Levonne Gaddy

Capture Your History While You Can Talk and Remember!

2012-02-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog World Friends and Family!

I am so excited! I spent the last year building the foundation for my personal history business, ©Capture Your History.

The expression "You can't take it with you" is wrong when it comes to memories and knowledge. Unless those memories and knowledge have been captured in some way, we do take them with us when we leave this earth.

Each one of us has stories that we would love to pass along to family and friends. I am so proud and pleased to spend the rest of my work life helping people make their stories tangible in the form of books, transcripts, audio and video recordings.

Whose story do you want to see captured? Take a moment please to think about the lives of your friends and family members. Who comes to mind? Will you talk with that person about the idea of capturing their history for posterity? Please don't hesitate to contact me or pass my name along for a free consultation to talk about the process of making a personal history.

Thanks so much for your friendship! Here's to spending time together this year!

Levonne

Levonne Gaddy, M.S.W., Personal Historian

Member Association of Personal Historians

Working in Central Coast California, Tucson and Los Angeles

(520) 306-7329

Home Found Once Again...

2012-02-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

It's funny. As John and I searched throughout Monterey County (Central Coast California) for a house to make into a home over the previous month, I became increasingly stressed. I didn't get too concerned about it though as I have learned many times before that even good change results in stress. So I wrote the stress off to "change."

The Jazz at Manzanita Park

But after looking and only finding houses in our price range that would require lots of time and money to make liveable, we decided to hold off on the search for now. Within days I was feeling calmer, quieter, happier. I was enjoying the peacefulness of Manzanita Park and The Jazz once again. I was enjoying the company of my Gingee Girl more fully. I have concluded that for whatever reasons, buying a house NOW is not the right thing for us to be doing.

Miss Gingee

I've decided that I want to write the history of Manzanita Park over the coming months as I continue my volunteer work in the park and as I begin to build my personal history business. I want to knit, to take pictures, to write, to walk, to enjoy the moment, my husband, my doggie and my friends. Life is good - if I (we) let it be.

What a whirlwind of a month was January! How was your first month of 2012?

The Hunt for Home

2012-01-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

Miss Gingee

Another day of lying around in the car while Mom goes in to look at houses. I'm not altogether sure how I feel about this whole business of "settling down." I am sure that the business of finding and looking at houses is stressing Mom out! I hope they get it settled soon so we can have more fun!

The Amazing Adventures of A Personal Historian

2012-01-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

What an amazing weekend I had! Not only did I get to celebrate my ninety-year-old friend Virginia's birthday, but I shared the personal history dvd that I created about her life with sixteen of her closest friends and family. Here is the first half of her personal history movie. It is about fifteen minutes long. You'll quickly see that Virginia is not old.

Over the weekend, I also shared Virginia's personal history book that I produced. Family members were so happy to receive Virginia's written words.

The work of being a personal historian, helping others capture their history is just about the most rewarding work that I've ever done. It is true that one thing that people take with them when they leave this earth is their memories and knowledge of their own lives, unless they have found a way to capture it and leave it behind. What an honor and a gift for me to do this work.

Another amazing thing for me this past weekend was that I learned to knit. Yes knit! I can't believe I'm knitting! But I became enchanted with the scarves that my friend Nicole was knitting and had to have her teach me how to make them. I'm working on my first one now. What a very great way to work with color and texture! Thank you Nicole.

My first knitting project! A wool scarf. I love the colors!

What have you been up to this past week?

Yes Virginia you will be ninety tomorrow!

2012-01-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

I finished my ninety-year-old friend Virginia's personal history project. She now has a book and a film documenting important parts of her life. It was fun and I can't wait to show the film at her birthday party on Saturday!

Here's a link to her book - Virginia.

Virginia this past summer with Gingee.

A Sexy New Bottom...

2012-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

This morning as I anxiously prepare to get back to work on Virginia's 90th birthday present - her personal history film, John is off launching Blue Ribbon. The work that he and Carlos did on it this past week turned a so-so boat into a shiny new thing!

Blue Ribbon was hauled out one week ago - last Tuesday morning.

This is the condition the bottom was in a week ago.

After some bottom repairs...

here is Blue Ribbon today, ready for launching with a sexy new bottom (if we could all be so lucky huh?), all cut polished and waxed, and with a repaired rudder.

John worked harder this week than he works when he is at his "paying" job. The final results are energizing. Now to get that red main sail and get out into the Monterey Bay winds.

What are you looking forward to over the next few months?

May 2012 Be Our - Mine and Yours - Best Year Ever!

2012-01-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

A Very Happy New Year to You!

Gingee and I started our day by saying 'see ya later' to John as he left home early to (hopefully) complete work on the bottom of Blue Ribbon (his sailboat).

Gingee and I continued our morning with a cup of coffee, Moroccan olive bread and fig jam and the new 2012 calendar.

Hey hey Miss Gingee. That's my breakfast. I gave you yours already!

Time to get organized for the day, the week, the year.

What are you doing today?

Out With the Boat!

2011-12-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

This foggy Central Coast California morning, John was up early to have Blue Ribbon hauled out of the water for a bottom inspection and repair. He has worked hard for the past nine months since acquiring the boat at an auction to rehabilitate it. Finally it is out of the water.

What? Is he going to stay in the boat while they lift it?

He did. He stayed in the boat while they lifted!

The bottom wasn't in too bad a shape at all.

I left John down at Gravelle's Boat Yard (Moss Landing) while I hightailed it back home to warm my hands and get back to work on Virginia's personal history movie.

How did you start your day?

Mission Accomplished

2011-12-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

Two years and three months ago John and I began what we called then "Our California Odyssey." During the Great Recession of 2008-2009, we left jobs, a home and our community of the previous fifteen years to chase our dream of finding work that would nurture us in a Central Coast California community that we would love.

Campground hosting and park volunteering in exchange for a full-hookup RV site for The Jazz, our road home, has been a major part of how we financed our relocation adventure. By staying in parks for several months at a time, we've thoroughly explored Big Sur, the Pismo Beach area, Santa Rosa, Morro Bay and the Monterey County area.

Both of us determined that Monterey County's towns and cities made us feel at home. Salinas, Monterey, Moss Landing, Carmel Valley, Seaside. Agriculture, ocean, beaches, walking trails galore, beautiful parks, close proximity to Santa Cruz - one of our favorite California towns to visit, mild weather, for me a fantastic photography community and for John employment in his field of building safety services all contribute to what makes this area a fantastic location for us to settle.

The holdup has been that John's job was "temporary" and without benefits. We did not feel that this could sustain us long term so we kept our options open to continue our quest for work and community elsewhere. We recently expanded our possible places to live to include British Columbia, Canada - John's birth place - because we knew that we had to resolve the health care issue. We've been uninsured for over half a year. We have been maximally flexible and supportive of one another throughout this journey.

This past year, I launched my personal history business, Capture Your History. I can't imagine more fulfilling work than helping people document their histories.

Today, John signed employment papers with Monterey County that made him an "employee" rather than the temp that he has been for over fourteen months. He now has benefits - including paid time off and health insurance!

Wow! Our dream has officially been fulfilled! We both have work that nurtures us in a Central California Coast community that we love. Without a doubt, we will send for our "stuff" in the storage pod back in Tucson in 2012. We'll change from life in The Jazz back to a sticks and bricks home. Basically, we now feel comfortable putting down roots.

This is all so new. We've reached a milestone. What next? We don't know exactly but we're not in a hurry. Life is good at Manzanita County Park for us. Stay tuned. And please wish us well.

Rainbow by the water tower at Manzanita County Park, Prunedale, California.

We wish you a safe Hanukka and Christmas week. Stay warm and cozy. Remember to give away love every chance you get.

Cougar tracks...

2011-12-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

What do you think? Does this look like a cougar paw print to you? Chet found these this morning on the trail around Manzanita Park. He insisted that I take some pictures. They are about the size of a medium-sized dog's paw.

Have you seen any interesting footprints lately?

Life is Ducky. You?

2011-12-08T19:24:00.001-08:00

I'm working away on Virginia's personal history project. Goal: one book and a twenty-minute film by her ninetieth birthday on January 12th.

Taken in Moss Landing last month.

And life really is ducky. Because I'm making progress.

How are things going for you this early December?

Wishing you safety, fun and joy this holiday season...

2011-12-02T13:18:00.001-08:00

From our RV home to your home...

Thanksgiving Pleasures and Local Treasures

2011-11-28T11:29:00.001-08:00

John had four days off from work for Thanksgiving break. What a treat! We enjoyed the local scene and had time for long conversations. Overall we learned that we're doing just great in spite of the economy and distance from family. We had time to recognize how grateful we are to be who and where we are at this moment in time. Yes. Life is good.

John and Gingee walking along the waterfront in Monterey (Central Coast California)

Street scene Cannery Row (Monterey, CA)

Gingee sporting her string bikini leash

Scooners Cafe - (we're going here for breakfast soon).

Of course, everyone knows about the Cannery Row/John Steinbeck connection.

FishHopper Seafood Resturant, Cannery Row, Monterey, CA

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

Grateful for You this American Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T09:41:00.001-08:00

Here's wishing all my blogging friends a very wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I have more gratitude for you as a community than I can even contain in myself. Thank you for being here!

Royal Oaks (Central Coast California) wild turkey

Greetings from me, John and Gingee

(Happy holidays to friends in other countries.)

Fear of Intimacy?

2011-11-19T15:28:00.001-08:00

Intimacy: Into-me-you-see

Agave's water droplets (taken today in Moss Landing, CA)

I fear the overwhelmingness of my emotions. Emotions related to grief, to love, to creativity. It's as if the feelings could drown me. That fear can stop me dead in my tracks.

My resolution is to face the fear, to tell myself that the feelings won't drown me, to keep moving forward even when I am racked with the overwhelming conviction that the thing feared will emotionally kill me.

What do you do when your emotions feel too big?

Love your work?

2011-11-16T19:49:00.001-08:00

Monday was a funny day. I actually went on my first job interview since we began our relocation adventure two years ago. It was a real interview where I put on makeup, dressed in a conservative skirt suit and wore black pumps. Because I have been so relaxed and informal over the last couple of years, I didn't check the address carefully and ended up right on time to the wrong place. (I only missed twenty or so minutes of the 40 minute interview.)

Monday evening I went to the local Independent Photographers group and showed my photos early so that I could relax and enjoy all the great work that came after mine. I do love photography. I love taking the pictures, processing them in photoshop and publishing them either online or by printing them on paper. Here are three of the photos that I shared Monday.

People and their shadows at Capitola Beach.

People and their shadows at The Getty Center, Los Angeles.

People and their shadows at the Monterey Aquarium (Monterey, CA).

No, the job for which I interviewed was not remotely connected to photography. Hmmm... (Funny, before the interview, I fantasized about entertaining the interview committee with some the photos that I had just picked up from the photo lab.)

Have you loved or do you love the work you were/are paid to do?

Capitola sweets and sunshine...

2011-11-12T22:12:00.001-08:00

A very good day. Began this morning with breakfast out with John and Gingee at Gayle's Bakery and Roticceria in Capitola (Central Coast California) then down to Capitola Beach for a walkabout.

Capitola family

Capitola hula hooper

Rentals at Capitola Beach

Paradise Beach at Capitola Beach

Played the rest of the day.

How was your day today?

Photos, books and love.

2011-11-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I attended a photography workshop at The Center for Photographic Art in Carmel (Central Coast California). It was fabulous! Being in the company of other photographers and having my photographs critiqued by Al Weber who is one of Ansel Adam's peers from their early days made both my Saturday and my Sunday.

Inspiration came through talks given by Jack Wasserbach, Tracy Valleau, Glenn Steiner, Al Weber, Brian Taylor, Elizabeth Murray, Jason Bradley, David Bayles and Ted Orland.

Here are three of my Moss Landing photos that both Al and I like. He suggested I put together a photodocumentary book on Moss Landing, California (which I photographed extensively this past summer).

Life is good. What got you pumped up recently?

Upside Down Alright

2011-11-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

What is the current expression for when you owe more on yourmortgage than your house is worth? Oh yes, upside down.

When I think of upside down, I think of feet above the head.In that position, money can easily fall out of your pockets. And since yourhands and arms are fully occupied with holding you up, it is near impossible tocatch the money that is clattering to the floor.

Well, John and I have just discovered that the mortgage on ourhouse in Tucson, our former home of seven years, is upside down. The house onTombolo Trail in the Sweetwater in the Foothills subdivision was and is abeautiful place to live. But John and I rented the house out and moved on twoyears ago to pursue our dream of working and living on the Central CaliforniaCoast. When we left our home, it still had nearly double the value that it hastoday. We still enjoyed a good amount of equity in the property then. Buttoday, the house is not only absent equity, we are giving the bank money forthe privilege of holding onto a property that is pure liability.

Our house in Tucson

Since the mortgage crisis began, John and I prided ourselveson our purchase of a home within our means. Today we wonder about ouroptions. The house needs painting and at over ten years old, is due to have theoriginal central furnace/air conditioning go out.

This new personal reality is sinking in. The great sum ofcash that we originally put into our home is gone, on paper anyway. When mightwe expect a recovery, a time when we can sell the house and salvage what we putinto it? Maybe in three years? Maybe five years? Maybe a decade? Maybe never?Who really knows? Housing use to "feel" like a safe investment.

I am grateful that we love living in the Jazz in the temporarybut beautiful park environments that we have been able to secure. Two yearsafter beginning our relocation adventure, John has found "temporary"work and we have experienced several Central Coast California communities wherewe would love to live. "Temporarily" we are living our dream. Butright now, it hard to watch an older dream decay.

How has the ongoing mortgage crisis personally affected youand your family?

Life is Good

2011-11-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day back to work at Manzanita Park(Prunedale, California). John was off to work as usual at Monterey County. Iwouldn't say that I was excited about getting back to work but I will say that Iwas looking forward to fixing up our volunteer camp site (which counts towardsmy weekly twenty hours of volunteer work).

Sunshine coming through the pines this morning.

A cool sunny morning greeted me as I stepped out of the Jazzwith Gingee. It felt fresh outside, spacious, quiet. I relished that being-on-a-big-ranch feeling that I love about Manzanita. I collected a pair of loppers,pruning shears, a screwdriver, pliers and a rake from the tool shed to takeback to our site. After tuning into aclassical music channel on Sirius and turning the outside speakers on, I wasready to work.

The view back towards Salinas from our volunteer campsite.

I pruned bushes and trees, trimmed tall grass and raked. Physical work felt good. I haven't done muchin the past several months. I liked sweating and not worrying about getting myclothes dirty or having my hair look nice. Freedom.

Later in the day, Chet asked me to go with him to cut somelimbs off the overgrown California Oaks at the Park's entrance. It was good tobe working side by side with Chet again. It felt familiar and easy. We didn'thave to talk much.

As I finish up the day by washing my car and the laundry, Ifeel good about being productive and seeing results. Hey and there's still timefor a nap before Gingee's walk and this evening's dinner with John.

Life is good. How was your Monday, 11/1/11?

Remember those Last Days of Summer Break?

2011-10-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Today feels a bit like those last days of summer break when I was a school kid back in Piedmont North Carolina. Fall had begun. Socks, shoes, sweaters were definitely needed to keep away the chill. The unstructured play and adventuring through the woods and the company of a stay-at-home mother were traded in for class rooms, teachers and a return to peers.

Before full daylight today, to honor our last day of freedom before starting back to work at Manzanita Park, Gingee and I took a final sunrise stroll down Pier B at Moss Landing Harbor (Central Coast California).

The Moss Landing Power Plant from Pier B

Looking towards the west side of Moss Landing from Pier B

Hispanola and Ocean Angel 1, Moss Landing Harbor

Moss Landing Fishing Industy

Sailing anyone?

What a great summer we had. I took that three-week road trip back home to North Carolina with Gingee and my brother. There was the sadness of losing my brother-in-law but there was also the joy of reconnecting with family and experiencing again the beauty of British Columbia, Canada.

And this past quarter, there was at least a month of days structured by whatever I felt like doing that day. I'm going to miss the Moss Landing KOA. I'll miss the water and boats, the resturants, the fresh vegetable market and the post office all of which where within walking distance from the Jazz.

It is time again to move along. What a wonderful husband I have in John who has allowed me a summer off as he went to work each day and while Gingee and I played.

How were transitions for you during your childhood from summer to fall?

(P.S. To see the silent movie that I made of the Moss Landing Power Plant, click here to go to Levonne's Pretty Pics.)

Happy Halloweeny…

2011-10-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Stay safe out there all you trick or treaters!

Spooky but beautiful huh? Anyone know where this house is located?

Giving the Opposer the Boot

2011-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Another foggy Monday morning in Moss Landing (Central CoastCalifornia). Gingee got me up early today to go outside, before John went offto work in Salinas. In my pajamas with fleece vest over top and camera slungover my shoulder, Gingee lead me aroundin the dark to her favorite morning stops.

Back inside, I made a cup of coffee and raised the windowblinds so that I could watch the light change from night to day. Only five more days and we move back toManzanita Park where I commence park volunteer duties after three months off.

This final week off, I'll do another semi-juice fast and will examinethe part of me that is stuck being "oppositional" in my significantrelationships. You know, the part that has to oppose just for the sake ofstaking out my own expertise and emotional areas, for which there is an endless trove (or sothe opposition piece of me seems to think).

How tiring it must be to interact with this oppositionalpart for John. I find it tiring and it comes from inside me.

It is also quite tiring when my own oppositional part seesit worthwhile to engage with the oppositional parts of others. Ying yang.Struggle tussle. Back and forth. Going nowhere. What a bore.

I suspect this oppositional part of me stems from the superindependent and simultaneously dependent teen that I was decades ago. I was atough little character back then. A small-town rural "dirt road" kid.

Time to give up the sport of opposing. Asserting is fine butsword fighting with mind and words to gain the upper hand doesn't serve me anylonger. It is really just a waste of my life and waste for the other that Imight engage in a fight.

So as those bodily toxins flush out with the juice thisweek, then so goes the Opposer. "Hey, I'm truly grateful for the loyalty andcommitment to cause exhibited by you Opposer for all these years but now it'stime for your retirement. Have some fun. Use that energy to climb mountains or toice skate, to do some royal trick or treating or to cloud surf with the angels. I'm finally ready to try life on myown as the capable, loving and straight-forward adult that I am."

Is there a part of you that you'd like to give the boot?

One Weary Adventurer?

2011-10-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

This morning is foggy and cool here in Moss Landing (California). As I reflect on the past weekend and specifically on the visit we had with Merikay and Craig (they were on their maiden voyage with The Big White Thing), I feel torn.

Merikay and Craig (Merikday's Dream has Six Wheels)

Craig and Merikay are so excited about the commencement of their RVing life together in The Big White Thing. Their Alfa motorhome is a lovely and spacious cabin for short and longer-term excusions.

Gingee perched atop a table at a Moss Landing local resturant patio watching us inside. You can dress them up but you can't take them out! (photo by Merikay)

Having breakfast with them on Saturday reminded me how fun-filled being on vacation with your life partner can be. Witnessing them focused on the newness of learning to operate their home on wheels brought back the excitement John andI felt at the start of our journey two years ago.

Maybe I feel "in between" more than "torn".

Reading Jeana's post today (Four Windows With a View) reminded me how tough moving and transitions can be, especially if you are at a "change" point in your RV dream adventure.

After two years of living in state and regional parks along with the occasional private park, and after one year in the Monterey County (California) area, John and I are at a change point once again.

In ten days, we haul The Jazz back out to Manzanita Park where I resume volunteer work as a park caretaker and from where John will continue his morning commute into Salinas for work with his temporary employer of the past year.

Beyond ten days is hard to predict though. Yesterday John had an interview in Berkeley (California) for a position for which he is well-qualified and suited. It was actually the second interview for that particular job. Berkeley though? It's definitely a city! Can we make a comfortable life in a city like Berkeley? What about The Jazz? There are no RV parks closeby or parks in which to live and volunteer.

Later today John drives northward to Lake County (California) for an early morning job interview tomorrow. Lake County's population size is about 70,000 and it is spread over approximately 1,300 square miles. Much less congested than a city and California's biggest natural lake sits in the middle of the county.

At home, I continue to fill out immigration forms so that I might legally reside in John's home country of Canada should we decide to exercise the option to move north of the border.

Our RV adventure of the past two years began for the purpose of relocating from the southwest to Central Coast California. The plan was to explore communities before finding jobs and putting down roots. We have done much exploring and will probably do more yet. But I must say that I am finally ready to settle down in one place at least until we can RV fulltime without concern for jobs and when John and I are able to spend our days together exploring new or loved places.

What is/was your greatest challenge in the period between work and fulltime retirement?

Monday Loving

2011-10-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

I wonder what's next? I mean now that Mom has sent her inner child off

into the heavens for safe keeping?

Miss Gingee

What do you think?

I don't have a clue.

Full-timing and Chasing Whales

2011-10-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Following is an interview with my KOA Campground neighbor, Captain Jim Davis.

Levonne:You and Charlotte live in your RV at the Moss Landing (California) KOA. Could you describe your lifestyle?

Capt. Jim: Before we began to live in our RV, we were using it only when we wanted to get away for a little vacation for a few days. But now everyday we feel like we're on a long and fun-filled vacation.

Charlotte and Captain Jim with mascot Sheeba

L. How long have you been a full-timeRVer?

J. About fifteen months. Since July 2010.

L. Wherewere you and what did you do before doing what you are currently doing?

J. I was working as a boat captain at Catalina Island (California) and Charlotte was managing an office.

L. What kindof rig do you have?

J. We have a B Class which we turned into Charlotte's office and a fifth wheel which is our home now.

L. Couldyou tell me about your business - Blue Ocean Whale Watch?

J. We established Blue Ocean Whale Watch with my business partner Kate Cummings in December 2010 and purchased our boat (High Spirits) in San Diego. After we completed required permits and paperwork with the U.S. Coast Guard, we began to run our business on February 21, 2011.

Blue Ocean Whale Watch boat docked in Moss Landing Harbor where the whale watching tours begin.

L. What did your family and friends think aboutyour choice to live your current lifestyle?

J. Our daughter was excited and happy for us since our new lifestyle put us only forty-five minutes away from them. Before we were seven-eight hours driving distance and therefore we were not able to see one another often. Now we can visit each other at least once a week. This lifestyle allows us to be closer to our family.

L. What are your goals for the next five years?

J. We will stay in the same area and continue our lifestyle only in a larger size of RV than the current one.

L. What prepared you for living your current lifestyle?

J. While I was working at Catalina Island, I lived on my boat for most of the year. When Charlotte visited me on her weekends while we were staying on our small boat, we realized how fun it was and we also realized that we could do this much better in a larger RV and in a better location where we could be closer to family.

L.What do you do for medical coverage?

J. We have our individual Kaiser Permanente coverage which we transferred from Southern California to Northern California region.

L.What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a full-time RVer and businessowner?

J. First and the most important thing for us was the getting rid of the daily commute to work. Charlotte's work is only twelve steps away from our home and mine is about four hundred feet away. Getting rid of the daily commute is a blessing on stress and also relief on our wallets. Plus being an RVer is like going back in time where people lived in smaller communities and everybody is friends with everyone in their neighborhood. Weekly potluck dinners, inviting each other to our BBQ parties or just to sitting down to share a glass of wine and chit chat with neighbors was the community spirit we were missing.

L. Whatdo you do for fun?

J. We stay at home! Because we never had this much fun before we became full time RVers. Oh and also we visit our kids and play with our granddaughter on a weekly basis.

L. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you and yourlifestyle?

J. Everybody who loves outdoors, camping, nature and friendly gatherings should try this lifestyle.

L. How can people get in touch with you?

J. They can email me at Capt.JDavis@gmail.com

To learn more about the whale watching trips and to get ticket information, click here. Hey and there's a discount for KOA campers! There is just no end to the creativity and variety in lifestyles out here in the full-time RV world!

Lying Low in The Moss

2011-10-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Moss Landing (Central Coast California) can just be a gentle place to hang out some days.

Save or Run? Download or Open?

2011-10-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

To the passing of Steve Jobs

"The certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour of death is a source of grief throughout our life." E. Morin, French philosopher and sociologist

Where am I? It's time to take some kind of self inventory which ultimately translates into a "John and me" inventory. But to start with self.

This past week, I dramatically reduced sugars and fats and decreased portions at mealtimes. Reinstituting thirty minutes of walking each day wasn't so hard to do after getting out of the habit over the previous eight months. Those two shifts resulted in the loss of two pounds. Decent. I'm sure I can keep both these things up for another week. (That sounds less overwhelming a commitment than for the rest of my life!)

The colds that infected both John and me for weeks are gone completely. I'm feeling less tired during the day now, several weeks beyond a month and a half of travel - first on a three-week cross-country road trip with my brother James and doggie Gingee and second up to British Columbia for my brother-in-law's memorial service.

Over the past week, I added twenty minutes of meditation to my daily routine. My friend Nancy directed me to UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center for free meditations. I've enjoyed the simplicity and fun of them. I'll keep those up for at least another week. (I don't want to overwhelm myself with too many long-term commitments.)

A wheel bearing replacement, a start on filling out immigration forms for Canada, licensing Gingee in our current home-base of Monterey County (California), completing a past-due eye exam and generally getting organized and setting priorities made up my week that just passed.

If I can pull off printing and semi-mounting four 16 x 20 inch prints of photographs for critiquing at Monday night's Independent Photographers meeting and complete a rough draft of a true story that I'll submit to an anthology (due to be out next spring) for Tuesday's writing critique group, I'll be pleased with my week's accomplishments.

In the meantime, John and I try to remain patient as we wait for the "possible" development of a "permanent" job with his employer. While waiting, we set in place several options. One - a job for him with another employer, two - the return to Manzanita Park where I take up volunteer duties for free camping at the end of the month and three - a move to British Columbia.

Our dream three years ago was to find meaningful work and a home in a community that we would love in Central Coast California. We have not given up on our dream but we are now entertaining other equally fulfilling alternatives. We're comfortable with that.

As we grasp for what seems right for us, we also let go to learn what will be. When the future comes, we hope to be here fully participating in the unfolding of our dreams and our lives, together with our Gingee.

Moss Landing Caboose (Central Coast California)

How do you balance hopes and dreams with an uncertain future?

Experiences are the Best Gifts

2011-10-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, John gave me an eco tour through Elkhorn Slough (Moss Landing, California). We took the two-hour pontoon boat ride with about twenty others Saturday morning. Both of us enjoyed our time together and getting up close to the water and wildlife.

John and I.

Moss Landing Harbor in the morning is quite special.

I love the old Double Eagle though it looks a bit abandoned.

There are more otters in Moss Landing Harbor than I have ever seen in one place.

Pelicans.

Up close with the pelicans.

An especially pretty part of the shore with Hwy 1 bridge in the background.

You tell me the story with these sea lions.

I like this crouching great blue heron.

What was the best gift you've received in the form of an experience?

I'm Breaking a Rule

2011-10-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

Even though it's said that if you want to keep friends don't discuss religion or politics, I just have to talk about this.

John and I just watched "Inside Job" a documentary.

Synopsis from Netflix: "From filmmaker Charles Ferguson comes this sobering, Oscar-winning documentary that presents in comprehensive yet cogent detail the pervasive and deep-rooted corruption that led to the global economic meltdown of 2008. Through unflinching interviews with key financial insiders, politicos, journalists and academics, Ferguson paints a galling portrait of an unfettered financial system run amok -- without accountability." (A Barron's Review and a New York Times article about "Inside Job.")

After watching this documentary and based on several others that we have watched over the last several years, I am concluding that our political system is broken. Really beyond broken. American politicians seem to be the same as really big business, the billion dollar plus kind of big businesses.

What is being pointed out in the documentary about Wall Street's role in our current economic crisis is sobering because of the everyday person's vulnerability and infuriating because what caused the crisis remains fully intact.

I know that politics and "money" are not everything in life but how much of "life" does money and politics touch? I wish that both could have a very tiny negative impact and influence on the quality of my life - seeing as though I am definitely part of the group of 90% of Americans that controls only 10% of the wealth in our country.

What do you think? Is it possible to live in the U.S. and escape the negative impact of politics and Wall Street?

Are You Having Trouble Posting Comments on Some of Our Blogs?

2011-10-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

Rick Doyle (Rick and Paulette's RV Travels) is such a great resource for us here in the RV blogging world.

Over the weekend, I asked for his help on why I can NO LONGER leave comments on some of your blogs (Anita at A Slow Life, Emily at As the Crow Flies, Kimbopolo, and even my own blog to name a few.)

Below is the solution he gave me to fix my own blog's comment form posting problem. It might work if you change the same on your blog to allow me (and probably others) to leave comments.

THIS IS THE CULPRIT FORM THAT IS NOT ALLOWING COMMENT POSTING.

A Very Sweet Light

2011-09-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

Moss Landing (California) Harbor

This morning, just before daylight, Gingee woke me to take her outside. Moss Landing Harbor and the sky were gorgeous. I rushed back to the Jazz for my Nikon D3100 and snapped away.

When is your favorite time of day to use your camera?

Sealed with a Kiss

2011-09-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Ever feel as though everyone else has taken all the good spaces?

Sea Lions, Moss Landing Harbor (California)

What do you do?

Taking the rightful place?

Just get on in there. Make a place for yourself.

(Moss Landing in the background.)

Persevere. You can do it, even if it seems quite impossible at first.

(P.S. Thank you Teri, Marti and Paul, Jeff, Emily, Parker, Sue and Doug, Gail and Rick, Merikay, Doug and Mary Ann for your birthday wishes yesterday. You helped to make my day.)

Birthday Wish

2011-09-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have three wishes today on my birthday.

Levonne's Birthday Bouquet from John

1. Economic stability around the world.

2. A critical mass of happiness in the world.

3. Love.

What is your wish?

Bautista Town

2011-09-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

John, Gingee and I took a break from foggy Central Coast California, from threats of world economic collapse and from a vague sense of general uncertainty today and drove inland twenty minutes to San Juan Bautista. It was John's first time there. He fell in love.

"Stairs"
taken 9-24-11 San Juan Bautista, California

"Street Scene"
taken 9-24-11 San Juan Bautista

"The United State?"
taken 9-24-11 San Juan Bautista

"My Lord's Mission"
taken 9-24-11 San Juan Bautista

"The San Juan White House"
taken 9-24-11 San Juan Bautista

A Few of My Favorite Scenes

2011-09-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

I'm finding my way back into my life by

working with pictures that I've not had time to work with in previous months.

Here are six of my favorites.

"I see you."
taken 7/19/11 Santa Cruz, CA

"BC Ferry Girl"
Taken 9/8/11 on ferry going from Vancouver Island to Saltspring Island, B.C., Canada

"Algae Galore"
Taken 9/7/11 Moss Landing, CA

"The Beach"
Taken 7/24/11 Beach between Watsonville and Santa Cruz, CA

"Fishery District"
Taken 9/3/11 Moss Landing Harbor, CA

"Oh Victoria"
Taken 9/12/11 Victoria Harbour (The Empress in the background), British Columbia, Canada

I'm using a Nikon D3100 with an 18-55 mm lens.

Which is your favorite? Why?

Do you think that any of them are photo contest worthy? Several contests coming up.

Out of the Darkness and Into the Fog

2011-09-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

John, Gingee and I strolled around Moss Landing (Central Coast California) last evening after dark.

Here are some of my transformed sightings.

Little house on Sandholdt Road (Moss Landing, California)

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing

The view from Salmon Way (Moss Landing)

The power station on Cabrillo Highway 1 (Moss Landing)

And this morning, as fog hung in the air, I photographed men packing boxes of watercress onto a truck in the field off Potero Road. Who knows. Some of these fresh greens may reach your local grocery store by tomorrow.

How are you feeling today?

today

2011-09-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

Last evening at Moss Landing (California) Harbor.

up earlier than usual (7:15 a.m.)

put the laundry on first thing

gave Gingee breakfast and her morning bathroombreak

cheerios and coffee for me

email and Facebook check

time to put the clothes in the drier

a look over the list of 25 things to get done as soon aspossible

overwhelm. eventhough i prioritized the list

washed my cup and bowl

35-minute phone call with John about what we should focus onnow that we know that his "temp" job will not be his "perm"job. included in conversation were ideas about moving to Canada, becoming KOAcampground workers and slipping into semi-retirement, sticking it out inMonterey County regardless, pursuing that Berkeley chief building inspectorjob, living on a boat, doing nothing new or different for a while, doing something altogether newand different.

pastry attack necessitating that Gingee and i take a walk (yes,exercise - i must put that on the list - how did i forget it?) to Surf City Coffee shop for a cinnamon roll

have a blueberry muffin afterwards to top things off

back to Moss Landing KOA to fold the dried laundry

time for a hot cocoa and a few of those chocolate coveredalmonds

check email andFacebook again before diving into something on the list of 25 things to do

can what i'm writing be considered a blog post? that's an "A-level" item onthe list.

there's hope. it isn't noon yet, the laundry is done (it wason the list too even though it was a lower priority than a great many other things)and i've already had lunch!

British Columbia and Back Again

2011-09-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

BC Ferries (Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada)

John and I hopped on the 5 p.m. ferry from Schwartz Bay (British Columbia, Canada) to Saltspring Island last Thursday evening.

John back at home on the ferry

Our destination for the night was The Harbor House Inn where we met twenty three years ago. (A love story that I won't go into right now.)

Ganges Harbour, Saltspring Island, British Columbia

We spent the evening walking around the harbor in Ganges (Ganges Harbour) and recalling our meeting and the year that we spent together on the island.

After a very short stay on Saltspring, we headed for Parksville where we would gather with family to attend John's brother Gary's memorial service.

Levonne and John - September 10, 2011

As always, it was good to be around family even though the occasion was sad and sobering.

Sharon Huntley

We loved our time with Sharon, Gary's wife at their home in French Creek...

...and with Taylor, Gary and Sharon's German Sheppard.

Taylor taking a break in French Creek (Parksville, British Columbia)

French Creek runs behind Sharon and Gary's house in Parksville, British Columbia

We loved that we could still sense Gary's presence around town as he landscaped many larger sites throughout the area over the years.

Gary's landscaping at resort in Parksville, British Columbia

Beach at Parksville (British Columbia)

John and I enjoyed morning walks on the Parksville Qualicum Beach.

After three and a half days in Parksville area, we drove down Vancouver Island to Victoria where we would catch our flight back to California.

John and I had high tea at James Bay Tea Room in Victoria, British Columbia

In Victoria, we reminisced about former times, family and talked about what might be to come.

Government Street musician, Victoria, British Columbia

As we strolled around the streets of Victoria, we were reminded how much we both love the sweet city.

Dusk at The Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria Harbour (Victoria, British Columbia)

As night fell over Victoria Harbour Monday, we gave thanks for the loving family members that remain and made a toast to Gary's memory.

We're now back home in foggy Moss Landing, happily reunited with our doggie girl Gingee attempting to reconnect to our lives here.

Birth and death; we all move between these two unknowns. ~ Bryant McGill

"Stay Loving" Kelly the waitress advised.

2011-09-07T09:39:00.001-07:00

This morning, Gingee and I walked from the RV park to The Lighthouse Grill in Moss Landing. It was cool and partially foggy.

I waited for a double cappuccino and commented to Kelly the waitress about John's and my plans to leave for San Jose (California) today and catch a flight out from there to British Columbia, Canada tomorrow for John's brother's memorial service. Her words spoke clearly and directly to the heart of the matter.

"Stay loving," she said. Of course I thought. That is exactly what I need to do.

(We return back home early next week.)

I Have Landed in the Moss

2011-09-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, an hour after John went off to work, I awoke in the Jazz to some light fog and 60 degree temperatures. From the bathroom window, I looked out over the KOA Campground towards Moss Landing's (Central California Coast) electric company smoke stacks. It all looked and felt gorgeous after twenty-four days of 100+ temperatures and a 6,500-mile road trip.

I quickly put on jeans and a long-sleeved light-weight pullover and took Gingee for a walk.

Moss Landing's streets were still bare at 8 a.m.

But shops were open and waiting for the faithful locals and summer visitors.

While out, I gathered corn from the little roadside market for the night's dinner.

Only a few other shoppers were out so early on a weekday morning.

Tourists lined up for a safari into local Elkhorn Slough.

It felt good to be in a little place where big things happen.

Gingee loves getting back to her routines. She promptly hopped up on the table and waited for her daily brushing as soon as we returned home from our walk. It was the answer to my question as to whether the trip might have changed her habits. She knows exactly what Home was and is all about.

Asking for Your Thoughts and Prayers

2011-08-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today finds me with James sitting on a leather sofa with a heavy heart at Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, Texas on the north side of Dallas. Gingee, I hope, is having fun and a pleasing enough day out of the car and away from us at McKee’s Pet Place. (I hope she has taken a dip in their doggie pool.)

Almost twenty days ago, I set off on a road trip with my learning disabled brother James and my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Gingee. Today, about five days remain of our adventure that included driving three thousand miles one way from Central Coast California to Piedmont North Carolina to visit family.

We are being hosted royally by former neighbors from Tucson, Kristen and Brian (who conveniently is only a block away from the doggie daycare). Our rest-day stop is much needed as we spent the last three days on the road homeward through Chattanooga,TN, Birmingham, AL, Jackson, MS and Shreveport, LA outrunning Hurricane Irene’s impact before arriving in Dallas.

At Kristen and Brian's in Frisco, TX.

But last evening as Brian helped me inside with my bags, I received a call from John telling me that his only brother had died. After a sudden hospitalization over a week ago with some kind of lung infection, Gary was taken by his illness.

Life is shocking enough when a family member dies suddenly. But when you are 1,500 miles away from home and your partner in a car, with one hundred five plus temperatures on a road trip with your learning disabled brother and dog, it is almost surreal.

Gingee and me yesterday in the Vicksburg, MS Civil War Cemetary.

After talking on the phone with John earlier today, I reminded myself to stay present, to be in the moment, to not panic, not dissociate, to focus and to get us home safely and back to my husband and dearest friend.

“.. almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs

Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado Residual

2011-08-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

While driving through Tuscaloosa, AL today, I noticed ragged building tops. "What's that James?" I asked my brother. We craned our necks and could not resist turning around to examine what looked like a devastated neighborhood.

I turned left onto 28th Avenue and could not register what I saw. I drove up to a couple loading a stove onto a truck bed. "What happened here?" I asked.

A tornado. April 27th. The woman's eyes teared. "It's okay to drive into here?" I asked incredulously.

The man nodded. "Be careful," he said as I pulled slowly forward.

This is what James and I saw of what was left from the F-4 tornado that leveled 7,274 homes and killed 55 people nearly four months ago.

A Meandering I Go

2011-08-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

James and I, along with my little spaniel Gingee arrived in Durham, North Carolina five days ago. So much has taken place with so many old friends and relatives that it seems weeks that we've been here rather than days.

Along the way, my brother Lee gave me my original birth certificate that he gathered from my mother's things after her death in 2002. It reminded me that I have returned Home.

My original birth certificate.

I visited with a friend that I had not seen in about thirty-four (34) years. Forgiveness and healing were long overdue. It doesn't pay to carry around resentments, maybe especially, if they're buried beneath years of living. It's not good fertilizer.

Me and old friend David.

David reminded me that I truly was a wonderful young woman once only beginning to face demons that would follow me no matter where I was to travel.

Old photo of me that David shared.

When I visited with two old friends from second grade, I was reminded of what delightful young persons we were so many decades ago at our Brutonville Elementary school in Candor, North Carolina.

Friends Beverly and Deborah from second grade.

Reconnecting with my best friend Teresa from third grade reminded me of the bond we share even when we've not seen one another nor spoken in years.

My best friend from third grade Teresa.

Reflecting on these people from Home, I understand why I loved all of them. Our connections were and are genuine and deep. What a journey it is to return Home and to go a meandering.

Durham Monday

2011-08-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

My brother Lee's house in Durham, NC.

After seven days on the road, James (my younger brother), Gingee (my doggie) and I arrived at my older brother Lee's house in Durham, North Carolina.

My older brother Lee and younger brother James.

We're adapting to the heat and enjoying our visit. Durham is a great place. I went to Foster's Market today for lunch with a friend. The food and company were great. I especially loved the homemade foccacia bread that they used for my portobello panini.

Portobella Panini.

Nephew Kyngston with Gingee.

We're having a great time with relatives young and old. And Gingee has a new friend.

Yard ornament.

Life is really good!

Are Road Trips Easier When You're Younger?

2011-08-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 5^th

John and I successfully moved from Manzanita Park (Prunedale, California) where we had spent the previous six months to the Moss Landing KOA. We immediately feel the complete contrast from the spaciousness of the five-hundred-acre park to the crowdedness of a regular private RV campground. We tell one another that we’ll get use to the light, the commotion and the sounds of the new place.

Our newest space. A bit more crowded.

Saturday, August 6^th

The day was filled with final preparations for my cross-country road trip with my brother James and my little Cavalier Gingee. But John and I also took time in the evening for dessert of bread pudding and a cup of fresh decaf at The Haute Enchilada, one of Moss Landing’s best restaurants.

The fruit and vegetable stand on Highway 1 in Moss Landing (CA).

Sunday, August 7th

Moss Landing to Ventura, California

Over two hundred and fifty miles, past foggy Monterey County fields of summer crops, through the sunny golden rolling hills of Santa Barbara County to the California coastal cities north of and including Ventura, Gingee and I drove. We arrived in Ventura to find that James needed a good deal of help readying himself for our road trip.

First I discovered that James had packed damp shirts and pants. So, the first order was to get his clothes dried before they could be repacked. His group home supervisor said he was excited and had packed early in the day. Oh well, sometimes I get in a hurry too.

James was still in need of a haircut and beard trim, so it was off to the hair salon, somewhat reluctantly on James’ part. Oh well, I had, until recently spent two years growing my hair. I understand how we get attached to it.

My first couchsurfing stay was across the street from Rudolph Valentino's former home in Oxnard's (California) Hollywood Beach Community.

By the time we got back to James’ group home and packed, it was time for me to head out to my first couchsurfing host’s house in Oxnard, just south of Ventura about ten minutes. I was nearly too tired to fear my first evening of the trip with complete strangers.

Fear wasn't needed anyway because Dawn, Leslie and Wayne welcomed me and Gingee with open arms. We felt immediately relaxed and at home. I slept like a log.

The Channel Island Harbor in Oxnard (CA).

Monday, August 8^th

Ventura, California to Tucson, Arizona

Both James and I rose at 4 a.m. so that we would have a chance to beat the Los Angeles area morning rush-hour traffic. The first three or four hours or so were hard driving with lots of bumper-to-bumper traffic going really fast. But by the time we approached the thousands of windmills along Highway 10, near Palm Springs, it was cool sailing. Well, it was really hot sailing to the tune of over one hundred degrees. Thank you thank you for air conditioning.

Five hours of parched desert filled our views from California through to Tucson. James had never traveled through the southwest in a vehicle, so he was fully engaged in the scenery. We’re listening to Water for Elephant by Susan Gruen on cd to help pass the time. We both really like the story.

In Tucson, my long-time friend Bernice treated the three of us royally with a homemade healthy dinner, comfy beds and great conversation. I have to say that I loved being back in Tucson (except for the heat).

The park near Bernice's house in Tucson (AZ).

James and Gingee are becoming good pals.

Tuesday, August 9^th

Tucson to Albuquerque, New Mexico

My second, James' first, couchsurfing experience was just fantastic. After a long drive, we were welcomed by Judy into her beautiful and comfortable home. She made a great meal for us and walked with us in the park. I so enjoyed getting to know this wonderful person. I like this couchsurfing thing!

Wednesday, August 10^th

Albuquerque to Amarillo, Texas

We decided to make the day a shorter travel day as both James and I (and probably Gingee too) were getting quite weary from so many road miles. So around noon, we found a pet-friendly hotel (Country Inn) and spent the rest of the day totally veging out, napping, watching TV, eating, taking a walk and catching up on communications. We may spend the day in Amarillo tomorrow just to have a break from being on the road in the car. We'll see how we feel after we wake up. We're only half the way to North Carolina. (It was so much easier when I was in my twenties and when I traveled alone.)

James and Gingee are zonked after two long days of travel. Time to veg out.

And time for me to catch up on blogging.

One breath, two breaths, three...

2011-08-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

This week's and today's lists.

I keep telling myself to breath. This is what Trish, my personal coach says will bring me back to the present, back to the moment. I breath slowly and count. One...two...three... And if I have been successful in staying focused long enough to pay attention to my three breaths, I do return to the moment.

Return from where? From the list of things I want to get done in the next three days before I take off on my road trip with Gingee and my brother James to North Carolina. Can I get a draft of Virginia's personal history transcript in good enough order to give to her for review before I leave? Do I have time to shop for a pair of black sandals? Maybe I should be printing those maps today and charging batteries. Before I know it, I'm feeling freaky brained again.

One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths. Okay. Calmer again. I always know I have returned to the moment when all of a sudden I can hear the dogs barking and a rooster crowing in the distance, the mower mowing down on the far soccer field, the cars traveling down Castroville Blvd. I'm not hearing often enough lately. I'm rushing and pressuring myself.

Only three days before I take off and really I've managed my time very well over the past several weeks. I have arranged my first two couchsurfing stays - one in Oxnard, California and the second in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have arranged to stay with two friends along the way - in Tucson, Arizona and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

And I've arranged time to see family members and old friends in North Carolina. Gingee is groomed for the extreme heat that we are likely to encounter and I am nearly packed with summertime clothes. I've arranged with James' caregivers to have him packed and ready for me to pick up first thing Sunday morning.

I've printed an itinerary of the trip for John and attached it to our calendar. Almost everything has been done for our move over to the Moss Landing KOA on Friday when John gets home from work.

Really, things are good. Trish said to try to be open on this trip and let things happen. That would be in contrast to my all-so-familiar insisting, obsessing and repeating familiar habits that tend to get in the way of really connecting with others. That is a big order for someone with so much fear and worry. But I'm going to give it my best shot. One breath, two breaths, three breaths at a time.

I Miss You All!

2011-07-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

When I've been away from my regular reading of blogs for any length of time, I really start wondering what's happening with all my blogger friends! I begin to itch for a cyber visit. With all the preparing for our move and then the road trip, I'm not getting much reading time. But my thoughts are with you all!

Thanks for all your support through your comments and thanks to the new followers too!

Panorama taken with John's droid.

Twelve Days to Blast Off

2011-07-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

There are twelve (12) days until I take off to drive my younger brother James and my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Gingee back Home to North Carolina on a three-week, six-thousand mile road trip. (I do intend to continue posting along the way.) There are eleven (11) days until John and I move from Central Coast California Manzanita Park (where we've spent the last six months) to the KOA in Moss Landing (where we'll spend the next three months).

Am I ready for all this movement? Well, I'm getting ready. There's still lots to do to prepare for both adventures.

Over the next eleven days, I'll do my part to relocate by lightening our load from sitting still for six months. My tasks include clearing unnecessary items from drawers, cabinets and closets and giving The Jazz an overall cleaning. We like to arrive at a new place all fresh.

Over the next twelve days, in preparation for the road trip, I need to pack for Gingee and myself, have the Toyota Matrix serviced, finalize Couchsurfing arrangements for our "to" trip, print maps, get me and Gingee "groomed" and send three of my brothers the list of questions about our childhood that I want them to answer "for the video record" while we're back visiting.

I'm interested in their memories about favorite play activities, music, TV shows, foods, holiday celebrations, pets, homes, relatives, neighbors and trips. I wonder how different or similar everyone's memories will be?

What else do you think future generations might be interested in knowing about our growing up in rural North Carolina during the fifties and sixties?

Day Two Happy Birthday Gingee

2011-07-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

We went to Petco last night and I got two American Kennel Club stuffed animals. A squirrel and a bear! Mom and Dad told me "Let's see if we can make the ears and feet last a while." Today, the ears and feet are still there. (But Mom is missing a pair of underwear. I had to do something fun and rotten on my birthday!)

Happy Birthday Gingee

2011-07-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

She's our girl!

We're Going Home

2011-07-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

Coincidentally, I arrived from North Carolina on my first soloroad trip to Los Angeles thirty four years ago on August 7th, 1977. My younger brother James came to live with mein L.A. from North Carolina a year later. He was sixteen at the time and I wastwenty three.

This August 7th (exactly three weeks from now), I will gatherJames (from his group home in Ventura, California) and head out on our first roadtrip adventure together. I'll drive us roundtrip - 6,000 miles to and back from North Carolina over threeweeks.

James and me on our last trip back to North Carolina Easter 2009. (We flew back that year.)

The decision to become my younger brother's guardian so manyyears ago stemmed from my love for him but also from his trouble with the"law." Being gifted duringgestation with a brain that would later make him incapable of anticipatingconsequences from his behaviors, set in motion an older-sister rescuepattern that I have since done my best to relinquish. Back then though, I rightfully only trusted myself to take care of him.

Over the past three decades, James and I have lived on oneside of the continent while the remainder of our family of origin - our threebrothers - stayed on the other side. But both James and I are inextricably tiedto "home." Home being the little Piedmont North Carolina towns wherewe were born and raised. Star, Biscoe, Troy - red-clay and sand geology that supported a bible-loving,racially-segregated populace, along with peach trees, and tobacco and cotton crops.

We're going home. And we're taking my little CavalierSpaniel Gingee with us. Yes, I am concerned about pushing my Toyota Matrix (smallcar) for so long and so far during the traditionally hottest month of the year.I am also concerned about traveling through Tornado Alley during the tail endof an active tornado season. I'm concerned about how the three of us will dostaying in the homes of strangers along the way as we experience"Couchsurfing" for the first time.

Little Miss Gingee out at the dog-friendly restuarant with her daddy today.

I wonder how we'll physicallyand emotionally hold up during the journey. We have only three weeks to getto North Carolina, to be there and to get back. I'mconcerned about how Gingee will do with so many long days of riding in a car.And of course, we won't be able to leave her while we go intoair-conditioned restaurants for meals. Exactly how we'll manage food stops andexercise in the extreme summer heat, I'm not sure.

I do know that I am committed to getting us to and back fromNorth Carolina safely. And I'm committed to being present with James, with Gingee and and with our family and friends along the way. Mainly though, I have faith that the guardian angels that have been with us this far in life, will be with us every mile of the way on this trip as well.

Yesterday's Romp in the Woods with Merikay

2011-07-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Merikay and I hiked about The Forest of the Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, California. Her post inspired me to post a few of my favorite shots from the outing.

Merikay of Merikay's Dreams are Written in Smoke blog

(Gingee had a fabulous time by the way and the curried chicken croissant at Cafe Sparrow afterwards was divine.)

Ever Wonder Who's Behind Workers on Wheels?

2011-07-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Levonne: Nice to meet you Coleen Sykora. What is the essence ofyour Workerson Wheels publication?

Coleen Sykora, Editor of Workers on Wheels

Coleen: Providing education and encouragement for others who areinterested in working while RVing.

L: What is your relationship with the Workers on Wheelsenewsletter?
C: I write and publish it. My husband helps. The e-zine is an off-shoot of theprinted-on-paper Workers On Wheels newsletter that turned into the Workers OnWheels print magazine. Those versions morphed into the website and e-zine thatwe have today.

L: How long have you been involved with the newsletter?
C: From the beginning planning stages in 1993. We published the first issue ofthe Workers On Wheels newsletter in February 1994.

L: Why did you become involved?
C: We were 32 years old when we started full-time RVing. People often asked howwe could afford to travel and live on the road. We explained that we worked aswe traveled. That led to more questions. We excitedly shared about our life.

Two types of comments usually followed our story. People wanted to know if theycould live like we do, and if so, how. And, they told us that we should writeit down. The purpose of the newsletter was -- and still is -- all about helpingfolks, showing how to be full-time RVers while still earning a living.

L: Are you a working RVer yourself?
C: Yes. We write what we live. My husband and I started working and RVing backin 1991. We have a lot of experiences to share, and we hope others can benefitfrom them.

L: Is this a business for you that earns an income? If so, how?
C: Yes. We do some affiliate marketing, we receive commission on some of thethings we sell, and other things we sell outright. We also have ads on thewebsite. And, we use it to promote our Watkins Summit Group business.

L: Please describe your Summit Group business.
C: It's a work from home business that we can do anywhere ourtravels take us. Our Summit Group motto pretty much sums it up: Having fun.Helping friends. Creating wealth. Reaching dreams. If you'd like to see if itmight be right for you, visit here.

L: How have you built your newsletter network?
C: Providing honest information. We don't always go along with the trends. Werisk ruffling feathers. We serve both working RVers and employers, and bothgroups know we are going to tell it like we see it.

L: How many people are signed up for your newsletter?
C: Thousands. Along with sending it out by email, we post it free of charge onour websitewhere we don't require our readers to register for it, so I don't have exactnumbers.

L: Do you ever hear from people about leads they got from your newsletter?
C: Yes, almost daily. We've posted some of them on the testimonials pages ofthe website. It's truly gratifying when people write telling us how sharing ourexperiences have changed their lives and allowed them to live their dreams.

L: What do you want readers of A Camp Host's Meanderings: An RV Adventure blogto know about you and your newsletter?
C: Visit our blog.

L: Do you have any advice for those who are seeking to take to the roadfulltime and find work along the way?
C: The two most important things you need for finding work on the road aredesire and determination. There is work most everywhere for most everyone.

I also advise people to never spend a lot of time and money traveling somewherefor the sole purpose of accepting a job they've seen advertised.

Anyone Else Having Problems Posting with Blogger Today?

2011-07-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Since blogger created a new look, I'm having trouble posting. Anyone else having trouble?

Self Portrait Number 382

2011-07-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

How many self-portraits do you see in this shot?

July 3rd, 2011 - Just A Simple Day

2011-07-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'm nursing a cold this weekend so I stayed at home and worked with PowerDirector video editing and Lightroom photo editing programs a little while John went out to Moss Landing and painted the toe kick on the sailboat. He's loving Blue Ribbon!

Miss Gingee did a good bit of sunning on the bed today.

John's spending tons of time playing with his new Droid this weekend when he's at home in the Jazz. He just snapped one of me with it.

Seeking Shelter Along the Way - Can You Help?

2011-07-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

I'm driving my Toyota Matrix down I-40 from Tucumcari, NM to Fort Smith, AR on a cross-country (California to North Carolina) trip (approximately August 9 going and August 23 coming back). I'm looking for a free place where my other-abled brother and I (oh and my little doggie Gingee) can spend one night each way on this route.

Do you know a trusted someone who will put us up for a night? (This is really different for me to approach travel this way! Asking for a place to stay for free I mean. But will see where this cyber world delivers us.) What fun! (I hope. Fingernail biting...)

(See older posts for more poetic writing and pretty pictures!)

Transitions and Fog

2011-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

The sound of John locking The Jazz as he goes off to work this morning nudges me to open my eyes and look out through the window to the foggy coolness outside. Summer brings the fog to this part of the Central California Coast. But this morning's fog is the thickest I've seen this year.

As I lie there wrapped in pale green Egyptian cotton sheets and blanket with Gingee snuggling against my belly, I feel grateful for this time in my life. Though I am acutely aware of the difficulties I have with transitions, I know that I will claim this day as my own along with all the others that have come before.

The challenge of my first group of transitions interrupts the initial quiet of my mind. From sleep to awake, from the warm bed to the cool air in the room, from night-clothed to day-clothed. I return myself over and over to the calm of the moment from the rush of the list of things I wish to accomplish this day.

Gingee crunches her Innova kibble while I raise the blinds and know that I must photograph the spider's web just outside the window. I take my Nikon D3100 from the camera case and swing the strap over my shoulder. Outside I go to snap.

The fog is so thick that it is light drizzle. I am glad I chose the turtle-neck shirt and fleece vest though I hope that I will have to peel out of both before the day is over. "Come girl," I tell Gingee. We walk down the trail where people ride their horses.

Be in the moment I remind myself. See, smell, touch, hear and taste the morning. Feel the coolness on my face, the dampness in my hair, enjoy the sight of Gingee with dirty nose sniffing the bushes. I let myself feel the softness of the golden sand beneath my feet. I listen to the traffic in the distance and to the birds close by. I smell the wet vegetation of Manzanita Park.

I don't even think of the breakfast and coffee yet to come. I breath deeply and thank myself for the time I have made to walk, to take pictures, to be with my girl dog, to slowly transition into my day and to reflect on my place in this tremendous world.

What is the balance that you strive for between being in the moment and planning the future?

Eating Chocolates Through My Ears...

2011-06-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Life is moving so rapidly lately. I make long lists of things to do in the week on Monday morning and by Friday afternoon, I am only half finished.

It occurred to me to celebrate today as I spoke with my personal coach Trish Lay. She reminded me that I have given myself the gift of making a new start, a new career. A gift that opens me up like so many storefront garage doors open in New York City every morning.

I could never have dreamed two years ago as John and I planned our exodus from Tucson, Arizona that at this time of my life I would be an emerging videographer, a writer and a photographer (also known as personal historian). I find myself thinking that I am too old at fifty-six to be learning about all the new technology and computer programs involved in doing this work. I wonder how long I'll be able to do it. I yearn for a full lifetime of interviewing people about their lives and making their stories tangible.

Over the past several months as I acquired the tools for visual and audio recording of people, I rushed to bridge the gap between "knowing" my daily life to being a student all over again. The place of "not knowing" created anxiety in me.

I don't like being so new, so inexperienced at a thing. So I barrel ahead quickly, jumping in with both feet, splashing and crashing and gasping along the way as I try to stay afloat in the sea of information, manuals and buttons on pieces of equipment. I told myself that if I kept at it, I'd have a neatly, well-written transcript and a DVD movie in hand of my first client's history before too long. (I had given myself two weeks initially to get to the finish line.)

My 32-bit computer and the PowerDirector movie editing program were a challenge. It took me three weeks to complete the first project. Three weeks of flailing, cursing, starting over again and again, reading those damn technical manuals, following on-line video "how-to" tutorials and sore fingers from mouse clicking.

But I made it. My work culminated in my neighbor Chet, on Fathers' Day, being able to give his two adult daughters transcripts and movies containing the most important memories from his seventy some years of living.

What an incredible journey it was! For Chet to have made those memories and for me to have had the great honor of making those memories tangible for him. I was so pleased when Chet told me that his daughters said that they did not know many of the things he had shared about his life. And I was moved when he told me that they wish to continue the tradition of passing on their histories this way for future generations.

The worth to me of doing the work that I have just completed is priceless. And as I told Trish this morning, I will slow down now and enjoy the work ahead. For why should I give myself chocolates and then try to eat them through my ears?

Fearing and fighting with the learning and the growing involved in this new work is doing just that. I'm going to fully savor the next box of chocolates, and the next, and the next. I promise me that.

How do you deal with your "not knowing" when you are learning a new thing?

(P.S. I also promise you that I'll get by soon to your blogs to catch up on your lives! Thanks everyone for sharing my journey with me.)

Sweet Peas and White Roses

2011-06-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

With my 89 year-old-friend Virginia this week in Sebastopol (California) recording her personal history. Feels like home.

The Tale of the Evil Stepmother

2011-06-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in two lands far far one from the other, lived two households of people. The first house contained a lovely son with a wife and child. In the other lived the son's father and an evil stepmother.

The son's wife was first generation Camunchi. Her parents emigrated from Meninia before the son's wife was born.The son's parents’ (divorced when son was a teen) were a mix of Ropolian nationalities but their families had lived in the same Camuchian region for generations. The evil stepmother was a Symbolese.

The two households experienced a culture clash. The father and evil stepmother believed in independence, self-sufficiency and spending within their means. The Meninians showered their daughter with services and material stuff. They would do anything for their daughter. This spoiled the daughter for anything less than the full Meninian devotion that was exhibited one for another in their family. The son and his wife bought a large and very expensive home so that they could live just a block away from the wife's parents. The son and the the grandson were then able to fully experience the same showering of devotion as the wife had always known.

The son and his wife enjoyed watching the child's grandparents compete for their child's attention and affection. They rewarded the grandparents that spent the most money on them and provided the most childcare by granting them the greatest access to their young family.

The father and the evil stepmother had years earlier an inkling of what they were in for when the son said he’d rather have money for a “bridal present” for the not-yet-wife than have them use their money to travel to their wedding.

Needless to say that the focus on money put the evil stepmother in a bad mood. She wanted to support her husband in his gestures of “love” towards his son and the new daughter-in-law-to-be but sensed a definite and serious clash of values.

Years after the wedding, the father and evil stepmother learned that the son and his wife vacationed near them but did not visit them. The father and evil stepmother were crushed because they had made many trips to the son's and his wife's faraway land to see them and the little grandchild. And in all the six years that the son and his wife were together, they had never traveled to see the father and evil stepmother.

So the evil stepmother sent an electronic note.

Hello Son,

I hope you had a great month. We hear that you made a trip to our far-away land.
Last night in my sleep, I woke with the words coming to mind - "You don't visit because we have dogs and you are allergic to dogs!" It made so much sense when I thought of it. Is this a major reason that you don't ever visit? If so, we could try to remedy the situation somehow.We just so wish that we could share our lives more with you.
_________________________________

The Son and his Wife responded:

Hello Evil Stepmother,

How are you? Hope you and Dad are doing well. We were in your land recently for a conference and a trip to Disneyland. My in-laws joined us at the last minute and helped us with child care while the wife and I attended to some obligations to meet her office staff for a couple of dinners and nightly engagements. Then my wife's parents took us on a cruise for a week.

Needless to say, we would have loved to have seen you both but we were only there for a couple of days. Us not visiting has nothing to do with dogs and being allergic.

The truth of the matter is we would love for the two of you to share your lives with us as well. We feel that neither you nor Dad place our family high on your priority list. In my heart, I felt that after our child's arrival, you and Dad would make more trips and want to be closer. It is much easier for the two of you to travel than for us to travel with our little child. Not to mention, we are a young family and our finances are limited so it is hard for us to come to you. We would love for you to come and stay with us and spend time with us anytime. Our door is always open.
________________________________________

The evil Stepmother replied:

Thank you for responding. We appreciate it. Thank you also for the invitation to stay with you in your home anytime. That's new for us to have your home available to us when we visit. It will make trips less expensive and more fun for us.

If we were to place you high enough on our priority list to make you happy, what would that look like? It would be helpful to have some idea of the level of relationship you want with us.

We look forward to hearing from you.
_________________________________

While waiting for the answer so that the evil stepmother could explain to the father exactly what they could do to have the pleasure of more time with the son, his wife and the grandchild, the evil stepmother had a depressing realization (the same thing she had realized before the son and his wife were a married couple). The realization was that it is services and material goods that are valued by the son and his wife. It is not the human being that is valued. So the evil stepmother wrote a final note.
_________________________

Hello again Son and His Wife,

I think we have a clash of cultures going on. We love you unconditionally just because you are. We'd love to be friends with you and maybe over time we will develop a kind of reciprocal give and take relationship that friends have. Just know that you are always welcomed in our lives and in our world.

We have felt since before the wedding that who we are and what we give you is not ever good enough for you. That makes us feel shitty. We deserve to be loved and respected and valued as the people that we are regardless as to the services we provide to you and what material offerings we give. This is the clash of cultures I referred to. Son, your father loves you, always has and always will. Therefore, your family also means the world to him. He is far from perfect as we all are but that does not stop his love.Take good care of one another. Lovingly, Your Evil Stepmother
____________________

The actions of the son and his wife sent the evil stepmother over the edge of a cliff when it came to what she was willing to take from them in the pretense of being a family. The father agreed that he could not tolerate any longer the low low rank where his son had placed him in importance to their lives.

The great surprise was that when the evil stepmother was sent off the edge of a cliff, the "evil" portion of her name broke off, tumbled to the ground, cracked into dust and blew away. She was finally the loving Stepmother she had always tried to be. She learned that it was really not so hard to love instead of please. And what was even greater was that during her tumble off the cliff, white angel wings sprouted from the Stepmother's back. She was able to glide perfectly, happily and safely in the air beneath the cliff. What a freedom it felt to be able to fly she thought. If I had known I would sprout wings, I would have jumped off the cliff myself long ago rather than allowing myself to be pushed.

If the Truth be Spoken (Written)

2011-06-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

I’m getting off hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after seven years of taking estrogen and progesterone. (I think I felt the inklings of a hot flash last evening!)

I’m feeling blue and I don’t know if it’s because of the cloudy day or the lowered dose of HRT.

Doing love pushups by writing…I love me because… statements. Harder than you might imagine.

I’ve transcribed Chet’s personal history and am ready to start working with pictures and movie clips. (The transcribing was tedious but I learned lots of good stuff, including history of a locale as much as about the person and still have more to learn!)

My printer and laptop have stopped communicating. This is a real bummer!

I need a few sets of clothing that are nicer than my old Lee jeans and Target pullovers. All of my socks have holes in them and my underpants are pilling up. I hate shopping!!
Just bought my grandson (step-son Chris’ son) a card for his third birthday next week. What do you give a child that has and will get every material thing imaginable for each birthday for the rest of his childhood?

Making plans to go back up to Sebastopol to record Virginia’s personal history this month.

Making plans to take a road trip with my other-abled brother James back to North Carolina to visit our brothers and their families in August. This means driving from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast in my Matrix at the hottest time of the year but this has to be done. (It will be my thirty-four-year anniversary of my first solo road trip from North Carolina to California in a Pinto without air conditioning in August 1977.)

My little girl dog Gingee is still the love of my life. When she is enjoying our world, so am I. I feel guilty if I neglect her in any way.

What's on your mind?

In Memory Of

2011-05-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you.

A Little Laugh Along the Way...

2011-05-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Gingee is waiting to get into the Dog House for this game!!!

Dreams Do Come True...

2011-05-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

We've been in the Jazz for twenty months now. Our original dream when we hit the road was to find meaningful work and a community that we would love on the California coast. We left a comfortable home, jobs and a known community to relocate after fifteen years in the U.S. Southwest.

We can imagine being in The Jazz for another year as we continue to explore how we might be able to "permanently" set ourselves up in the Monterey, California area. John's job has not reached “permanent” status as yet so we maintain mobility instead of putting down roots. That is not to say we are not getting involved in the Monterey County communities - Big Sur, Marina, Salinas and now Prunedale - where we have spent the past eight months.

View in Manzanita Park (Prunedale, CA)

I attend Center for Photographic Arts activities, the local Prunedale book club and work with the County’s Parks Department staff. John is getting to know a vast number of people in the area’s building and construction industry through his work. He is meeting other boaters down at the dock on weekends.

For now, I'll do the park volunteer duties necessary for us to continue residing at Manzanita Park in The Jazz for "free". In August we go to the Moss Landing KOA campground for three months. After that we can come back to Manzanita.

I'm presently embarking upon a personal historian career path. This is the meaningful work I was hoping to find. Our current lifestyle affords me the ability to move this business forward.

This week, I’m conducting my first personal history job using new equipment purchased just for this purpose. Chet (my next door neighbor who also volunteers in the park and is 75) has consented to being my first subject. He's my guinea pig!

Chet by his Fifth-Wheel Trailer

This week I’ll meet with Chet once for about an hour or so to prepare for a recorded (audio and video) interview on another day. From there I will create three personal history products. His audio history on CD. His "movie/video" history on a DVD (which will include some photos from his past). And a bound written transcript of the interview - maybe with pictures too.

The work with Chet will prepare me for my second guinea pig – my nearly ninety-year-old friend Virginia up in Sebastopol. I'll produce the additional product for her of a "bound book." I expect to interview Virginia over four separate sessions. After that, I’m doing this work for pay!

Our Cavalier Spaniel Gingee and Virginia

I've joined the Association of Personal Historians (APH) that has their regional meetings in L.A. So I'll be going down for those meetings periodically. (A great chance to visit friends there in the area!) And in October, APH has its annual conference in Las Vegas. I'm planning to attend.

I love that I have arrived at this place on my career path. Although there is a good bit of work learning all this technical stuff associated with documenting peoples’ histories - digital audio recorder and camcorder while I'm still learning my Nikon 3100 SLR camera – it is worth the effort and time.

Sony Audio Digital Recorder and Canon Vixia HF M301 Camcorder

There are also software programs that go with each piece of equipment. The audio recorder has software that transcribes "talking" into written words. And there are movie editing programs to learn. This is definitely the learning curve period! But once I have it all sufficiently under my belt, I can really have fun with this business of helping people capture their past.

Little did I know two years ago when I was working as a Community Services Manager for the City of Tucson that the work of personal historian would eventually be what nurtures my spirit in the Central Coast California communities where we have planted ourselves. John’s and my dreams continue to unfold each day and I am oh so happy and grateful that we have the health, the resources and the support to enjoy this journey.

Do you know The RV Cooking Show?

2011-05-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else follow The RV Cooking Show? This is how they describe their site:

"A virtual cooking class on wheels, the RV Cooking Show takes viewers on adventures to some of the most sought-after or interesting but little known RV locales then creates a healthy, easy destination-related RV recipe in host Evanne Schmarder's RV kitchen. Tune in to our RV TV...it's always delicious!"

I would love to know what you think of what they're doing. Happy Sunday!

Where Are We Going?

2011-05-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, Ranger Jason told us that we’d have to leave the Monterey County Regional Park system (Central Coast California) at the end of our current three-month stay (the end of July). Manzanita Park is the first park where we’ve stayed longer than the original three months on our year-and-a-half campground hosting odyssey. Yippee for that! We like it here on the ranch!

When I asked about going to another park when we finish at Manzanita in July, Ranger Jason said we have to leave the park system for at least three months before returning. (He said we can return to volunteer at Manzanita November 2011 – April of next year.)

So after a day of researching our options for the three-month leave from Monterey County Parks; including reviewing and ruling out:

• state and other campgrounds in the area that use volunteers in trade for a space plus utilities,

• long-term vacation rentals,

• RV spaces for sale (which are barely non-existent in this part of the state),

• RV spaces for rent (also nearly impossible to find),

• considering a return to Marina Dunes RV Park in Marina,

• checking out Craigslist housing in Monterey Bay and various other online sources of information,

• a visit to the local Cottages and Castles Realty Company to see if they had any ideas for us,

• and visits to two RV parks off Highway 101 between Prunedale and Gilroy,

it became clear that we don’t have that many options that suit where we are in our lifestyle of John going to work in Salinas every day (until he doesn’t have the job anymore) and maintaining our mobility.

So even though, I told John not so very long ago that I didn’t want to stay at the Moss Landing KOA (which is in the same harbor as John’s, I mean our, sailboat) because of my fear of tsunamis, I decided that it will be an ideal place for the three months between Monterey County Regional Park assignments.

John can be near the boat without having to barely leave home and I can easily pop over to the dock anytime. Being in Moss Landing only adds about ten minutes to his current fifteen-minute commute to work.

So I have to tell you that I’ve been feeling great relief to have a year’s worth of RV living and volunteering in the parks options resolved for the moment. We can remain mobile but totally comfortable in the Jazz and we’ll get to explore the Monterey/Santa Cruz area from at least one more location. We can also plan some vacations! Whoopee!

How much stability do you like in your long-term RV adventure?

Psyched on Life Again!

2011-05-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Virginia and Carol's front door.

Gingee (my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) and I just returned from our latest trip to Sebastopol (in Central Coast California) where I stayed with my eighty-nine-year-old friend Virginia and her daughter Carol. Sebastopol is a Sonoma County town of 7,800 people.

During my four days there, the weather was sunny and warm during the day and nice and cool at night. Roses were in full bloom everywhere.

When I arrived in Sebastopol, I was in a state of great excitement. The personal coaching work with Trish Lay (of Souls at Play Productions) over the previous weeks, along with a MORE magazine article sent to me by a friend, catapulted me right into my “soul” work.

I am a personal historian. Everything that I’ve done to date prepared me for the work. Photography, memoir writing, interviewing and movie making are some of the skills and knowledge that this profession calls upon.

While in Sebastopol, I went to a public presentation (that just happened to be given while I was there) by Susan Milstein of Personal History Productions. I heard and saw firsthand how she and her business partner interview people then produce their histories for them on audio cd or in book form.

Before I left Sebastopol, I had joined the Association of Personal Historians so that I could, as Milstein and her partner have, tap into the resources available to its members.

So where do I go from here? I have already begun the process of helping Virginia capture her history in an engaging way that will link her to her great grandson, Dyhan, and the rest of her family long after she is gone.

Virginia, daughter Carol, Granddaughter Anna and Great Grandson Dyhan.

At the end this last week, I find myself feeling happy and grateful for Coach Trish, Virginia, the Association of Personal Historians, all those beautiful Sebastopol roses, friends, a supportive husband and our little family of three. Life is truly good.

What are the gifts that you find yourself happy about and grateful for at the end of this week?

Inheritance from Mama

2011-05-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

The rain drops splashed against our little Star, North Carolina porch tin roof. Pat, bonk, thump, rat-ta-tat-tat. Large drops fell. Hard and heavy. Mama, my younger and older brothers and I watched spigots of rain pour from the channels in the tin. A flood of water exploded off the roof. Warm summer air turned cooler.

“Go Ahead. You can play.” Mama watched as we reached out to the water. The liquid slipped between my little fingers, then hit little feet making streaks in dust on my skin.

My two brothers and I ducked under the streams of water. We made noises, squealed, and bounced around on our toes taking rain everywhere we went on the grayed wood porch.

Hair, face, clothes, bodies all became shiny with wetness. Mama watched. Quietly. She spread her liking what we were doing all around us with her eyes and the calm look on her face. “Take those wet things off,” Mama said as she headed inside. I pushed at my shorts that stuck to my skin until they formed a cloth rubber band and rolled down my legs and over my feet.

Mama returned with Ivory soap. “Here.” She handed me the soap. I rolled the slippery cake around in both my hands. It felt like a peeled, hard-boiled egg. Suds flowed down my arms.

Mama passed the soap to my younger brother. “Rub your face,” she told me. I did. Clean soap smells mixed with fresh, rained-on soil smells. I put my face in a spigot of rain and felt the soap and water wash over my body like a fairy Godmother’s magic.

My brothers soaped and washed too. We were all happy with the rain in that place and with one another.

Mama and Me 1985

Ovella Gaddy Tyson (May 1931 - June 2002)

Writers Wanted

2011-05-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Dear writer friends and friends supportive of writers,

I'm looking for serious writers (who are or wish to be published) to form either a Monterey/Santa Cruz County, California writers' critique group or a Skype writers' group. Please let me know of serious writer(s) that may be interested. Thanks in advance.

Levonne,
levonnegaddy@hotmail.com

Daily Photo Shoot Challenge Selections

2011-05-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Following are some of my Daily Shoot Assignment shots from the past month. Doing these assignments makes me think more critically and consciously about how I make a photograph. (Click on Daily Shoot or the dates below if you wish to see what others submitted.)

I've thrown in a few random shots from the past month just for fun!

I used a Nikon D3100 for all the shots.

2011/04/18 Illustrate motion in a photograph today.

Dog Agility Trials took place on two weekends in April 2011 at Manzanita Park.

Guess what? It's one of my irresistable otter friends that floats around in the bay at Moss Landing (Central Coast California).

2011/04/25 Make a photograph that features a circle today.

I liked the fact that this circle pattern photo also created a natural black and white shot.

2011/04/27 Make a photograph with a concrete surface in it today.

The famous smoke stacks at the electric plant in Moss Landing are concrete.

2011/05/01 Make a photograph that illustrates an aspect of local culture today.

This rodeo took place on Castroville Blvd. between Prunedale and Moss Landing (California).

2011/05/03 Make a photograph of two complementary objects today.

There is something so appealing about blue Dawn dishwashing liquid.

I really liked this compositon of Gingee on Blue Ribbon (our sailboat) at Moss Landing.

Do you have a favorite?

Sharing Kim Mile's Quinoa Tamale Pie Recipe!

2011-05-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

If you want to see a good recipe using quinoa for the main dish, go over to Kim's Long Way Home Blog. (Warning: some of her language may be offensive to cheese eaters. Let me know if you weigh in on the comments.)

Dinner was gooood!!

2011-04-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

This was a quick and easy dinner tonight. And it was delicious too!

Pesto Pasta Chicken Salad

Ingredients

1.5 oz raw baby spinach greens

1 cup uncooked casarecce pasta noodles

3 Tbsp olive oil and garlic pesto sauce

1 large cooked and diced chicken breast

5-8 marinated artichoke hearts

2 small tomatoes or 6 – 8 cherry tomatoes

grated parmesan and cheddar cheeses to taste

fresh lemon and/or lime wedges optional

Cook the pasta noodles and drain. Mix in pesto sauce. Add cooked chicken and mix. Stir in artichoke hearts gently. Place the spinach greens in the bottoms of a large bowls or plates. (You could squeeze a wedge of fresh lemon or lime juice over your greens before adding the pasta if you like.) Spoon the pasta/chicken salad over the greens. Add tomatoes on top. Sprinkle on grated cheese. Serves 2.
Enjoy!

Friday Frames

2011-04-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

I wish everyone a wonderful and

peaceful weekend.

Here's Chet...

2011-04-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Chet and I work together as live-on volunteers at Manzanita Park (in Prunedale, California). In my three months at Manzanita, Chet's been a patient mentor as he teaches me new things about caretaking a park. He has shown me things from how to get a drinking fountain operational after shutting it down until the water is deemed drinkable again to why and how to operate the work truck in four-wheel-drive mode.

Chet Breazeale, Live-on Volunteer and Caretaker

Chet and his wife Sally (who died suddenly last Thanksgiving) had been coming to Manzanita Park winters for years before becoming full-time park volunteers and caretakers (at Manzanita and of North Monterey County Youth Association) in 2007.

Here's an interview I had with Chet this week.

Levonne: How long have you been on the road as a full-time RVer?

Chet: My wife Sally and I left Cloverdale (California) for Zion National Park twelve years ago to help with a native planting project. We’ve been on the road ever since.

L. What kind of rig do you have?

C. I have a thirty-foot 1994 Sportsmaster fifth wheel with two slides. I'm getting a new Chevy Silverado 2500 next week to pull it. I have been pulling it with a Dodge diesel 250 until now.

L. Why are you full-time RVing?

C. Sally and I wanted to go out and see the countryside.

L. What did your family and friends think about your choice to go full-time?

C. They wished us good luck and wished they could go too.

L. How long do you intend to be on the road?

C. We didn’t plan to return to Cloverdale twelve years ago. We wanted to be full-time nomads. I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I don’t have plans to change but I have thought about doing a caretaker job on a tropical island.

L. How is full-timing now that your wife is no longer with you?

C. Daily life hasn’t changed much. But it gets lonely. I’m tired of talking to the dog.

This is Chet's dog Terry!

L. What is a day like for you?

C. I’m up early and I’m semi-busy all day long some days and other days drag. Some days there is not enough time. But as a caretaker volunteer, you can always find something to pass time.

L. How do you financially support yourself on the road?

C. Social security. We had an IRA until the stock market dropped.

L. What do you do for medical coverage?

C. We went without medical insurance for five years but now I have Medicare and a supplemental health insurance plan.

L. What prepared you for being a full-timer?

C. Trial and error. If something goes wrong, you’ve probably done something wrong. I learned to tow the fifth wheel from a friend. He followed me in his truck as I towed. We both had two-way radios with us. He called and told me when I was doing something wrong – like you’re making your turn too narrow. The first time I emptied the holding tank, I didn’t know there was a pipe that connected the tank to the dump station. And that was after driving from Santa Rosa, California to Texas with five women. Trial and error.

L. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a full-time RVer?

C. To navigate down the road safely. When you are towing five tons down a steep mountain with a diesel pickup, braking can be a challenge.

L. Where do you plan to go and what fun things do you plan to do over the next year?

C. I’d like to go steelhead fishing at the Trinity River.

L. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you and your RV lifestyle?

C. My life is fun every day. Something new pops up every day even if I’ve been in the same spot for four years.

L. How can people get in touch with you?

C. My email is bsach@hotmail.com but I am slow at responding. I like to think about what I’m saying before I say it.

(Chet's just learning about computers and the internet. So if you like, drop him a line to help him get some practice opening and responding to emails.)

What's Up?

2011-04-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

I'm still doing the daily photography challenges. Here is a recent self-portrait taken with my new Nikon D3100. (For those interested, the Pentax istD camera fix from my burning it out by plugging it into a high voltage adapter is $200. I'll get it back from the factory in a couple of weeks.)

And here are a few shots from around my co-volunteer Chet's place. (I'm going to be featuring an interview with him on my blog in the not-so-distant future!)

California poppies have burst out in bloom all over the place. Here's my favorite shot.

And here are a few of my favorite otter shots from Sunday's trip out to Moss Landing where John and I had breakfast with new friends, Dan and Brenda.

And there's John and Gingee talking with Brenda while I snapped away at those otters.

Just chugging along...

My crisis in figuring out what I'm doing with my life has led me to Trish Lay of Souls at Play Productions. She is going to coach me on being that financially successful writer and photographer that I've dreamed of my entire life. Jennifer Lauck (a really great writer and author of Blackbird, Still Waters, Show Me the Way and Found) connected me with Trish. Please wish us the best in our work together.

Cheers...

Levonne Gaddy

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