adventure – Tell Me Your Story

Unedited

The Past

In the spring of 2018, I volunteered for an organization called “Girls On The Run” as a coach. The older group, Heart and Sole, is the one I co-led. The younger group, Girls On the Run, was led by “Kay” who was about six years younger than myself. When we first met, the younger coach and I discovered that not only were we born in the same month, but our birthdays were only one day apart.

The first season Kay and I only spoke about the running program. Spring season ended and we each went our separate ways. By the time the two of us started to coach again in autumn, my world had begun to crumble; I was trying very hard to keep it all together. At some point, early in the fall of 2018, Kay and I ran into each other in the post office. Our conversation turned from a normal, every day discussion to a realization that both of us had heavy things that were weighing us down. We decided to meet someday just to get to know each other better.

Although Kay was a pastor, and I didn’t attend church, it dawned on me that this woman could be a good friend: she was easy to talk to and we had some things in common. Between the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019 Kay and I began to go out for lunch, coffee, or walks together. Somehow, we were able to talk about anything and became fast friends. When we first started to spend time with each other, I paid no attention to the news of the country and the world. My focus was on the crises in my own family rather than current events. Kay wasn’t in the dark when it came to outside happenings and my new companion filled me in.

Our friendship took us on walks during the pandemic and (when the weather was cold outside) strolls in the mall. Sadly, Kay moved away in September of 2022. We kept up our camaraderie through texts, as well as phone calls. I still only paid half attention to the news, even when my life got better. In the summer of 2024, when “Project 2025” was the topic of many conversations, I began to take notice. Along with talking about our lives, I was now able to participate in a dialogue ,with Kay, about things happening in current events.

Present Year

I had been hoping to visit Kay late last spring and then the realization hit that it wasn’t going to work for me. One day, in early June of 2025, I received a voice mail from my friend saying that there was “an idea that she wanted to run by me”. As it turned out, my compadre had been looking at a few retreat centers where she might go, to celebrate her 25th year as a Presbyterian pastor. Among the places she was looking, was somewhere called “Ghost Ranch”, in New Mexico. Kay was inviting me to join her for this monumental celebration! There was a workshop of interest to her and silversmithing program for me. A trip was planned for the end of September. All summer I looked forward to the trip with Kay and traveling to a location that, until June, was unknown to me…

While away during the summer months, I kept apprised of what was happening in my home country. By the beginning of September, the current administration was into its 8th month. Democrats and former President Biden were still being blamed for things that were going sideways over half a year later. The juvenile words from the people in the highest office, speaking on our country’s behalf, were tiring!

For months the “us verses them” in the U.S.political news, had been gnawing at me. The name calling for anyone who doesn’t align with the ideals of the current administration was getting worse. Non-believers were (and still are) considered the “enemy from within”. One of the beautiful things about this country has always been freedom of thought, why else would we hold debates before every election? People are not carbon copies of each other….we should all be allowed to have our own beliefs without be called a “foe”.

Although being revolted with the workings of the current government in the country where I reside, traveling home on Labor Day there was tranquility. After being in Canada for almost 2.5 months, I was feeling, calm cool and collected. On the horizon was the trip planned to New Mexico with Kay. As I drove and tuned into some news, there was very little information about the “Workers over Billionaires” protests that had been arranged. Mostly, I heard about the escalating tensions in Chicago…

Ten days after arriving home, came the incident with Jimmy Kimmel and what appeared to be an attack on our freedom of speech; it wasn’t even the middle of September and I was mentally exhausted by the ever terrible news! The anticipation of the upcoming vacation, with a friend that I hadn’t seen in over three years, kept me somewhat distracted. The planned holiday helped me focus on something happy. My creative project for the month became a gift for the confidant who would be traveling with me soon (scroll to the end to see what I created).

On September 25th, with the Government shutdown looming, my friend and I met in the Hertz rental car at the Albuquerque Airport. We spent one evening and two fun days sightseeing before our arrival at Ghost Ranch.

Sightseeing

First Evening: Old Town Albuquerque

Day 1

Petroglyphs National Monument

Museum of International Folk Art

Day 2

Georgia O’Keefe Museum

Georgia O’Keeffe
Series I White & Blue
Flower Shapes, 1919
Oil on board
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Gift of the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation
O’Keeffe explained that she turned to flowers as subjects and painted them “big” to capture the attention of “busy New Yorkers.” She described her flower paintings as calls to “take time to see.” She also noted that her goal was not to replicate flowers as they appear in nature. O’Keeffe takes a subject historically associated with women and the home and destabilizes the experience of looking at it. Her enlarged flower fragments and folds often leave the viewer without a stable vantage point from which to navigate ambiguity between inner and outer structures. While drawing attention to the reproductive parts of flowering plants, O’Keeffe responded to eroticized readings of these depictions as female reproductive organs by stating:
“When people read erotic symbols into my paintings, they’re really talking about their own affairs.”

*Caption taken directly from the description on the wall, next to the painting in The Georgia O’Keefe Museum*

Museum of Indian Art and Culture

Bandelier National Monument

After visiting Bandelier, we spent the night in a town called White Rock. The elevation of the town is 6,375 feet above sea level. While this is a “moderate altitude” by some definitions, people living in low altitude areas might feel the effects. Having a slight headache before bed, I decided I was dehydrated. Kay felt “off”, maybe she was also in need of some water?

On Sunday, September 28th, my friend and I arrived at Ghost Ranch: the summer home of Georgia O’Keeffe. At the lowest level we were at an altitude of approximately 6500 feet. Up first, was a tour that started at the original entrance to Ghost ranch. We drove (and walked) on the dirt road that ran along the red hills and beautiful surroundings that artist loved to paint.

When our tour was finished, we ate lunch, then heard the storied history of Ghost Ranch. The land, encompassing over 21,000 acres, was once a place where dinosaurs roamed, cattle rustlers lived and famous people visited; this place has a long and rich past. The present holds different stories: people from all over the country (and the world) come to explore the land, the classes or possibly just the stillness of the impressive landscape at what is now an education and retreat center.

By mid afternoon we were ready to settle into our accommodations: a rustic adobe style building on top of a mesa. Soon our neighbors began to arrive. The women, in the rooms on either side our ours, were also taking the same silversmithing class as me. As the afternoon and evening progressed, I felt the excitement of the first days of college in somewhat of a camp like atmosphere. Most of all, the noise from the outside world was trapped outside the canyon…the destruction of our country’s political system seemed to be a world away!

Sunset outside the dining hall, as we wait to meet with the instructors and our classmates, after dinner on the first night.

Sunrise seen from the mesa: my first morning at Ghost Ranch

The next two days were busy: breakfast, lunch and dinner were all held at set times. Kay and I ate most meals together. She still wasn’t feeling quite right. My travel companion started drinking electrolytes on the advice of her classmates. Why didn’t I think to suggest this?

Educational programs were held from 9-12:00, the again from 1:30-3:30 (typically we stayed working in out space until 4). There was an option, for those in the silversmithing workshop, to return at night from 7-8. I did not work in in the studio either of the first two nights. Monday night, Kay and I along with our neighbors (who I became friends with), took the time to marvel as the sun set.

Sunset from the Mesa

*Every time I turned around, I saw beautiful textures and colors in the clouds!*

Unfortunately, by Tuesday morning my friend wasn’t feeling any better. She wanted to see the nurse, but each time she visited the health trailer, the professional wasn’t in…

On September 30, my first piece of jewelry was finished by the end of class.

The pendent on this necklace is an overlay; this is a technique where a design, cut from one metal is soldered on top of another piece of metal, I used silver for both pieces. The back was run through the rolling mill with a pattern, then once cut, soldered and finished, I used patina to make it black.

I decided to go on a hike before dinner, as there was a short, easy hiking trail close to the art center. Kay wasn’t feeling up to it, so I gave her the key to the rental car and we made a plan to meet for dinner. What should have been a three mile hike turned into about half that. Alone I walked in the majestic landscape.

Reaching a creek bed with no definitive trail on the other side, I turned back. Better to not push my luck knowing there were signs of a mountain lion and bears on the property, not to mention rattle snakes and tarantulas!

Turning back was fortunate. When I reached the nurses station, The visiting practitioner was there, I contacted Kay and immediately she went to see the nurse. Sadly, the altitude had really gotten to my friend; it was decided that I would drive her to the emergency room in the nearest town with a hospital: Española. Kay thought that going home might be what the doctor would recommend, so we went back to our room and packed up her belongings. My travel companion said that she wanted me to stay and finish my class.

Not sure I would be able to drive the five hour, round trip, to the Albuquerque airport after being in the emergency room that night, I expressed this to my friend. She said something akin to: “You are not going to stay in the emergency room with me, I know how long these visits take.” She went on to say “If I can return to Ghost Ranch I will get a a hotel room for the night”. Lastly she said “If I need to fly home, I will get a ride to the airport.

We arrived at the unassuming town somewhere around 8, it was after dark. Toting my confidant’s backpack and rolling her suitcase, I followed behind Kay as she walked through the emergency room doors. There were signs on the doors that I see in city hospitals: “No Firearms, No Weapons”. Thinking this was strange for a town in the middle of the mountains, I proceeded to go through a metal detector, setting the alarms off. Nobody stopped me.

My friend was admitted and we said our goodbyes. We both hoped that her health was okay and I would able to pick her up the next day.

Feeling badly for my friend at the hospital, I arrived back at Ghost Ranch shortly after 9 that Tuesday night….

(To be continued)

9th Month Complete

This is the present I gave Kay. The pictures were taken quickly the night before I left for New Mexico, so unknown to me they were really poor pictures! What ever I was wearing at the time, reflected in the silver of the crosses. Some manipulating was done of the photographs to make them look a little better. Only the center picture was left in color; the reflection of the hue from my shirt is still somewhat there.

**The gift Incorporated some symbolism of Christianity and the Presbyterian church:**

The Necklace
Made of 12 turquoise beads to represent the Twelve Apostles. Next there are sets of 3 beads to represent The Trinity. Each set of tree is subtly broken into 4 groups to represent the Four Evangelists.

There is no meaning behind the turquoise beads, they just felt right as I was making my selection.

The Crosses:
I learned that the Presbyterian cross is typically a Celtic cross. The first cross I made was too small for the circle to fit on. The Second one, to the right, I felt was too large and awkward. The third cross, on the left, had some issues as well, but I was able to make it work.

There is no question that this gift was made by hand!

My Year Of Creativity

January https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/02/01/my-year-of-creativity/

February https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/07/my-year-of-creativity-2/

March https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/03/30/my-year-of-creativity-march-2025/

April https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/05/18/my-year-of-creativity-april-2025/

May https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/06/06/my-year-of-creativity-may-2025/

June https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/07/11/my-year-of-creativity-june-2025/

July https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/08/08/my-year-of-creativity-july-2025/

August: https://tell-me-your-story.org/2025/09/14/my-year-of-creativity-august-2025/

Do you have the desire to see the world, but not the pleasure of doing so? Have you been bitten by the “Travel Bug” or is it preferable to be in the comfort of your own home? I am a mixture of both: there is the love to see new places and things, yet it is peaceful and comforting to be in my own surroundings. Lately, globetrotting has been on my mind. Perhaps I am thinking about traveling because my eldest has taken a trip abroad, solo, for the very first time. Maybe, because in a week, I will be visiting my former roommate from London. Although she lives in the USA, her home is far enough away for me to have to fly. The mixture of memories from our adventures together, combined with the fact that this will be the first long trip I have taken in 21 years, for fun and by myself, is exciting!

When my siblings and I were young, our parents introduced us to traveling, domestically and abroad. The first trip I remember taking, not counting our yearly drives between Manitoba and Ontario, was to Alaska. My father was an anthropologist. Alaska was central to all the research he had done for his PHD and the work he continued to do. Although I had lived in Kotzebue, AK at a very young age, I did not remember being there. Dad wanted us to see Alaska before the beauty was destroyed by a pipeline that was supposed to be built.

The summer of 1976 we left our cottage early to spend three weeks in Alaska. I was eight years old at the time and my memories are a little fragmented. These are the pieces of our voyage that I do recall:

On our way to Alaska we stopped in Vancouver to see friends we knew from previous years We ate salmon and corn on the cob An indoor pool was visited, where I jumped off a high diving board for the very first time

In Kotzebue, we watched Nadia Comăneci on the television as she won a gold medal, at a house I don’t remember, but memories of the couple who owned it linger

Kivalina is the place I remember most A village on a small island My family stayed in a house, that felt like home, On this island, we…

…drank TANG and played with the kids, from the village, under the midnight Sun

…Picked wild blueberries

…looked for puppies under the houses

…Walked to the furthermost part of the land, that seemed like the edge of the world, and looked over an endless sea – Russia the nearest country

Last I remember how we spent a day with my namesake (my father’s best friend),in his boat on a river, going ashore and skipping rocks

Anchorage, I don’t recall whether it was in the beginning or the end We were invited to dinner at someone’s house A friend of my parents or a friend of a friend?

The ferry took us to Seattle It felt like many days We probably stopped and saw some towns, But I only remember finger crocheting a hairband

Over the years, our parents enabled us to see a world greater than our own back yard. These are some of the the places we went, but not all.

At age 11, France

In a cable-car we climbed up a mountain, where I stood at the top of the world with my very first camera.

It was at the panoramic view of Mont Blanc where discovered that I am somewhat afraid of heights.

We drove past fields of poppies in the Loire Valley that my mother wanted to capture with her camera lens.

Escargot, turtle soup and crème caramel, were some of the delicacies tried; the first and last of these new tastes weren’t desirable to me.

Great Britain

I had just recovered from at terrible case of the chickenpox that only a 13 year old could have. As we traveled, my sister and I shared a bed where (much to her chagrin) I left my scabs behind.

Through the highlands of Scotland we walked.

A “haunted” medieval castle was a place to stay, where we ate dinner like the gentry in the Middle Ages…with our hands.

Then in Ireland, not a rest stop in sight. Some of us peed (unknowingly) in a patch of stinging nettles, just off the side of the road… can you imagine?

Hawaii…

…the very next year, an island state my grandparents had sailed to years before. Their journey to Hawaii is where their love story began. My Ana and Apa took my family and my uncle there to celebrate a big anniversary.

We toured in a van, eight of us in all, to see the island and a volcano.

I recall a pink hotel, attempting to surf, hours on the beach, and an excursion deep sea fishing.

We were fortunate. The love to see and experience new places and cultures carried on after the family trips of my youth ended. In my late teens and through my twenties I loved traveling; this was during the late 1980’s-1990’s. Life was a lot different then: no social media, cell phones, or instant connection. We actually had to write letters or postcards. My correspondence typically started out: “I’m so sorry I haven’t written in a long time…” If our loved one’s were to hear our voice, the telephone office was the place to go: we would stand in line and wait until it was our turn to make a call. I don’t remember why this was. Some countries had readily available pay phones and a collect call could be made.

My first trip abroad, without my family, was a biking tour in Western Europe

Now, as my daughter is traveling with no one we know, no cellular data, and only the possibility of Wi-Fi connectivity there was some anxiety on my part. I heard from her within the first 24 hours. My mother would go weeks without hearing from me…If I had only known the unease I must have caused!

As summer is starting, many of you hope to travel. With the rise in gas prices and airline issues this might not be possible. Although it is not the same as going on your own adventure, I will share some accounts of my trips; this will take place over several months with stories sprinkled in between (hopefully not just my own). For now, I invite you to play a game with pictures from some of my past excursions. This game called is called “where in the world”. It can only be played from my blog. Go to the comment section at the very bottom of the story. Depending on how you are viewing this, you might see “leave a reply” or “leave a comment”; this is where tell me the location you think the picture was taken. The photos are numbered. This what to do, if you want to guess: 1) write the number of the photo and 2) write the location where you think it was taken. There are no prizes, just the satisfaction that you are right! Good Luck!