Midlife Creative

A Year of Travel

Ocean waves crash against the towering cliffs                                                                    

Saguaro cacti raise giant arms to thank the setting sun 

Under cold ground, I pause in wonder at cathedral canyons 

Mountain top drives give new perspective and make me feel small 

The Grand Canyon brings tears to my eyes 

What could I have done to deserve such beauty

I have done nothing, for it is all a gift 

Soft sheets, slow mornings, and plenty of time 

Surprises in the form of beach houses and a Marriot vacation club 

Tiny houses, smelly casitas, creaky cabin beds, and deflating air mattresses 

A wide range of experiences made for a most memorable year

Time for petting horses and watching a rodeo parade 

For watching seabirds on the beach and waiting in anticipation for the daily sunrise and sunset 

Painting, journaling, knitting, watching Wheel of Fortune, and trying new recipes 

Learning about time zones, jellyfish, desert plants, aquaponics, civil rights, and redwood trees 

Eating étouffée, beignets, grits, a crab boil, clam chowder, charcuterie, BBQ, and sweet tea

All of the packing and unpacking helped me know the sweetness of a closet to come home to 

Growing up with cold made a winter of warmth feel extravagant 

What a gift to have so many daily walks to cross the bridges we needed to cross 

So many reunions with family and friends on the story hunt of a lifetime 

Sweet souls gave up their beds and their towels; made us meatloaf, and opened their hearts

We took a leap and the net appeared 

A crazy dream to travel the U.S. for six months became a reality 

Now that we are home, it feels like a dream 

An expansive catalog of memories that I never want to forget