Just keep writing.

I have found Elizabeth Gilbert’s strategy about writing to be inspiring. Just keep putting it out there, write more and when you have something to say (as anyone who knows me can tell you, I ALWAYS have something to say), then write.

This little ditty poured out of me this week. Not sure why … And in keeping with my goal to stretch my comfort zone, engage in the practice of 20 seconds of courage, and also to not pre reject my own creativity as “not good enough”, I offer this freely and hope you will be kind.

What I mean is, to quote my mom, “if you can’t find something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. I am not looking for helpful criticism or practical ways to make this a best seller, I am simply writing a blog. I am fulfilling a commitment to write a blog a week for this year.

The struggle of course is right now I have no travel planned except perhaps a drive across Canada this summer and to Revelstoke and Kelowna BC this April. Not exotic locations to be sure, but sweet family connections that I adore and treasure as the most precious of my wealth measurements in this life.

Here goes, I have procrastinated enough ………

Quenching my thirst

My voice is harsh, barely a whisper really
I know it is there, rich and full, with plenty to say …
What is the resistance?
Cracks from years of parched dry space with syllables never heard
Miles of craggy dusty lands, not a blade of fresh green having the courage to poke through
Caustic stink of acrid decay, words once spoken in delight of a child and smothered thereafter, grown withered with neglect
Shy and shamed from voices turned in to my own, self criticizing and blaming for creative blossoming daring to be heard
Today I turn the table. Today I take a stand. Today I eat the frog in my throat. Today I plant the fragrance of essential oil. Today I hear the echo of distant sounds. Today I delight in the delicate sweetness and spice of my own words on the page. Today I feel the passion of positivity arise from deep dark places I thought were buried and dead.
I am born as if to spring, and my petals reach out toward the heat of the healing sun. I reach and stretch and take action and then in a moment an unpredictable explosion …. I am open. I am alive. I love me!
No longer lost in thought. My soul has found it’s mindful breath. Words flow like a fast moving spring river from high in the mountain, bubbling over any barriers and gaining momentum as if speeding toward life itself. The orchestra of notes and silent space performing musical mastery.
Here, now, in this place, at this time, I am alive with my story. Twittering with birdsong, rich aroma breathed in, and witnessing sparkling gold diamonds dancing on the surface, life renewed along the spring water bed. Life giving nourishment from all my many senses, a buffet of vocabulary, a symphony of song.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 35 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Lean in to the compliment. Seasons Greetings!

When we receive a gift at this holiday time or any time really, do we REALLY receive it? I seldom really know the time and thought it takes to really find the perfect gift for me. Whether the giver has re-gifted the present, or shopped on line, or taken the time to search out my favorite shop, baked a sweet, or taken me for a meal. All gifts are intended to bring the giver and receiver closer to love.

I have recently been reading a book I discovered by a writer I just found, Love 2.0, Barbara Frederickson. If you want to truly understand how to create more love in your life and peace in the world, this book is a must read. I am listening to this book on Audible, on route daily in my car to and from my work place. I get small but poignant pointers on how to make love in the world. I am being read to by a professional reader, every day about a subject I am most passionate about. I have never outgrown my desire to be captured in a great book, by being read to.

Lean in to the giver. Ask them how they found it, what made them think of you with this particular offering, and what do they see as your gifts that deserves such generosity? Lean in with body language, face to face and eye to eye contact. Make a date to have tea and thank the person if possible, in order to really exchange the positive sparks that flow between people when appreciation and giving are the commodity of exchange.

I have been so fortunate to be a guest speaker at a few college classes and University events and I ask for feedback and when I remember, I lean in and ask them to say more about what they learned. I feel it is a value added to the exchange. The giver and receiver both get to wallow just a little longer in the love moment. How did you feel when I said that? What is it like for you to hear this? What can I do to add even more to your experience? Thank you, thank you and thank you for your kind words.

As with the blog, I send out vibrations of love to you, the reader. When you stop by to take the time and read, some make comment and always it is appreciate when a word or two shows appreciation. If you get a chance, lean in. Ask me a question or two about why I thought the world needed or desired my words at this time … let me feel I am appreciated and loved in return.

Why do you read this blog? Who am I to you? Why does our exchange matter in this moment? Have I touched your heart?

I wish for you and your loved ones a safe, joyous and very happy holiday season and even more prosperity and love in 2014!!

Love, Pamela xoxo

The world is ready for my vision!

I have been involved with a womens travel club for a few years now and then I stepped away. I travelled and found that the women in the club were not joining me. I felt like we were not moving at the same vibration. Another gal stepped up to take over for a short time. It was good and got some people coming out to meetups. I was asked to step back in.

I tried several locations and every two or three weeks … Different gals attended and the group is growing. Many stop in to see me. Many are chatting and exchanging ideas and emails. Some are making plans to travel together.

I know this is not “my” group. It belongs to the women who make it theirs. I get to be part and to enjoy finding my own friends, my own way and making plans to travel my own path.

In a few weeks a new vision board, a treasure map for my future destinations. More Italy and Greece. New locations, words, pictures and adventures.

I can hardly wait to travel with those who can hardly wait to travel with me!

Join me,

Much love,

Pamela
Xo
Ps. Please join the meetup group even just to watch the excitement and be part of this vision of mine. The world is open 24-7 for our pleasure!

http://www.meetup.com/Womens-Travel-Club/

25 home journey

I stopped off for two nights with my mom at the end of my Europe cruise. So in Nova Scotia, trying to catch up and relax, make plans and just generally spend time with her. I posed the question … If you had one day to spend with me for a year, how would you like to spend it? I know once we had spoken about a swim at Kingsport Beach. We did not do this. As I had already done that with my grandsons a little while back, that seemed sufficient for this trip. We decide to do errands and a bit of browsing, and generally just hang out together.

It was a perfect day. Not too hot, not too busy, never too much, just right combination of time together. We even did a little shopping for birthdays and Christmas as we love to do. We at e scallops and had a glass of white wine, and an early evening for sleep.

Up this morning 330 ish to finish packing. My suitcase had not survived my last flight, it was cracked and open to my clothes. So mom had another old suitcase and I repacked my stuff in that. Shower, dressed, gluten free toast with maple butter as a last minute treat from Nova Scotia.

My aunt Linda has a new sports car and she brought it this morning for me to drive to the airport. What a treat! I kept within the speed limit and enjoyed the ride.

I am waiting to board Westjet, remembering the last flight out here with grand babies and my daughter on the way to the wedding a few weeks ago. How sweet that memory and all that has happened since. I am grateful to have this blog journal so I can reflect, as well as some pictures to post.

I can’t seem to log on here at Halifax airport so I will do it when I get one or Calgary.

Till I see you again, safe travels, enjoy each day …. With love

Pamela

24 Miracle

Stay with me – read on.

I said as I was a bit frustrated with Air Canada check in person ….” I really want a reason to like Air Canada.” We had been assigned a seat with no recline and no leg room … And told we have no choice. No gluten free …. Sorry they said. The woman also said we should check in with supervisor at the desk before boarding for any changes.

As usual, I am running around airport last minute searching for gluten free food to take on board. At Heathrow they do not announce the boarding gate until 45 minutes before so you just mill around and wait … Looking for a sign.

Finally we see it, gate 30 followed by a note that the flight is boarding and 20 minutes estimated time to walk to the gate. Argh. We use the moving walk ways and are rushing by the others. We go through one line up with our boarding passes and just about to go through the next one … I remember to ask the guy if there is a seat with leg room. He reaches over to his side and pulls up two new boarding passes with our names … They had been just sitting there … He says you have been upgraded to business class. I ask him to repeat because I don’t trust what I have heard. He laughs. He says it again. We get called to board early … We still don’t trust …. It all happened so fast. Was it a mistake? Hustled to the plane, we board, 7 k and f. Omg! Those seat that recline to a bed, like in the movie, the Holiday with Cameron Diaz. Yes, that is me. Sitting in a seat that I have only ever just walked by in my many flights. And this is Air Canada. And this is the long flight to Halifax. Omg!

The menu gets passed out to us. Are you kidding me? Headphones. I don’t even know what all is included as I have never ever even dreamed …. Oh my. The sweetest young attendant just came by with champagne and orange juice in separate glasses, and I say YES, he asks which … He gives me both. I take a picture. I taste the champagne and get Steve to take my picture on my iPad. Pinch me! Yes, this is really happening to me!

I believe in miracles. I believe in faith. I believe in travel. I believe in me. I feel like I just received a several thousand dollar raise. I would have dressed up if I had known…. However, I am so grateful I took the time this morning to ask for what I wanted. I also am grateful I had a shower! And changed clothes. I do have my favourite scarf bought in Greece at my mom’s encouragement. I feel luxurious and lucky and extra special. I want to giggle out loud. I want to be in the moment. I better read the menu, as they are taking orders for food. 🙂

Ordering a lovely meal, red wine, a Malbec. Also extra water. Watching a movie with my feet up (see picture) with cashews and almonds to nibble. Warm washcloths for freshening up and now cloth napkins arriving. About 7 options for how the seats are set for rest, sleep and for sitting up right. Diane Keaton in the movie. I love her style. I will grow old gracefully like her. Beautiful and thin. Always stylish and confident.

The bottomless red wine is so good, and warms me up. The service just keeps coming. Luxury is bottomless. It is lovely here in this life. I am so grateful. I may never pass this way again. I am fully enjoying this moment and this experience. Love is in the details.

There are eight rows of three across the plane. So twenty four. I recline because I can. I enjoy champagne, wine, Baileys, several cans of Perrier and still water in a real glass. I watch movie after movie, fluff. As in the words of the song, “I don’t want to close my eyes … I don’t want to fall asleep cause I would miss you and I don’t want to miss a thing!”

I am so happy, in love and excited everyday about my life, present and future.

Thanks for joining me.

Deliriously happy and grateful in my luxury,
Pamela
Xoxoxo

23 Heathrow Airport

Omg!

So we got a shuttle this morning from the lovely Sheraton Heathrow hotel to the terminal three at airport to begin our journey home. Crowds everywhere. Congestion and line ups and almost unable to move. This is a very busy airport during the day.

Stopped for coffee at Starbucks after we went through security. Venti decaf skinny caramel macchiato.

Breakfast at a pub dining area. When in London, bubble and squeak is the order of the day, with a lovely slice of ham and a fried egg on top. Lovely flavour.

The waiter reminded me of someone and then it occurred to me …. The voice of the pick up guy from the movie French Kiss who rips off Meg Ryan at the hotel as she is waiting to see her ex fiancé. Exactly the same voice …. So I keep expecting him to say the lines from the movie. I have seen it so many times. I laugh put loud despite myself. I tell Steve what I am thinking and he laughs reciting the lines of the movie in the mimic of the voice.

Steve and I plan for a Europe adventure for next time to include Russia and London in the spring. Not so hot for Steve …. No Greece or Italy next time probably. I will go back there one day though. I love the heat and the adventure. The beautiful exotic lands.

Good day to you all,

Love Pamela
Xoxoxo

Beautiful, wish you were here!

22 just about to land in London

Flying with British Airways from Rome to London and overnight in a great airport hotel to get some rest before the long flight direct London to Halifax.

We had a nice glass of white wine, and some water. As per usual I can’t eat the food but I am still pleasantly still satisfied with the gluten free pizza I got in Rome! Half with four cheese fromageo and half spicy salami with tomato sauce and cheese on a wondrous thin home made gluten free crust. I ate a full personal size in the restaurant and then got a second one to go and ate more of it in the limo car we hired to take us to the airport some hours later.

It was truly the most pleasant surprise. You may not know this but it is exceptional treat to get to eat what other people eat, at a quality, taste and texture that others enjoy. When in Rome, to eat pizza of such a quality is marvellous and I am so happy we found it. Barb and Anne had scouted around while Steve and I were in the Pantheon taking pictures and enjoying the site.

Anne and Barb were both such lovely travel companions. We met them day one as we were making our way from Nice, via train to Monte Carlo and then to the ship a week ago, on a Sunday, for our cruise embarkation. They are both wonderful, generous and very fun women. I am so glad we met. We enjoyed our time traveling with them daily, we ate supper together every night, met for drinks and went to shore daily as well. We played card games, euchre and contract rummy.

The plane is descending, we are over Salisbury plain where we cruised to on January with Cunard. I wish we had some time in London, however, one of the trips we take we will be happy to enjoy that adventure. This is a short twelve hours to get some rest and prepare for the next leg of our trip back to Canada.

What a wonderful vacation! I am so grateful and happy for the life I have and the people in it that I get to share adventures with.

Sincerely,

Pamela

21 Gelato in Rome by Trevi fountain

It says Rome ! We tossed coins in the Trevi fountain, sealing our fate to return again one day. I enjoyed two scoops of authentic Italian gelato, one pineapple ananas and one meringue with pieces of white meringue adding the light crunchy texture. I feel so blessed to be here.

Earlier we took a shared transfer from ship direct to hotel Mozart close to Spanish steps. Barb and Anne will stay at this 4 star hotel in a convenient partof Rome for another three days and have offered to store our luggage in their room for the day. Very lovely, via del corso is a main street and right outside the door.

We find a place to get hop on hop off bus and climb up to the top. Like an oven in the downstairs. Like a blasting hot hair dryer on top but at least a breeze! We see the sights and I snap many pics using my trusty iPad. Great few hours seeing lots and enjoying not walking! 2000 year old Colusseum was awesome as usual and great to hear some of the story on the English recorded version through the bus ear buds.

We got off to walk around piazza nuovonna and although also hot, was a great sight to see. All the artists displaying their wares. Many must have gone home in the heat. Had to be over forty degrees and the black cobblestones reflected even more heat up back at the tourists. So many people wearing hats, in various kinds of outfits from white linens to jeans and scarves. What a great place to watch people.

We found Alfredo’s of Rome restaurant the original. it is the mother ship for the restaurant that we had been to in New York. World famous and had been host to so many famous people in its day. Pictures outside with autographs.

We keep moving. Down roads made of square black stones laid together in patterns. Trying always to walk on the shady side of the street. We stop for gelato. We have favourites after a week of partaking daily in the local fare. I have pineapple and meringue. Others have cherry amerara …. Very tasty. And refreshing and cold. Usually served in air conditioned stops.

As we walk we can feel the cool air from the shops we pass. We step in from time to time to cool off. I love Rome in the heat and walking down the historical roads. Thanks for the third opportunity. After another successful coin toss into Trevi fountain, I am certain I will be back.

Beautiful, wish you were here

Pam

20 Elba, last full day of cruise

Tonight we will have to pack up so today there is still great adventures to be had. We are doing last minute laundry items in preparation for packing, and there are line ups for same.

We just pulled in to port and the fog from the sea has lifted to another beautiful sunny blue sky day. The port is lovely and no other ships dock here. Our ship is small enough to pull right in to port. I don’t know much about this island and I have never been before. It is picturesque with colourful buildings around the u shaped port. We won’t do a tour but will go ashore and explore for a few hours. This afternoon some time to enjoy the sun, and pool area, followed by packing up of the items that are dry from laundry day and then last night dinner meal and the show tonight. Bags out for 11 pm and off to Rome tomorrow. Later we decide to keep our bags and wheel them off in the morning making packing stress disappear. Also laundry has more time to hang dry around the room.

Our friends have arranged a private shuttle to their hotel in Rome and invited us to share it including costs. It will be a great way to get to Rome, store our luggage in their hotel for the day, then maybe do a hop on hop off bus to see the sights in a more leisurely fashion. I want to toss coins in to Trevi fountain and then spend some time on Spanish steps before heading to the airport.

I am enjoying this quiet time in the laundry to catch up a bit on this blog. When traveling with others it can be challenging to keep up with personal routines involving blogging and personal writing. I have kept up a bit of posting of pictures on my Facebook.

Beautiful, wish you were here,

Pamela