An Aquascene Ride Around Magnetic Island I was ready to get on a small boat again. I’d been avoiding them since my husband Bob died. I was back in Townsville, Australia where Bob and I had chartered a sailboat in 1999. I’m staying on an island just off the coast of Townsville called Magnetic … Continue reading Boat Ride Magnetic Island
Memoir
Preparing to go to Costa Rica
We flew as far as Houston so far. We have a three-hour layover here. Yia Yia Mary's Pappas Greek Kitchen with a wonderful gluten-free salad. Hopefully, my stomach will settle down. It really wants me to run to Costa Rica instead of fly, or maybe fight my way there through the sky. Not sit calmly … Continue reading Preparing to go to Costa Rica
Women’s Writing Retreat at The Clearing Am I Pregnant Again?
My first child was overdue, and a c-section. her conception was an act of joy, a miracle that combined two sets of genes in love. Once conceived she grew on her own. All I needed to do was eat. My first book a mixture of events written on many pages did not write itself, in … Continue reading Women’s Writing Retreat at The Clearing Am I Pregnant Again?
Finding Mother’s Gravestone
My brother and I drove from Frazee, Minnesota to Gray Eagle, Minnesota, another town off the beaten path. We drove across lovely verdant farm fields the road curved up and down gentle hills. The corn was green and tall, the soybean fields often had corn that had come from last years crop. We arrived in … Continue reading Finding Mother’s Gravestone
Chasing the Past – Frazee, MN
My brother and I drove from 510 to Frazee, Minnesota. For one year we lived there, my mother, two brothers, and I. Mother worked as a housekeeper for the widower Dick. Dick had one young son, Hank, a little bit younger than me and another who had just gone off to college. We lived in … Continue reading Chasing the Past – Frazee, MN
510
Places hold such powerful memories. It used to bother me to go back there. But now I relish the experience, having made peace with the past. 510 brings alive memories of family joys, struggles, betrayals and bonding. My younger brother moved back to 510 and has an apartment and guest room on the third floor, two blocks … Continue reading 510
Home? Peachester, Crohamhurst and the Glasshouse Mountains
The main purpose of this journey was to do the reverse of what mother did when she came to America in 1923 and to share her story with my family and the people who still lived in Peachester. Mother's paintings surrounded my childhood and she told me stories of a dream world before my … Continue reading Home? Peachester, Crohamhurst and the Glasshouse Mountains
First Stop Honolulu
Historic postcard Cruisers being greeted in Honolulu in the early 20th century After four days at sea we arrived in Honolulu. It has changed yet remains the same since my mother came here on the Makura in 1923. One can compare her ship the Markura to the Cunard Queen Elizabeth: Due to the 1,000 … Continue reading First Stop Honolulu
Yosemite in a day
6:15 am we were standing in front of Travelodge by the Bay wailing for our pick-up for a one day bus trip to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. 6:20 am an airport van pulled up. Not for us, a family with lots of luggage got in. I double checked my receipt from Greyline San … Continue reading Yosemite in a day
Travel Companion
I was determined to go on this trip, but who should I go with? I thought maybe I'd just go alone, but when I discovered the cruise fare was almost double if alone, I thought again. I sent out an email to every friend I'd ever known. I was overjoyed to get three women interested … Continue reading Travel Companion
Visions from Two Continents 