Today was another one of those days...I'd been "home" to see the folks this weekend, take in the Kansas Sampler Festival, and was headed back to the city this morning, when the wandering bug struck. Actually, it didn't just "strike". It had been fed by some random thoughts, generated by observations and conversations over the weekend. Caveat--it's always a little weird for me to go "home" as an adult after living away for quite a few years--people and places change, but, yet...they don't. I find myself trying to create a cohesive connection between what I thought things were and what they now seem to be, and end up a smidge confused sometimes.
Several cups of coffee this morning on the deck, watching the river and eating the rest of the bacon (thanks, Dad) was the straw that broke the "well, we always take 177 to Manhattan because we like the view" camel's back for me. I rarely take that route because it's longer (I know...this is me, queen of the detours. I'm worried about "longer"?) And then a statement (from Mom) like "the things that seem to work out best for you are those things you don't overthink" was rattling around in my head as I got in the car, and the rest is history.
So I briefly thought about that 177 route, and decided the beautiful day deserved some attention. Done. A conversation about intriguing places along that route (Pioneer Bluffs, specifically, which is closed on Sunday) had me thinking about alternatives. I'd been watching The Volland Store from afar for a few months, so I asked Google...and it turned out to be not far off the beaten path, it was open, AND a guest speaker was scheduled at 2:00pm. Double done, especially since the speaker was Steve Wolgast, Pulitzer prize winning journalist with a program entitled Free Speech in Times of Crisis. Right up my alley.
It was the perfect combo of new place/people/thoughts to re-ground me. Interesting people, ready for conversations about things that matter to them. A lovely rural setting with old buildings. An art installation...out. in. the. middle. of. nowhere. And a thought-provoking program that began with William Allen White, worked through the need for critical thinking, and ended with (and I paraphrase) "the constitutional amendments of free speech and free press will continue to endure as long as we continue to use them." Don't stop thinking, folks. And talking. Check out the full photo album here for my perspective.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Things Lost and Found
It's been a stressy few weeks (ok, maybe few months). I do my best to keep my chin up, eyes ahead, and heart open, but there have been a few days here and there that have ended with little joy. Today, dawning bright and early, proposed to be one of those. I woke feeling regret for things both done and undone, and had a long day stretching in front of me. But the weather promised to be beautiful, so I decided I should follow through on the promise I'd made to myself all week, which was to get outside, explore, see if I could find some morel mushrooms, and work with my new camera (I'm an optimistic multi-tasker). It was a struggle to get there...three cups of coffee were a good early distraction, followed by some more laundry and a fair amount of time staring mindlessly at Facebook. But I knew that if I wasted this day, the regrets would be compounded, and that's really not a fun place to be.
An idea turned into a few minutes of online research and the download of a new app called AllTrails, which I now consider my new best friend. I had just purchased my annual Kansas State Parks Pass (thanks, KDWPT), and AllTrails showed 3 "easy" trails at Milford State Park and lake...just 30 minutes away. Easy...I didn't want easy. I wanted sweaty and strenuous and muscle stretching, with some breathtaking sights. But, fine. Whatever. I didn't have the energy (or joy) to think any harder about this. I tossed some snacks and a water bottle (and camera) in a bag, jumped in the car, and headed out.
Eagle Ridge trail looked like the best one--the most interesting, the longest, and...maybe eagles to see? Some of the AllTrail reviews weren't too favorable, and it's also a horse riding trail, but I was already grumpy, so I'm thinking, hey, let's just see if I can completely throw this day in the can. And off I went on Eagle Ridge trail.
I saw one couple on horseback, once, just as I began walking. That was it. The more-than two hours I wandered, I saw and heard no other human. It was like being handed the most perfect gift at the most perfect time. The longer I was out there, immersed in the quiet, the lighter I became. I caught myself grinning...noticing the tiniest amazing details...feeling a bit proud of myself for testing the unknown, sticking to it, and not freaking out when I got a little lost. And, yes, I got lost because the trail isn't marked very clearly. As in, it's only marked at the trail head. (Take my advice--use the app, and check it occasionally, rather than leaving it in your pocket most of the time, like someone did today, as demonstrated below).
Things were both lost and found out there on that trail today. Lost were: more than a few intricate spider habitats (I kept walking into them, and even took one spider with me--neither of us were too happy about that), dry shoes (because I misjudged the waves coming ashore), battery power to my camera (I actually consider this a positive), and a large part of my regretful grumpiness. Things NOT found include morel mushrooms (I'm now accepting donations) and eagles (in the wild, anyway). Many things were discovered, however--sun on my skin, a reminder that cedar trees smell sort of like a wild animal, a blister on one foot, some scared wildlife (including a turkey hen that scared me right back), fresh honeysuckle, a grit-covered face, renewed wonder, one huge Bur Oak tree, an increased comfort level with my camera, the awesome Milford Nature Center and Hatchery, and...joy. Yes, some joy crept back in today. I'm hoping to hang on to it, but if it becomes elusive again, I think I have a remedy. Check out my photo story here.
An idea turned into a few minutes of online research and the download of a new app called AllTrails, which I now consider my new best friend. I had just purchased my annual Kansas State Parks Pass (thanks, KDWPT), and AllTrails showed 3 "easy" trails at Milford State Park and lake...just 30 minutes away. Easy...I didn't want easy. I wanted sweaty and strenuous and muscle stretching, with some breathtaking sights. But, fine. Whatever. I didn't have the energy (or joy) to think any harder about this. I tossed some snacks and a water bottle (and camera) in a bag, jumped in the car, and headed out.
Eagle Ridge trail looked like the best one--the most interesting, the longest, and...maybe eagles to see? Some of the AllTrail reviews weren't too favorable, and it's also a horse riding trail, but I was already grumpy, so I'm thinking, hey, let's just see if I can completely throw this day in the can. And off I went on Eagle Ridge trail.
I saw one couple on horseback, once, just as I began walking. That was it. The more-than two hours I wandered, I saw and heard no other human. It was like being handed the most perfect gift at the most perfect time. The longer I was out there, immersed in the quiet, the lighter I became. I caught myself grinning...noticing the tiniest amazing details...feeling a bit proud of myself for testing the unknown, sticking to it, and not freaking out when I got a little lost. And, yes, I got lost because the trail isn't marked very clearly. As in, it's only marked at the trail head. (Take my advice--use the app, and check it occasionally, rather than leaving it in your pocket most of the time, like someone did today, as demonstrated below).
Things were both lost and found out there on that trail today. Lost were: more than a few intricate spider habitats (I kept walking into them, and even took one spider with me--neither of us were too happy about that), dry shoes (because I misjudged the waves coming ashore), battery power to my camera (I actually consider this a positive), and a large part of my regretful grumpiness. Things NOT found include morel mushrooms (I'm now accepting donations) and eagles (in the wild, anyway). Many things were discovered, however--sun on my skin, a reminder that cedar trees smell sort of like a wild animal, a blister on one foot, some scared wildlife (including a turkey hen that scared me right back), fresh honeysuckle, a grit-covered face, renewed wonder, one huge Bur Oak tree, an increased comfort level with my camera, the awesome Milford Nature Center and Hatchery, and...joy. Yes, some joy crept back in today. I'm hoping to hang on to it, but if it becomes elusive again, I think I have a remedy. Check out my photo story here.
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