Late Night Ramble

Everyday
everyday I think of things
I want to write about
in 500 words or so
and when I sit down at the computer
they are gone
sometimes I think about them for days
and finally get them out of my head
and on the screen,
but not to the extent of my other blogs
where there are some days
of two or three posts...
or there were
a few years ago...

In three days
 I leave for Abu Dhabi
in the Middle East
where I am told
I am as safe as I am in the US
as long as I follow the rule
"when in Rome..."

Many thoughts resurface
of big changes I have experienced
in the not so distant past
that didn't turn out the way I wanted
or even resembling anything "good"

at least
not at the time

and then I am reminded
that to become stronger
we must face adversity...
well I know I haven't seen as much adversity
as many people
but I think I have seen enough
to feel like an amazon
strong enough
to take anything on...

This move is for many reasons

The first is to
satisfy my adventurous spirit
of seeing the world
and having the opportunity to do it

The second is
 to have a chance to continue teaching

It became abundantly clear
in the last 8 months

as I searched
 to find myself
regain:
myself,
my inner strength,
my life,
my sanity

that there are many things
I CAN do
and I might enjoy doing
but the one thing
I truly WANT to do
is teach
and to teach very young children

and that just wasn't going to happen
in Texas
any time soon,

The third is the opportunity to save
over half of my salary
pay no taxes on it
have housing provided
and still be able to travel
to anywhere I want
with reasonable costs

the short list
of travel destinations?

Italy
Germany
France
Greece
Australia
New Zealand

So, three great reasons to work overseas
plus, children are grown
no grandchildren in the next several (please) years
parents are both dead
Unattached with no plans to be
anything else again...
It truly is
a great time to have
The adventure of a lifetime

and then return to the states
when I have saved enough to retire
and start a whole new adventure
living off grid
with no bills


that is the plan...

Let's Roll

Truly Grand

Mere words are not adequate to describe The Grand Canyon.

Or the feelings flowing through me as I stood on the edge 

contemplating why it took me this long to be in a place

that I have always dreamed of seeing with my own eyes. 

If you know me, you know I love to be by the water, 

in particular, 

the sea, with waves, where every day, it is different

It is a good question. I love being near the water. 

I also loved sitting by the canyon all day long. 

Observing the subtle changes until the sun set. 

As I gazed out into the vastness, a voice nearby

in utter amazement exclaimed

It is different every day, 

Every day you notice something different

and it doesn't look the same each day.

I have uttered those exact words

many times in regards to the

beaches of Padre Island

There is water in the canyon, 

and just like J. W. Powell

I long to raft down the Colorado River

Sleep on the banks

Cook over an open flame

 enjoy the simplicity of the river 

and the complexity of the canyon.

A true dream that came true. 

It was the first trip I remember 

(apparently I was there as a child) 

to the Canyon, but not the last

I will hike 

I will ride donkeys

I will raft the river

even if only in my dreams.