Milton-Freewater - Everywhere A Frog

"I think that travel comes from some deep urge to see the world, like the urge that brings up a worm in an Irish bog to see the moon when it is full." -Lord Dunsany

On the road fom Pendleton OR to Walla Walla, WA

there were clouds, rain, and sky
blissfully empty highways to coast on
then up popped the frogs

So I went home from vacation wondering why were there frogs inhabiting the streets of Milton-Freewater Oregon???

From their town website www.mfchamber.com:

The Legend of Muddy-Frogwater
How did it all begin?

It began innocently enough.   It was the early 1970's and a group of good friends in high school and from the nearby town of Weston were hanging out and having a good time.  As is always the case with close friends, good-natured teasing happens a lot.  Before long, the Westonite friend started poking fun at their city name and "Milton-Freewater" became "Muddy Frogwater".

One fateful night settled the destiny of "Muddy-Frogwater" and perhaps saved the town festival.  The group decided it was time the new town name became official, since so many folks were using it anyway.  Late one evening, Raymond, Seymour and Juice sneaked to the edge of town and painted "Muddy-Frogwater" over the "Welcome to Milton-Freewater" sign in one of the first recorded instances of graffiti the town had known.

It didn't take long to decide that the new town festival would henceforth be called "The Muddy-Frogwater Festival".  And thus the legendary festival was born!

* Names have been changed to protect the [not so] innocent.

Right now, I am thinking of the opening line from the classic TV cop show Naked City that went something like this:

"There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them."

There just must be so many more magical stories around the curves in the road . . .

May you enjoy the journey and the blessings it brings

Island Journey

"No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell." - Jewish Proverb

friends scrumptious bacon omelettes harmony chai
island bridge view of turquoise, ferry boats, fast jets
vacation rich with gifts of beauty and human warmth

"A traveler am I and a navigator, and every day I discover a new region within my soul." - Kahlil Gibran

Temple Of Hathor - Loving Kindness

Yesterday right before I posted the picture of a pillar from the Temple of Hathor in the Valley of The Kings in Egypt, I saw a bumper sticker that read "Loving Kindness Is My Religion."

That is really what I would like my "religion" to be. It made me think of this one picture I have left from a trip I was blessed to take with friends and church group to Egypt in the 1980's. I still remember being transfixed in front of the pillar for a reason that was unkown. Our guide finally came up to me and translated the hieroglyphs, read from left to right, as Life is to give love consciously. Whether thousands of years ago, or on a modern car bumper it is still a sentiment and feels good to the soul.

Now remembering, and acting in accordance with sentiment aren't always in sync. If I keep edging closer every chance I get, I believe I will closer to who I am.

I would love to give up blaming, whining, and false beliefs about injustice when faced with unwanted change. So I will begin by reminding myself of what has always been true in my life. There are always blessings to every change. I will continue to fret or agonize over finances and the dire consequences there of because it is part of who I am, a worrier. I will, also, continue to enjoy the luxury of extra time, new opportunities, new places and new paths as I am, also, grateful and appreciative of many simple things in life, like breathing, sunshine, rain, wind, trees, rocks, and people.

Namaskara= I bow to the God in you that is the same God in me

Many blessings