I have driven the highways and byways of LA, Seattle, Phoenix, Houston and Minneapolis
Crossed the mountains twice

Looped through Chicago and Washington DC
All to help bring me to my next chapter of life

Home

I have driven up and down California, north to Seattle and across the country twice
All to bring me home

This time, there are no roads to take me there
Instead my travel will be by air, across the sea thousands of miles  from where I started

Home

At the end, I will be where I am supposed to be after all these years

Destiny has finally brought me

Home

I remember when:

I was just a girl
Visiting New York City
My first plane flight
Living with my parents overseas
Learning to speak another language

I remember when

Jumping in piles of leaves in the fall
The smell of fall
Building a treehouse in the forest
Watching the birds from our back window
Watching my mother make jelly
Going trick or treating with friends

I remember when

Sleeping over at friends houses
Roasting marshmallows
Selling lemonade
Playing softball

I remember when

Watching my father garden
Going downtown with my mother
Getting new dresses for school
Watching the new Beatles movie
Walking to school

I remember when

Troll dolls were in
The smell of lilacs outside my window
Snowy winters
Christmas with friends

I remember when

It’s Sunday morning
Folks are out
Going to and fro
Shopping
Having breakfast
Drinking coffee

It’s Sunday morning
Folks are out
Running errands
Being with friends
Drinking coffee
People watching

It’s Sunday morning
Streets are busy
With people walking
To and fro
Meeting friends
Reading newspapers

It’s Sunday morning
In the city
Time to be mellow

You reside in the recesses of my mind
You are in my blood
My spirit
The total essence of me
You are in my heart
My soul
What makes up my spirit
The total essence of me
You have always been there
Since time began
You never left

You course through all of me
You are part of everything I touch

You reside in the recesses of my mind
You are everywhere
You always have been

Try a Little Kindness

In this rough world
Try a little kindness

Instead of being harsh
Try a little kindness

Instead of complaining
Try a little kindness

Instead of a frown
Smile
Try a little kindness

Instead of unhappiness
Be happy
Try a little kindness

Instead of darkness and pain
Walk towards the light
Try a little kindness

Instead of clouds and rain
See the sun
Try a little kindness

Red maples surround the empty road
The emptiness is calming
The color of the trees is so brilliant it almost looks false
It’s beautiful
The black asphalt road is a contrast to the color of the leaves
Hints of bright green highlight the red
Almost like a painting
It’s surreal
Even the rain doesn’t dim the leaves
It creates a look like a fairy tale
Or part of a movie set
Yet it’s real
Part of the artistry
Of Mother Nature
Pure magic

Red maple rain

Even though you are tired climb to the top of the mountain
Even though you are worn down -- keep going
Even though you hurt keep living
Climb to the top
See the world
See everything
Climb walk run
Never stop
Even though you are tired
Live
Breathe
See
Feel
Even though you are tired
Take just one more step

Your destiny awaits