Cashews

Cashews! That's one way of saying, we're two little nuts. Maybe everyone is a little nuts, especially by the time your reach your 50s. Sticking with your way, isn't it going to make you happy. Loving everyone is.

I've decided this was my year of firsts. I'd like a first every day--although I don't know if I'll get one. I've gotten a lot of firsts, however. Last night I watched a movie with my friend on her computer on her back porch overlooking B'ham with a lightning storm in the distance. It was totally fun. A first.

Today I had breakfast with my daughter and her in-laws (some folks say outlaws). It was nice, fun to be included. And now I'll go for a walk to Post Point and write poetry. That's new, I've never written poetry there. I've drawn there--but this isn't big new stuff. D is an inspiration, since he does big stuff--zodiac driving, traveling to the Arctic above Norway. Me, I'm small potatoes.

Life shouldn't be fearful. That's what I think now that I've gotten this far, scared to death most of the time. Why not be bold and brave and have at it. What's to hurt? We all die eventually, that's the only thing that can happen, really. Right?

Here's the note I got from D: We just left Aklefellet (bird cliffs) and are heading to a possible landing in a new spot and five miles away we spot two more Polar Bears.... I spotted two on my watch (mum and cub) and just missed seeing a third, but the Captain sawit first... We even had in addition to the 60k Thick-billed Murres, twoArctic Foxes and a Polar Bear (7-8 mos) on the lower cliffs eating a salad...!!So, the folks interested in more then PBs are happy and while it was cold(snowed again last night), we had fun. I found a huge rock spire with birdsnesting on it and was able to drive my zod around it, which was cool with great photo ops!Tired, so will go take a quick nap before our afternoon operations.

I was just reading in a Buddhist book this morning that loving everyone is so much more what we are doing here than just loving the self. Loving the self, being fearful to preserve the self, isn't the goal. Be big, love everyone, this is what it is all about. I love this. Every day I'm giving up my old ways, my hatred, my anger, my scowling, yes little old sweet me. all these feelings because I've been afraid of life. Now I must live. Now lust for life is the goal. Something new every day. Some say do something every day that scares you. Go ahead...leap!

Keep having fun.

Nan

Mt. Baker

Up at the Mt. Baker ski area, there are hikes out of bounds. Sometimes this isn't a safe thing to do, I mean folks get killed in avalanches. This is me. I'm doing my first shoeshoe climb up to Artist Point. Which was some trek, even a good friend of mine who hikes a lot said, "Wow, you went to Artist Point?"

I never turn down a challenge, although later, my body complains. But really, that goes away and then I'm left with these incredible pictures of snowy trees, or alpine lakes, or memories of climbing to the top of ridges overlooking grand land and lake and sea. What could be better?

This particular day--my birthday in April, not a cloud in the sky. In fact, the crows flew over, eagles too, and made shadows on the snow. It was warm enough to sit and have lunch, strip down to sweater and take in the glorious sun. It rains so much here, don't let anyone tell you differently, that when we get sun, we get out in it.

My next trip will be mid-August, with David, who will be coming back from Arctic where he has been seeing 20-25 polar bear per 10 day cruise. He's been on a number of these cruises this summer working as a naturalist and guide. We're going to the Nooksack River. Camping and hiking. Can't wait and the weather has been fabulous. Well, hopefully it will stay for that weekend. I'm guessing it will.

More later. Have fun exploring your world.

Nan

Feather Bluff

Here's my sweetie on our last camping trip. We went on a long hike, set up came and then laid in the sun. We both love to sun bathe. Now he's in the arctic up above Norway. Here's a note I just received:


Yea! We didn't get up at 4 AM, 'cuz of ice that slowed us to 3 knots even with both engines running (costly on fuel). So, we are going into Diskobutka (Duck Bay) where the Kittiwake colony is in this cool box canyon. We have to time the tides right to get there, as it's very shallow for a long ways in.

So I've been giving a lot of thought to long distant relationship, not that we're having one, because he's here a good deal of the time. But loving someone and then having them gone brings up old issues. Abandonment for sure. I've been getting a lot done, working on my books, cleaning my closets, really letting go of a lot of stuff--old stuff from my past. Which is good.

Sometimes we get a new chance to do things again in a different way. I've been wanting to be loved completely. To be adored. I've chosen men in the past who don't want to be with me, not really. Should have had my head examined, actually did have my head examined, but still I went for the ones who'd go away. And this man, he's gone now, but coming back. Thus I get to change my inner scenario.

As far as outer scenarios go. We're having a heat wave here--there, the last four days it has snowed. Oh well.

Peace and happiness,
Nan

Spokane River (Long Lake)

Here I am, out on the river with my friend Jen and my sister Loretta. It was a fabulously hot day and the sun burnt my back a little, but hey, it's summer. I haven't done anything like this in years, in fact, I've never been on the river in anything other than a row boat. I've been on plenty of lakes and even the sound (well, on a ferry and kayak) but never a speed boat.

We swam and snacked and had a great time giggling. For some reason, which I never figured out, Jen started calling me princess, maybe because I wasn't very good at lining up the trailer hitch as she backed the SUV. Well, I'm just an old girl, like a beloved dog, I guess.

Hope you're all getting some sunny weather and having some fun this summer. More later.

Nan

Feather Bluff

David and me, don't I look like a ragamuffin, that's what mother used to call me. But my hair is shaggy and in the sun, the curls fall out. But enough about me.

This is a beautiful vantage point on Lummi Island out in Bellingham Bay. We named it Feather Bluff because of the turkey vultures flying over so close that you could hear the wind brushing their wings. And the flap of their wings, impressing.

It was Memorial Day weekend and we'd decided to do something special. He's a guy on the go, and actually I am too, well not a guy. But I have some much creative energy, and want to do and learn and experience new things. It keeps me young I think. We are both in our 50s, no time to waste, right?

Well, it was a very hot day and we spent some time here. Other folks came and went. A guy from Australia happened into the clearing and ate his lunch. He apologised for taking off his shirt, but hey, he was wanted the sun as much as we did.

We ate a little snack here before hiking on.

Have fun,

Traveling Nan

Orcas Island, Pea Pods

Here I am. This is a new look for me since I really only did a little bit of Kayaking before I met David.

I'm standing at the edge of the pea pod rocks. We'd seen a giant Stellar Sea Lion arching and poking his head toward the sky. It was amazing. And will kayaking past, we also so geese, gulls, and harbor seals. The seals followed us for some time, snorting air when they came up from under the water. So much fun.

David is in the arctic right now, outside of Svalbard on a cruise ship. He's a naturalist and ornithologist. He takes people out on the ice and kayaking, etc. Here's part of an email he sent me.

"So, its 11:30 PM but, wanted to respond, tho after driving through the icefloe maze to get back to the ship (after very close view of Bearded Seal),am bushed. Alot of pushing off with paddle, got some guests and the Doc to help, as we were driving up and over gaps too narrow for the zod, pushing pan ice around and generally working to return to the ship... just barely got plucked out on the hook as the ice was all around the ship. We had an interesting time in the Boulder Garden in morning with a wet landing for some as we shoved back out after our hike up the glacier." Way more interesting than what I'm doing every day. Writing on a memoir, hanging at the beach.

Today, the 4th of July, mostly I'm going to play, but there'll probably be a little work involved, like cleaning and watering plants, etc. I just love fireworks and wish my honey was here to enjoy them with me. There will definitely be some when he returns.

Kisses,

Nan

Orcas Island, Washington

Orcas Island, Washington
Originally uploaded by sjb4photos

One of the numerous San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. Here is where we landed, the ferry ride from Anacortes about an hour. Sometimes it stops at other islands, so you get to see the shapes and looks of these different communities. I've spent more time on Orcas than the other islands, and I think it is the homiest to me. I've done writting retreats at Kangaroo House and at Moran State Park. I've stayed at Doe Bay and camped in several places. I've been to Mt. Constitution a couple of times.

Traveling Nan

Warm Beach, Washington

This is me. I'm finally free--yet, like the prisoner who is set free, frequently he or she ends up in jail again. Or the homeless given a home, ends up on the street again. I've wondered about this in myself, how much I desire freedom, and then when I have it, well I have it now, I hooked up with a man again. Not that I can't be free and in a relationship, but after 35 some years of marriage, I don't know how to be with a partner and feel like my life is mine. It seems like my life is ours, or rather it is our life. I don't think my current man feels this way and perhaps I've being around more carefree people that up and go when they want. Not attached. It's Buddhist, I guess, this none attachment. And even though I'm looking good, here where David took this picture, the broom in the background, the sunset warming my skin, I'm not a spring chicken. The 35 years of marriage (2 marriages) should clue you in.

But what I mean to say here is, freedom is in the head. And the heart. And my heart still wants to the comfort of home and knowing what to expect. To get up in the morning to some routine, to have my mate there, to drink tea together, to shower together. To kiss goodbye and catch up again later. As a single person, it is the cat I stretch with in the morning, it is the coffee shop where I say my first hello and drink a cup of espresso, it is just my schedule (while he's gone) and then ours when he's here.

I've been thinking about this traveling thing for a long time. Now I'm old enough to do it. Well I did it when I was first married too, before having a child. Here I am at Warm Beach. David was teaching an elderhostel there and I came down for a couple of nights. We were walking out on the tidal flats, across from Cameno Island. It's very pretty, the Methodist Camp grounds with the horses and ponds and wildlife, lots of ducks and other birds, which David could tell you all about. He's an ornithologist, me--I'm a writer and artist. I meld with the environ and others, that's how I get my stories. But freedom, huh, how to do it. I'd like to know. Any thought?

Traveling Nan