Thursday, June 21, 2018
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Life is holding on and letting go.
Nancy and I set out on this trip for adventure, and because we wanted to just "get away from it all" and I feel like we accomplished everything we intended to do.
The truly extraordinary thing about the trip is that it has brought us even closer together. Nancy and I now know even more about one another...we know more about ourselves...and we know more about our Dads.
She and I sang their favorite songs. We saw some of their favorite parts of the country. We found joy in the same things they loved and she and I knowingly and unknowingly found more of who we are as friends, people, and daughters. We love you Dads and thank you for always believing in us.
"Someday when we meet up yonder
We'll stroll hand in hand again
In the land that knows no parting..."
-Willie Nelson
Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain
Colorado Trip 2008
Countless memories.
Lots of laughs.
4000 miles
12 states
2 best friends and enough love to last a lifetime!
Cowgirl got some speed!
This is one of our favorite events: Barrel Racing!!! The video is one I took while we were at the rodeo in Fort Worth. She actually ended up being the winner!!! Look at that horse really fly!
...and I can't wait to get On the Road Again
Well...here we are back in GA. The trip has come to an end. Just like all things good must come to an end...Nancy and I are in the bittersweet interim of knowing that we have made so many wonderful memories and now facing a real world full of tomorrows back in the grind.
The funny yet not surprising thing is that Nancy and I have arrived back at home only wanting more. We became Modern Day Drifters (like Dierks Bentley's song) and we are used to the "on the go" excitement of not knowing what is up ahead. We of course have so many good and wonderful reasons to be excited about being home and we have a list of people we want to hug and kiss back here at home!!! However, she and I are truly sad that it is over. There is just something about those highway miles...the open spaces...that blue sky that seems to never end in the West that is so incredibly mesmerizing. We left a part of ourselves out there it seems...yet in that same breath I know it is also the opposite...we've brought it all with us too.
We saw so many neat places...we met so many nice people, and we got to experience so much and participate in so many fun activities. This trip was such a great gift to us both. I use the word gift because that is what I feel like it was to me. I was truly the lucky one to drive through the South up into the Midwest...meet and stay with the Callahans...then get to run and try to beat the camera's self timer with Nancy so we could get a picture at the state line of Colorado...and I was the lucky one because I got to see the mountains O! the mountains! the steadfast solid unwavering mountains! Then too, I received the gifts of being around horses and seeing both of my sisters...eating good food and shopping in Aspen and getting to see Nina play and hearing incredibly rich music at the Aspen Festival...I am blessed even more now since I had the opportunities to go white water kayaking, to watch the stars in a hammock, to camp out in a canyon, to have a picnic at Pike Peak, then later meeting Kathy in Fort Worth, dancing to country music, seeing two rodeos, and singing along to every song on the country radio stations that Nancy and I heard. The countless miles...the heartwarming memories...the people...the experiences...the music...the laughter...the tears...the pictures...the planning and saving...the maps...the early mornings and late nights...every turn of the tires...every inch of road we covered...Nancy and I are better for it.
We are more enriched and certainly more inspired.
Hope exists. Restoration begins here, and she and I have come to learn that sometimes it just takes a detour to really know where you are in life. This trip will forever be in our hearts and minds, and we can't wait to get on the road again...
The funny yet not surprising thing is that Nancy and I have arrived back at home only wanting more. We became Modern Day Drifters (like Dierks Bentley's song) and we are used to the "on the go" excitement of not knowing what is up ahead. We of course have so many good and wonderful reasons to be excited about being home and we have a list of people we want to hug and kiss back here at home!!! However, she and I are truly sad that it is over. There is just something about those highway miles...the open spaces...that blue sky that seems to never end in the West that is so incredibly mesmerizing. We left a part of ourselves out there it seems...yet in that same breath I know it is also the opposite...we've brought it all with us too.
We saw so many neat places...we met so many nice people, and we got to experience so much and participate in so many fun activities. This trip was such a great gift to us both. I use the word gift because that is what I feel like it was to me. I was truly the lucky one to drive through the South up into the Midwest...meet and stay with the Callahans...then get to run and try to beat the camera's self timer with Nancy so we could get a picture at the state line of Colorado...and I was the lucky one because I got to see the mountains O! the mountains! the steadfast solid unwavering mountains! Then too, I received the gifts of being around horses and seeing both of my sisters...eating good food and shopping in Aspen and getting to see Nina play and hearing incredibly rich music at the Aspen Festival...I am blessed even more now since I had the opportunities to go white water kayaking, to watch the stars in a hammock, to camp out in a canyon, to have a picnic at Pike Peak, then later meeting Kathy in Fort Worth, dancing to country music, seeing two rodeos, and singing along to every song on the country radio stations that Nancy and I heard. The countless miles...the heartwarming memories...the people...the experiences...the music...the laughter...the tears...the pictures...the planning and saving...the maps...the early mornings and late nights...every turn of the tires...every inch of road we covered...Nancy and I are better for it.
We are more enriched and certainly more inspired.
Hope exists. Restoration begins here, and she and I have come to learn that sometimes it just takes a detour to really know where you are in life. This trip will forever be in our hearts and minds, and we can't wait to get on the road again...
Texas' state motto is:
FRIENDSHIP!!!!
How true?! Nancy and I absolutely loved being in Texas! The people truly are friendly, especially Kathy who was so incredibly sweet to open her beautiful home to us! Thank you Kathy if you are reading this!!!! (Say hello to Owen Wilson for us!!!! )
So of course, people generally associate Texas with the common phrases "Don't mess with Texas" and "Everything's bigger in Texas"...well I have decided that everything is BETTER in Texas! (Well at least the Dallas Fort Worth area!!!) Nancy and I had a ball there. The charm truly worked and she and I are completely infatuated with Texas' spirit, pride, patriotism, and western ways. She and I had the pleasure of attending one of Fort Worth's rodeos at Stockyards, and then we saw Joe Diffie at Billy Bobs Texas Honky Tonk! The rodeo was so incredibly exciting.
In the words of Garth Brooks:
His eyes are cold and restless
His wounds have almost healed
And she'd give half of Texas
Just to change the way he feels
She knows his love's in Tulsa
She knows he's gonna go
Well it ain't no woman flesh and blood
It's that damned old rodeo
Well it's bulls and blood It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo
She does her best to hold him When his love comes to call
But his need for it controls him And her back's against the wall
And it's "So long girl, I'll see you." When it's time for him to go
You know the woman wants her cowboy
Like he wants his rodeo
Well, it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in the knuckles The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round It's boots and chaps It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo
It'll drive a cowboy crazy
It'll drive the man insane
And he'll sell off everything he owns
Just to pay to play her game
And a broken home and some broken bones
Is all he'll have to show For all the years that he spent chasin' This dream they call rodeo
I am in no way exaggerating, but when you experience rodeo...it is beyond words exciting. There is an electric tangible energy that fills the arena. Everyone in the crowd bonds together and you all pull for that cowboy out there who is literally risking his life in order to compete and defy nature's odds.
We are hooked.
Now, I must confess...there was another very exciting/memorable experience that indeed occurred at the rodeo. The announcer called for all of the "single and over 18 women" in the house and I raised Nancy's hand for her faster than she could blink, and thanks to my yelling/whoopin and hollerin, and the announcer's good taste/eyesight he picked Nancy to join five other ladies. The name of the game was DANCE OFF!!! Nancy strutted her stuff down in the rodeo arena and was in the final two! She was blindfolded for part of it, and actually the last girl standing was left all alone in the ring everyone watching...everyone cheering and then the girl took off her blindfold and she was a little lone dancer out there and the joke was on her. So thankfully, Nancy was NOT the last one standing because that would have been exactly the set up. She would have been alone...and standing. It was hilarious! I'm sure she loves me for it even more. Well what are friends for anyways?
The rodeo was incredible and so was Billy Bobs! We were surrounded by lighthearted cowboys and cowgirls all out looking for a fun Friday night. People we dancing and hanging out together listening to the country concert and she and I felt right a home. The only thing we kept saying was we wish so badly that GA and FL had fine establishments like this one. There was food, drinks, dancing, music, a gift shop, games, TVs, everything you can think of, and it was all under one roof.
Fort Worth was so memorable, and we want to go back soon. It was just the fun boost we needed to drive it on back East.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Amarillo Sky not a hare too early...?
One of Nancy and my favorite country artists is most definitely Jason Aldean. He sings a song called Amarillo Sky. We are listening to it right now here in Amarillo!!! How genuine of us?!
I really do love about Country Music for many reasons, a couple being
1. The strong sense of pride and appreciation for hard work.
2. The dedication and pride for America
That is what his song is all about. You at home should listen to it!
Jason Aldean (from Macon BTW woo woo!!! Go GA)
Amarillo Sky
Hicktown CD
Even though Country Music bears the brunt of a lot of jokes, and is usually loathed with a burning passion by most people, I love the messages in the songs. I really take the words to heart and I think Nancy and I love it so much because we can relate to the songs. Maybe we aren't toothless...or living in double wides currently BUT the joys and the heartaches of life are the same no matter how twangy you say them.
So, with Ipods blaring and singing voices in tune we once again hit the road. We've headed South. I can only hope that his blog appears larger on your screen...because by goodness it is being written in TEXAS!!!! Nancy and I made it safely despite the following:
Rain
Ominous clouds
Lack of one County Road sign
Lack of Jacqueline GPS Extraordinaire...she was being temper mental
and Mr or Mrs Cutest Wild Bunny who is now in Bunny Heaven. There are carrots galore, and green fields up there and I know I will eventually forgive myself for "bumping her on a rather dark Texas road slightly outside of Amarillo"
YALL!!!!! I feel terrible. I love bunnies! Well, all I know to say is that Nancy is an awesome friend because as soon as the bunny "brushed up against" my tire she said..."I'm sure he scampered off! He's fine"
Goodness I love her.
So, all things considered today was a fine traveling day. Yes it got harey at times?!?! I should stop. It's not very bunny at all...and I'm not hoppy about it.
For real though, this trip continues to be days full of natural beauty, blessings, and bonding. We absolutely loved being with Mark, Winter, and Nina. We are looking forward to being with all of you who are reading this too!!!
The trip down south has commenced! It was sad to leave Colorado today...but now Nancy and I will carry it with us wherever we go!
Look out TEXAS! We are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS: While driving as Nance was snoozing I thought:
"Life is not looking for its problems' solutions, but rather it is experiencing its realities"
I know problems in life inherently exist and easily consume us. The good thing though is that realities can be either good or bad (simply put) so "life" is all about our experiences...and the problems exist, but they do not have to define our lives. I am so lucky and blessed to be experiencing this trip and experiencing the friendships like the ones I have surrounding me. So whichever sky you may be under tonight Amarillo's or not, know that you are loved and just like this road just goes on and on, the capacity for experiencing love is truly great and limitless.
Blue skies.
-CMB
I really do love about Country Music for many reasons, a couple being
1. The strong sense of pride and appreciation for hard work.
2. The dedication and pride for America
That is what his song is all about. You at home should listen to it!
Jason Aldean (from Macon BTW woo woo!!! Go GA)
Amarillo Sky
Hicktown CD
Even though Country Music bears the brunt of a lot of jokes, and is usually loathed with a burning passion by most people, I love the messages in the songs. I really take the words to heart and I think Nancy and I love it so much because we can relate to the songs. Maybe we aren't toothless...or living in double wides currently BUT the joys and the heartaches of life are the same no matter how twangy you say them.
So, with Ipods blaring and singing voices in tune we once again hit the road. We've headed South. I can only hope that his blog appears larger on your screen...because by goodness it is being written in TEXAS!!!! Nancy and I made it safely despite the following:
Rain
Ominous clouds
Lack of one County Road sign
Lack of Jacqueline GPS Extraordinaire...she was being temper mental
and Mr or Mrs Cutest Wild Bunny who is now in Bunny Heaven. There are carrots galore, and green fields up there and I know I will eventually forgive myself for "bumping her on a rather dark Texas road slightly outside of Amarillo"
YALL!!!!! I feel terrible. I love bunnies! Well, all I know to say is that Nancy is an awesome friend because as soon as the bunny "brushed up against" my tire she said..."I'm sure he scampered off! He's fine"
Goodness I love her.
So, all things considered today was a fine traveling day. Yes it got harey at times?!?! I should stop. It's not very bunny at all...and I'm not hoppy about it.
For real though, this trip continues to be days full of natural beauty, blessings, and bonding. We absolutely loved being with Mark, Winter, and Nina. We are looking forward to being with all of you who are reading this too!!!
The trip down south has commenced! It was sad to leave Colorado today...but now Nancy and I will carry it with us wherever we go!
Look out TEXAS! We are here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS: While driving as Nance was snoozing I thought:
"Life is not looking for its problems' solutions, but rather it is experiencing its realities"
I know problems in life inherently exist and easily consume us. The good thing though is that realities can be either good or bad (simply put) so "life" is all about our experiences...and the problems exist, but they do not have to define our lives. I am so lucky and blessed to be experiencing this trip and experiencing the friendships like the ones I have surrounding me. So whichever sky you may be under tonight Amarillo's or not, know that you are loved and just like this road just goes on and on, the capacity for experiencing love is truly great and limitless.
Blue skies.
-CMB
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