ANOTHER PRAYER FOR PEACE

 

Today’s blessing is a hope that, one day, 

we can find a way to resolve our differences 

peacefully

without the need to fight…

without the need kill.

Because as history has shown…

No good has ever comes from war

and no good ever will…

CREATION, INNOVATION AND FIRST NATION

 

 It was only 120 miles from our motel in New Hampshire to our Air B & B in Bangor’s front door

which means today we had a lot of time for new adventures to explore.

So we took a little detour into the White Mountain National Forest

because all along this trip it seems

we cannot get enough of mountains, forest, rivers, lakes and streams.

Next we stopped at an old covered bridge across the Sunday River. 

Covered bridges are always wonderful to explore…

To stand under the cover and feel the presence of all the people who have crossed these planks before.

Also as we grow older it feels good as we admire every plank and beam and truss

to be in the presence of something…anything 

that is older than the two of us….

Our final stop was in Skowhegan to find the World’s Tallest Indian 

A 62’ statue erected as a tribute to the Abenaki tribe…

The feelings it ’s dedication evokes are a little difficult to describe.

For there on a wooden sign is a beautifully written turn of phrase:

To the Maine Indians…the first people to use these lands in peaceful ways.

When we finally settled in at Bangor…at the end of another beautiful day

I thought how today’s adventures reinforced what we’ve learned along the way:

How we’ve seen nature’s unmatched beauty…acts of divine creation.

and how we find we’re always walking in the footsteps of the original first nation.

And how if we want to build bridges that will last forever and a day

We need to follow in those footsteps 

and do our best to use the land in peaceful ways.

ANOTHER ROAD TRIP PHILOSOPHY

 

As we near the end of our road trip

a blessing from an old amateur wordsmith:

No road is ever too long 

if you have someone to share it with

GNRT DAY 42 THE PLANNED AND UNPLANNED ONOUR WAY TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

 On this road trip we make tentative plans as to the memories we’d like collected

but we often find the best memories are totally unexpected.

Take today for instance..

We planned to visit The Old Round Church in Richmond, Vermont

It was to be the first stop of the day…

This 16-sided church was built in 1812, and is the only one like it still standing In the USA.

In Montpelier we planned to stop for crepes at the Skinny Pancake

and in St. Johnsbury at the Fairbanks Museum…filled with a million things

where we couldn’t wait to see its portrait of Abe Lincoln created from beetle and butterfly wings. 

We did all these and they were amazing…but let me go back to the church if I may

where something wonderful happened that wasn’t in the plan today..

The church was closed when we arrived…but as we stopped to enjoy it for a spell

a woman pulled up, got out of her car saying,

“I notice you’re from out of town…have I got a story to tell.”

Her name is Marilyn Cochran…growing up she told us she loved to ski.

She was the first of first of 4 famous siblings in the Cochran ski family.

She was famous on the World Cup Ski Circuit from 1967-74

winning 3 World Cup races…and accolades galore.

She proudly told us about her family…her sister Barbara who

won gold at the Japan Olympics in 1972…

Then she told us about Barbara’s son…his name is Ryan…who

won Silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 

After visiting with us a while…(we loved listening to her reminisce) 

she gave us a box of Raspberry Waffles (which her family makes)

then left us with a big hug and a kiss.

Deborah and I were overjoyed waving to Marilyn as she drove away…

This unplanned and unexpected encounter…totally made our day!

We met a famous skier…learned about her family…

ended up with waffles, a kiss and a hug….

Amazing! Because before we met her…we thought the best part of our day

was going to be seeing an Abe Lincoln made out of bugs.

ENJOY

 

May we all be blessed to live 

with a minimum of misgivings…

helping others to enjoy their lives

while enjoying the life we’re living.

GNRT DAY 41 FROM LE CHATEAUFRONTANAC TO A TREEHOUSE

We’ve stayed in a wide variety of places on this long cross country jaunt.

One night we’re in Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City 

the next two nights we’re in a tree house in Vermont.

We’ve gone from a luxury hotel…on the 10th floor of its enormous central tower

to a treehouse with no running water…and…an outdoor shower.

From a bedroom overlooking the St. Lawrence River with a king sized bed so soft….

to a treehouse where we climb a ladder to sleep up in the loft. 

From maids who turned down our sheets each day

and left us popcorn and candy…that we ate!

to no maid service and a bathroom with a toilet…the incinerates

From having a valet who took care of our car

then brought it to us when it was time for us to depart

to driving up a road so steep and rocky…

the only way to make it up was with a running start.

Truth be told on our first attempt…half way up…

our car stopped…although the wheels kept on spinning

(Somewhere up in heaven…the travel gods were grinning)

Determined, however, that this portion of our trip would not be a flop…

we backed down…closed our eyes…hit the gas..and made it to the top!

This is exactly what we wanted when we planned our trip.

When we decided from Washington to Maine we would traverse…

We wanted every stop to be an adventure…and those adventures to be diverse.

Besides…if we weren’t staying in the treehouse…the 21st different stop along our map

we wouldn’t have had ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s…or ate lunch at the Von Trapps.

We would have never taken a shower outside with the birds serenading us from their trees

We would have never heard the Sound of Music wafting on the breeze.

Which means even though some of those amenities and luxuries it lacks

we are just as happy in this treehouse in Vermont

as we were in Le Chateau Frontenac

 

ONE DAY

 

May we all be blessed to, one day,  live in a world

where…any time and any place

love is the only religion

and humanity the only race.