to look up and see what's around us. Oh we say we are in touch because we are on Facebook and we twitter and tweet or whatever the hell else you do. Oh yea and lets not forget texting. Where we teach ourselves not to spell correctly.  And as those of you who really know me understand I have resisted all of this. I like to send emails but there is nothing better than a face to face.

When I lived in Paso Robles, I liked to go to breakfast on Saturday's to Touch of Paso and catch up with the women who worked there. They were friends that I could chat with and it was a face to face meeting that we all enjoyed. I like to pick up the phone and talk to hear the intonation of the voice so I know if there is really a problem or if it is just a minor thing. I can't tell that from a text. Even an email which I do use, doesn't satisfy me.

I like to stop if I see a scene that is rare and beautiful on my way to work and find a moment of time to smell the roses that used to grow at the end of the rows of the vineyards that I passed on the way into town. You can't do that if you are doing 14 things at once. You don't notice the play of clouds across a clear blue sky as a storm moves in. Or as it moves out to leave a sparkling last spray of raindrops on a tree. Or find a rainbow when it comes if you are texting. I find myself every morning on my way to work leaving early to catch the early light at the lake or the wispy clouds over the hills just so I can spend a few minutes drinking in the beauty of it.

So when you are looking out and up and finding yourself with friends and family, enjoying the interaction between people and have the experiences you can enjoy in the years to come. Those are the memories that you will always have in your hearts. Holding your grandchilds hand and showing him the beauty of nature and the life lessons that will make them a better person in their life. That is the time you can listen to their questions no matter how small.  Who knows what might come up? In this day and age of technology (some of which we are using right now to reach out to you) I am missing out on a beautiful almost perfect sunny day on the coast. Granted it is still cold but there are some beautiful clouds in perfect puff ball style and the birds are chirping. My dogs are awaiting me to take them for a walk down to the beach and if I am lucky, maybe we will see the Orca that has been sighted off the coast. Who knows? But I do know that I miss my Saturday morning chats with my "girls" and I miss that I don't get to share little things that go on in the day to day routines, but I do get to send pictures now. And I do get to stay in touch with old friends that are far away in places. So I guess there are some redeeming factors.

Enjoy the Day!!!! Coy

Drift Creek Trail and Falls

This is the trail that Cal and I took Doobie and Kirbee for a hike. Yes, in Oregon they let you take your dogs on the trails. It is amazing to have them go with us and see, hear and smell what we do. It was three miles (round trip) of switchbacks and roots to step over and birds singing. It was quiet, peaceful and soul reviving. There of course is a Creek that you somewhat follow as you follow the path down mostly gentle slopes. The scenery is dense and smells of earth and water and fresh rain. It was still muddy in some places (doesn't surprise me!) as the rain hasn't stopped. I don't think we would have this much green if it did. It was a warm day for Oregon (mid 60s) but still chilly with the tall trees covering us and dappling the trail with bits of sunshine. It was enough.

 As you can see there is a bridge to cross to get to really see the falls. It is a small suspension bridge. It moves and sways as you cross and bounces as you walk. It is a deep enough slash in the earth that you would be dead or not want to be alive if you fell off it. Cal is afraid of heights but he made it across by just going for it. The dogs barely noticed. I on the other hand, well I was a bit intrepid, but wanted to get a better shot of the falls.

I found myself watching the sway of it and getting into it as I crossed it and then it was over! Funny how even as your heart is racing and your body is saying this isn't a good idea, you can put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Just like in life.

Here are the boys before we crossed the bridge. They were as always curious and ready. Cal of course sporting his Doobie Brothers T shirt.

 

  This was the pay off. My picture cannot give you the spectacular sight of it. The sound of it and the sun glinting off of the water falling and crashing down on the rocks below. The smell of the fresh scents and the force of nature that pulls you to stand in awe of this nautal beauty. It was worth it to enjoy the walk and see this. I don't have the dimensions of it or the gallons of water that goes over it in the peak season. I guess I could find out, but I just was caught by the fact that within a half hour of my house this is there every day.   I don't compare it to anywhere else, or wonder if there is a begger or better place, I just love the fact that it is here. I am just a happy camper to find that there are so many places here to see like this one. In the coming months now that there wll be some dry days we will be taking some of these day hikes and I will be showing you what we are finding.

Live Large !  Coy

Art and where you can find it

In Newport which is about 26 miles south of where I live there is a small district by the beach that Cal and I found by accident called Nye beach. In front of one of the buildings by the beah is this statue made of old junk parts and bits of glass. I have visted this piece many times and have caught the sun striking the head to make it glow and the rest although it has turned rusty from all the rain and salt air it is stunning to see. It has a name something like the Ambassador I think and it does it's job well. With it's arms spread in welcome to all who come to visit.
It always reminds me that art can be anywhere. I see it everywhere here in Oregon. I see it from the people who take driftwood and make baskets to the one who draw huge pictures in the sand that only last until high tide or a windy day. The ones you see like this and the photographers everywhere. It doesn't matter though if your art is displayed for the public or you put it on the fridge or you have it in your backyard. It reflects your inner beauty and makes you happy to look at it.
Not all art I see I would put in my house but I can appreciate it. Cal often asks me when I am admiring a piece of artwork, "Where would you put that?" or "That wouldn't fit in with what we have."  It doesn't have to, but I can still like it and enjoy looking at it. I can still open my senses up and take in someone elses creativity and applaud them for taking the time and energy to do it and putting it out in the universe. I don't like all forms of art and music but I don't like all kinds of food either. But for that moment in time I can try it on, see how it makes me feel and in my mind's eye take it for a test drive. That's what is so good about it. My friend Nancy likes modern art. It's not my favorite, but when we went to the Musem of Modern Art in San Franciso, in the 4 or 5 floors of paintings and sculptures I found several pieces that I enjoyed very much. And the experience was great to see something that was out of my usual scope of art. I saw it through her eyes in some ways.  Now I look at it from a different perspective. I love the art she has in her home becuase she has shown me how to appreciate the more modern side of my creativity. I evolved because of her. Amazing how art will do that to us!
Art and music to me are what brings joy to the world. Some people say that we don't need to teach children these things. I look around at the disconnected generation that we have now, and say oh yes we do. We need to teach them how to do one thing at a time. How to appreciate all things of beauty in art and music and math and science. They need to be well rounded people, not just techies.
So, if you have children or grandchildren, take them to a gallery or to a museum along with taking them to Disneyland. Make sure that they are getting both sides of the coin. Even if they grow up to be a world class scientist, make sure that they have happy memories of seeing VanGogh or Ansel Adams or a piece of modern art. Show them the world is bigger and brighter and let them choose what they like. Children love to go to those places and ask all kinds of questions that you probably won't be able to answer but go anyway you may learn something too. And the next time you see something in a window, don't just walk by, stop and take in someone elses creativity. Take a moment to send up a silent thank you to those that take the time and the labor of love to make something beautiful. We all have creativity in some way, we just need to let it come out. Uh-huh, even you! I used to say I didn't have it, but it takes courage, and experimenting, and trial and error sometimes to find where it is. But we all have it. We just need to go find it. I did and I don't let anyone tell me I can't do it now.
So, go enjoy some art and find a little creativity in yourself today!

Spring is here!!!

Ok so now I have added a picture of D Beach which is close to where I live for all of you to see. I now will be adding pictures to the blog of our area so you can all see where we are and what is happening. Spring is here and this young girls heart turns to travel. Our first trip is going to be to Silver Creek Falls State Park. It is about three hours from here but i am looking forward to taking the dogs and going on some walks. We will go soon. I am just waiting to make sure we have aweek without rain (OH sure!!!) But they tell me it does happen sometimes here.
I am still trying to find a new job. Old one sucks but I am taking a new approach and am going to stop being so cautious and overly professional and just be me (UH-OH!) So, I am going to start living authentically and be true to myself.
Then I am going to embrace Oregon, and try to see as much of it as I can while it is warm (?) and see if I survive it for the summer. Then I will be making decisions on what I will be doing for the next half of my life. 60 will be a real turning point. This middle age thing is a real page turner I tell you! But I need to get more exercise and I need to see new sights although the changing ocean and the flux of the tides is really fascinating to me.
I will download pictures of Siletz Bay that I pass each day to and from work at high and low tide so you can see what I mean. It makes me stop a lot just to watch the play of water. We women are so tied to the tides that it is amazing that we don't live in the ocean! Think about it, most of you love baths, the ancient's relate the moon as a woman, our female cycle is usually 28 days like the moon, which in turn creates the tides that contols the largest bodies of water on the earth. Mother Earth I might add. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Well, it is quite a coincidence don't you think? Or am I going off the deep end?
Well maybe so, but it is a trip I have survived many times and come out wiser. So, I will celebrate the small triumphs today. This is a small look at where I am. Cold and beautiful. Flowers are blooming and I am itching to get moving and find new places to explore.
I am back.

Paths of life, journeys beyond.............

It has been a while since I have had the time or the mindset to write in here about the path and journey I am on. Parts have ended, some may just be beginning. I sit here this morning with just the sound of the waves and the wind in the trees wondering what spurred explorers to venture from the shores of home and go to unknown lands maybe to die alone so far away just to see new things. I must have that gene. I know I could go and see and travel if I had the opportunity. I would love to see how Mother Earth is looking and what she has to offer up to us. I am not into her riches but in her natural beauty and would love to find all the less traveled paths to try.
I used to do them alone, then some with Cal and some I took friends and Shannon with me. It was always good to share them with someone. But I learned more alone. The solitude takes you deeper and I found that the spiritual side begins to come closer and connect with the space you are in. I found it amazing at times how quickly you can be recharged be a short hike alone in a place you love with no distractions. Here it is the vast ocean that does it. I have yet to try any boating yet, but I bet sailing will eventually be one of my favorite things.
Life is full of wonder and surprises, some good some not so good but I am trying to learn from it all and I hope that I will get back in to wandering through my thoughts and trips again now that I have the space in my brain back. Thanks Scott for being such a good person, happy trails and see you on the other side, or if there really is reincarnation, I hope you come back as a dog then I can find you. Remember, white dog and silly looking just like we discussed.