Clifton Hideaway Inspires

Sweet Hideaway

Last weekend I moved to Clifton, Virginia, a sweet hideaway slightly off the beaten path. It's serene and peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of the beltway. It's an inspiring place where I can write, paint, and take photographs without traveling far.

Morning is a beautiful experience here. Sunlight shimmers through the leaves, the air is fresh and clean. Crickets hum, birds sing, and occasionally the calls of pileated woodpeckers echo through the trees. By mid-afternoon, the sunlight casts a western glow on the trees, shadows grow long again, and the air sinks with humidity. Evenings are quiet and relaxed. It's a romantic, meditative place in the woods.

Everyday after work I return to the cabin and wish I never had to leave. I walk in and find Steve and Doc waiting for me. It's a wonderful sight and my heart fills with joy and happiness. Our retreat is simple, humble, and cozy. Its absolutely perfect....

Need More Casey Lovin'

I was sitting at Peet's when my sister finally rang at 7 a.m. Her phone had been on vibrate and didn't wake her up, and she wasn't up because...Casey actually slept through the night-for the third night in a row!

I returned to my sister Chrissy's house and met my brother-in-law, Ken, for the first time. Then, I met Casey. I approached the ten-month-old's crib with caution, for as much his sake as mine. Kids don't always like new faces, and I didn't want to make him cry. So I stood back, said hello, and let my sister take care of him while I stood by and watched. He was just as happy as he'd looked in the pictures I'd seen over the past ten months. He didn't fuss or complain. He didn't do anything that made his morning routine more difficult than it needed to be. He was good. I was impressed. My sister set him down on the floor and I sat with him. We played together for a few minutes; he smiled, he laughed, he wanted to play with me. 

"He must know who you are," my sister said. "Usually he has stranger danger, which is a good thing, but he is okay with you. He likes you."

"Wow," I said. "That's kinda cool."

"He may recognize you since you look like your sister and your mom," Ken said. 

"He was like that with Jon (my brother) too," Chrissy commented.

Casey and I spent the rest of the day getting to know each other. I was taken aback by how well adjusted and balanced he is. He's extroverted but also self-entertaining. He loves being outside, watching birds, going for walks, playing with his toys, and looking at books.

"I'm so lucky to have such a good baby," my sister admitted. "He's happy and easy going. My pregnancy was far more difficult." Chrissy had gestational diabetes which made her pregnancy very challenging and gave Casey his broad build.

"He's a good baby cause you guys rock at parenting," I said. "I love that you breast feed, only give him organic food, don't give him any sugar, and don't let him watch television. You're off to a great start. I don't know anything about parenting, but my guess is this has something to do with his even temperament." 

Committed to each other, committed to Casey, and committed to maintaining their sense of humor, hanging out with Ken and Chrissy was fun, easy, and filled with a lot of laughter. There was nothing stressful about being with them. If anything, it only furthered my desire to move back to the west coast, be closer to them, and see them more often.

In just a short time, Casey stole my heart. In the short times I had to be away from him while I was in California I missed him terribly. And leaving was only that much harder. There is a longing in my heart; I don't want to miss out on Casey! I'll be heading back soon to get some more Casey lovin'!

Sacred Hearts, Limitless L❤️VE

Time doesn't really exist. It serves only as a measure of existence. It's a human invention that provides structure, boundaries and a sense of space to an otherwise limitless world. There are many things, intangible things, that ignore time altogether, namely love and friendship. Our connections with others-those that are authentic and real-are boundless, free of limitations and free of time. They exist in our hearts just as true today as yesterday, just as pure and innocent, as honest and sacred. These relationships are the ones that bring the greatest meaning to our lives. They give us hope, provide a safe place to be ourselves, and make us better human beings. These are relationships of compassion, understanding, lovingkindness and acceptance. These are the relationships that never fade away, even when years pass unseen or unspoken. These are the kindred spirits and soulmates who never leave us and travel with us everyday in spirit even when we are apart.

Yesterday one of my closest, dearest friends, Jason, unseen for 22 years, accompanied me to a wedding of souls whose love was rekindled after a 20 year separation. It was poetic, magical, blissful. It was paradoxical, being there together, witnessing a sacred union of hearts after so much time had passed. And like Aheri and Shira, whose love was unadulterated and boundless after so long, Jason and I were two peas in a pod, like we'd never been apart. Our friendship, our love for each other, our genuine compassion for each other's well being, superseded all concept of time. We hung out just like old times, talked about our life's paths and cherished our time together in the moment just as we are today. Our friendship, our love, is authentic, sacred and pure, just like the marriage of hearts we beared witness to. It was a magnificent day, spiritual and joyful. Though the moments have passed, the experience will live on within each of us and we will remember the connection, the joy, and profound love we felt on August 2nd, the greatest weekend of love. And we wish all the best to Aheri and Shira, on the beginning of their journey together as wife and wife. Congratulations!!!

San Francisco Bay Area Reflections

De Anza College Pool

No matter how much some things change, our past emotions, memories, and experiences remain the same. Our perceptions and how we interpret those things long ago past are however, always up for negotiation. There is little in Cupertino that hasn't been touched in the 23 years since I lived here. Landmarks that once guided me have vanished; only vague memories exist in my mind. Street names familiar, everything else new. My sense of where I am turned on its head. Sunday morning I walked down memory lane, attempting to get my bearings. A flood of memories and flashbacks overwhelmed me. I remembered people and experiences I'd long forgotten; the best of times resurfaced.

De Anza College. The Spanish-influenced campus has grown but at the core, it is still the same. It's rustic, organic and natural with a touch of modernism that doesn't detract. The air is a fragrant mixture of redwood and oak trees, plants, flowers, and pines. I walked first to the pool where I spent countless hours for years of my life. Swim practices, teammates and coaches flooded my mind; we were west coast champions in 1992. I thought about my college boyfriend, Paul, and wondered what he's been up to these past years. The main quad looks nearly the same-the giant fountain empty because of the drought. I remembered meeting so many friends here and wondered where they'd all gone. I walked over to the Middle College offices, just to feel close to Marty and Vern, my old teachers, even if only in spirit. So many of us have shared our lives here and yet I have not thought of these things in two decades.

De Anza College Quad

I drove past Monta Vista High School to Montebello Road, turned up the mountain, and was overwhelmed with emotion. It is beautiful here. I remembered my first motorcycle rides through these mountains and nights drinking and partying with friends. I remembered Scott, my first high school boyfriend who lived not far from here and countless others I'd not thought of since my teenage years.

Up the Mountain

It was a cool morning. Fog rolled over the South Bay as I made my way up the mountain. The views were spectacular aside from the nearly empty reservoir-the drought making water conservation the number one thing on people's minds. (That hasn't changed.) I passed numerous cyclists climbing the mountain as I listen to morning acoustics and drank Philz Coffee. It was a perfect way to start an even better day. Tremendous peace filled my soul.

Fog Hangs Over the South Bay

I am so grateful to have grown up in such a magnificent place; Mother Nature at my fingertips, conservation at the forefront, and a keen understanding that I am just a guest on this planet and must treat her with lovingkindness and respect. This is where I grew up. These are the memories I cherish.

Mountain Views

Fog Slipping in

Mountain Flower

5 AM Peets

I love waking up and having no idea what my day is going to be like. I love surprises...it's an adventure that leaves lots of room for comedy. I could not have planned all that's happened in the last 24 hours.

The sky was clear, 95 degrees, humidity relatively low for the last day of July in Virginia. I drove to the Richmond airport to catch a flight to California. I rolled into the parking lot and scored a spot right away. Security was a breeze. Plugged into a charging station, no problem. We boarded on time. Then, our flight was delayed-thunderstorms in Atlanta. No planes in, no planes out.  Most of us got off the plane, most reboarded, some did not.

Our flight was easy, smooth, and uneventful-the best kind. I dreamed a few dreams. We touched down gently and fortuitously, airplanes sat at almost every gate, waiting patiently for us to arrive. It was just after 10 p.m.

The Atlanta airport resembled the Jersey shore on a holiday weekend: bodies lounging everywhere, scantily clad, revealing a laisse-fair attitude and attire to match. The terminal looked like the Atlantic City Boardwalk with slews of people eating ice cream cones, chugging down cold drinks. My gate was at the end of the line, host to lost travelers who had to turn back and figure out what they were going to do for the night. One thunderstorm, tens of flights delayed, thousands of lives interrupted. I grabbed a cup of coffee and punched out a blog.

We boarded, departed after midnight, and I caught some z's. We arrived at 2:30 a.m. PCT. The airport was completely unrecognizable except the smell of SFO itself. Airports have distinct smells-a combination of jet fuel, the local smog levels, plus humidity that I came to know well flying helos. I passed by the yoga room, bought a ridiculously overpriced Americano-$4.21-took the Air Train to the rental lot, and rented a GPS free, cramped, underpowered American car. Weeeeee!

280 or 101? Which highway do I take? I search my memory banks and only recall 280 being the more scenic of the two. I opt for 101 because it's the middle of the night and soon I will have to pee. I pass by the old United Airlines building with fond memories. 101 passes through the industrial areas of the South Bay, depressing and unchanged from what I can tell. I recognized street names as I flew down the car-free lanes and found my way to De Anza College, my old stomping ground. I passed Coffee Society-holy shit it's still here?!

The battery on my phone is nearly dead but I pull up Google Maps to finish out the last two miles to my sister's house. I text her, unload, text again. No answer. I knock-quietly-which is stupid. I don't want to wake Casey but expect mom to have super sonic hearing. So, I sit and wait, and wait, and wait...but she doesn't open the door. I text a few more times before I wonder if peeing on her hoastas will kill them. It's chilly out. I forgot my favorite beenie and I'm cold. Perhaps Peets is open. It is. I love the West Coast for this-open at 5 a.m. On a Saturday. Yes!!! These people are doers!

I drive over to Peets. Pee. Order a chai latte and slice of citrus bread. It's peaceful and unexpected. I recognize nothing here-a lot has changed in the 20 years since I was last in this part of town. I watch the sun come up and the town begins to stir. I don't miss it here, but it is kinda cool to visit.