A Tribute

When I stay at home, it is easy to forget how large our part of the planet which we call the United States really is. The faster one travels, the shorter . . .

Parting is such sweet sorrow

"Parting is such sweet sorrow" has been the major theme for this trip. After my visit with my Kansas family/friends (from here on out I'm going to say frams) I headed into . . .

Baby, it's cold outside

The temperature outside is a chilly, cold 32 (that's 0 centigrade for my European friends) so I'm not anxious to . . .

Wrinkled Land

I feel so wealthy for all the people in my life, my support, my family/friends (friends so close they are like family and family so close they are like friends) (FF). Parked outside my FF's home I am able to . . .

Beautiful tailwinds and dogs!

It's interesting the role that winds have played in my life, in all our lives for that matter. I've had several careers over the years, I tend to call them lives. In one life, . . .

Glass Ceilings and Bravery

Breaking the glass ceiling is not just for working women trying to get into executive positions but also for women who travel by themselves. When telling people of my plans to . . .

Know each other's job

Well, I left the house, as the doctor had ordered, although I don't believe I left the way she intended. With my loss fresh and wound cut deep, I gathered things and packed the Casita and truck, and called friends. I hitched the Casita and was ready to go the night before leaving. The morning of departure, I found my hands shaking. Dogs jumped in the truck with enthusiasm which helped my mood. Gathering all the strength I had, with trembling hands, I grasped the steering wheel and headed out on my first lone journey. Charley set me up well. While we had our departmentalized jobs in our relationship, I was keen to learn his and he mine. Knowing each other's job allowed me to do this, to take our Casita, Tara, out by myself.

The trip did add a distraction from my current state of mind. It also showed me I could do it, even though I knew I could. Doing it made it just made it a reality.

So my advice for all you in joint-travel mode adventures, whether pulling a Casita or something else, is to know each other's jobs. Know how to pack, to hitch, to drive, unhitch. Know what needs to be done on the inside: closed, turned off, buckled down. That way, you can continue because if your partner in life is like mine was, s/he would want you to continue.

Dawn in Dixon, NM (Odin and Cassie at the ready)

The Precarious Adventure

Life

This precarious adventure

Feels so real but is so very ephemeral

It should last forever

Then there are signs

Aging signs

Body indicators that tell you that things are changing.

Things are changing.

Life

The precarious adventure.

Experiences flow in

Memories are made

Shape our thoughts

Sculpture the bust

Poetry made and songs sung

Once in duet become a song sung solo

Solo

Alone

Alone but not lonely

You are with me in my spirit through to my bones

And so the next adventure goes.

Prepared or not,

Here I come!

I want to remember the fragility.

With all my being and all my love, Kamala

Charley Land

Ah, the Casita Cult!

We're always excited to see another Casita on the road! We flash lights at each other, honk, wave. 'Why?', you may ask. Well, it's because we share such great taste.

On our trip along the Alaska Highway up to Fairbanks, we did not see very many Casitas. In fact, we 

Sleepy Homey Doldrums and Some Info from our trip to Alaska

As soon as we arrive home we have to leave to the hardware store. We grab the keys to our Caravan, now anchored with spider webs to the carport, to buy a water pump for our evaporative cooler. Our home, made of fired adobe, while good insulation holds the predominant temperature. Since we were gone and El Paso was hot, guess what?