The Road to 65, Mile 221: Being A Father

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 7, 2015, Prescott- One of the main reasons I am juxtaposing my travel posts with my thoughts whilst here at home is that, without family and community, there is only the mindless wandering of the unruddered soul.

Twenty-seven years ago today, Penny felt it was time to get to hospital. In the South Korea of 1988, every encounter between Korean workers and foreign nationals was first an economic one, then a human encounter. The woman who had been midwifing our child decided, on that day, that we were not helping her enough with her advancing in learning the English language. She declined to help Penny any further, and called a taxi driver to take us to an English-speaking Obstetrician, who would see to the birth.

Her parents were with us, but could not fit into the taxi, so I quickly hailed another for them, jumped into our taxi, and away we went, with the second taxi following us as best he could. My father-in-law’s frantic words, “Baby Hospital”, were apparently enough, as they arrived three minutes behind us.

The procedure went very well, and I was holding our newborn son up to the light, welcoming him to this world, three hours later. It was, all in all, a good life in Korea, and when we were compelled to return to the U.S., four years later, Aram was fairly well-grounded in two cultures. America was a bit tougher for all of us, but he grew up strong, and through the trials that buffeted the three of us in the 2000’s, and eventually took his mother’s life, our son emerged as a strong, healthy and amazingly resourceful individual.

Sometimes, I felt as though he was raising himself, but there was never a time, and never has been, when I haven’t had his best interests front and center. That I learned of those interests mainly by talking things through with him is the only way that ever made sense to me. Kids need steady guidance, but they have more on the ball than many of their insecure elders seem to realize.

The most inane aphorism ever is “Children should be seen and not heard.” I heard my son being told that, by a family member once, and I had to be physically restrained from hitting the individual. We need, pure and simple, to listen to one another, across generations.

Fatherhood is my greatest blessing, right after having been a husband. It will always be so.

The Road to 65, Mile 209: A Triangle of Towns, Part One- Moscow, Idaho, and Its University

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Travel

June 25, 2015, Moscow, ID – I have been intrigued by the Palouse region for quite some time now. So, it was quite a treat to have ended up in Moscow,last night. I had woken the owner-operator, at Royal Motor Lodge, so my reception there was not the warmest. This morning, though, she was a bit sad to see me check out so quickly- at 10 A.M.

I spent about an hour, walking about Moscow’s downtown area, and stopped in at the salubrious One World Coffee House, at the outset of that little jaunt. With so many people, in and around the place, the only unobtrusive photo of One World was this coffee bean puzzle.

Downtown and Fort Russell, about six blocks east, are Moscow’s two historical districts. I found Fort Russell would be interesting for a post on historical houses, but this was the Palouse in June, after all, and it was already getting hot, at 9 AM. So, I kept myself downtown.

Moscow, rightfully, prides itself on being a premier arts venue.

John’s Alley looks like it’d be a great place to sit and jam.

Moscow does not ignore its Idaho-ness. Hyperspuds is the local sporting goods and outfitting spot.

This message, at the northern edge of downtown, evoked images of The Avengers.

The McConnell Mansion was built in 1886, by Idaho Governor William J.McConnell. It’s now the historical museum of Moscow, and Latah County.

Stone is put to good use, in the Palouse Valley, as evidenced here, at the United Methodist Church.

Moscow is hip, but that doesn’t mean it ignores its roots. Farming here does not take a back seat.

I spent about an hour at the University of Idaho, largely in its cool and impressive Charles E. Shattuck Arboretum.

Here is the Red Oak that is the centerpiece of the World War I Memorial Grove.

The interior of the Arboretum offers trails that could keep one content for a few hours.

As with other universities, this would mean buying a Parking Pass, as established by the Administration, housed here.

The university has the good fortune to have a School of Music named for one of the greats. Mr. Hampton worked with the University, from 1980, until the end of his life, to establish a home for jazz, in its School of Music. in 1987, he had the honour of seeing the School bear his name. A Jazz Festival has graced UI, since 1985. Lionel Hampton is the only jazz musician, thus far, to be so honoured by a University.

The University’s mascots are the Germanic tribe, the Vandals.

Their facility is impressive in its length and utility.

Moscow is a welcoming, and very comfortable town, and I would not be surprised to find myself passing through there, time and again.

The Road to 65, Mile 220: Cross-Bullying

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 6, 2015, Prescott- I read this morning about the “rising phenomenon” of children bullying their parents. Then, a short time later, a friend wrote me a message that her parent was referring to her in the most vulgar of terms.

This goes back to how I was raised, and how we tried to raise our son. No two people always get along, and the permutations of social discourse get more complicated with three, four, or ten, in the mix. The bottom line, though, is respect, Golden Rule, “how does the shoe feel on your foot?”

It’s a given that children regard having limits set as part of their safety net. Limit-free kids are scared, more often than not, and fearful people strike out. We raised our son with what common sense we could muster, encouraging his curiosity and exploration, and discouraging any tendency to view, and treat, us as eyeball-to-eyeball peers.

I would not have my wife be subjected to abuse, nor she, me. Son is a fine human being, and I don’t think he would be comfortable with being able to give too free vent to negative attitudes. In fact, he has said that, all in all, we set reasonable limits. Likewise, we did not ridicule or catcall at him, something that I have seen far too many people my age do with their children, in the name of “honesty” or “free speech.”

Millennials speak of “adulting”. I love that generation dearly, and certainly expect that acting one’s age will be de rigeur for them, as it should be for us, and for “Generation X”. Perhaps the term is natural, though, as we witness so many, from ages 21- 90, indulging in unseemly public behaviour, again in the name of “self-expression” or “my rights”. For the adult in the room to have plenty of company is a fine thing, and since it happens more often than the media would have us believe, it should be contagious.

My feeling is that, if children see adults being adults, consistently, and if they feel well- and fairly-attended, which means having limits set for them, then there will be less bullying, in either direction.

The Road to 65, Mile 219: Sizzling

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 7, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 5, 2015, Prescott- I have it in my mind to return to Europe, at some point, probably some time in the second half of 2020, or later, as part of a 1-2 year sojourn, just because I feel I must earn back the money I spent on the trips taken, over these past three or four years. It’ll all boil down to what seemingly needs to be done, at the time.

That’s all pie in the sky, right now. I think of it, mainly because the news tells us that it is hotter in Madrid than it is in Dubai, or New Delhi. Budapest and Zurich are warmer than Istanbul. The sizzle factor is making things seem topsy-turvy, but don’t say this too loudly, lest someone think we have gone full-on Liberal.

I have to say this, just once: Name-calling has not, and will not, bring the temperatures back into what we regard as normal range. If that is even an option, we need to look at everyone’s habits. What can each of us do, and what is each of us willing to do, to bring the overall climate into a comfortable range? The areas of focus would include: Diet, daily cleansing and grooming, animal husbandry and crop rotation, forestry, fishing and manufacturing practices- especially production of technological products. Ever stop and think about how your smart phone components’ manufacture might relate to the raising of the atmosphere’s temperature? Didn’t think so.

Each of us has the role to play. Me? I drive with the windows down, when alone. With others in the car, AC is usually a must, but that is most often for short distances. Showers? Have to say, I keep them to 5 or 6 minutes, and there is no “eeeww” factor, of which I am aware. I drink small smoothies, when possible, though I don’t really go in for the idea that smoothies use more water than hamburgers, from start to finish.

These are just things to consider, next time your town hits an uncomfortable heat level.

The Road to 65, Mile 208: Queen of the Inland Northwest, Day 2

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 7, 2015 in Travel

June 24, 2015, Spokane- I was intrigued by the chocolatier’s use of Rocket Bakery as his sandwich purveyor, so this morning, Rocket was my first stop, after getting cash from the ATM. What a fine place! Like so many coffee houses in the Northwest, and our own Wild Iris, in Prescott, Rocket Bakery has a Steam Punk ambiance. Two lovely and effusive young ladies were the baristas, and sang along with each song that came on the house’s Sirius channel, as I savoured my drip coffee and scone. Rocket is a very happy place. It also has a bookshelf, a surprisingly rare feature among coffee houses, and one that is most welcome. The piano is also there, for anyone who can play decently.

After the wonderful interlude, I headed back to Downtowner Motel, checked out and made a beeline back to Riverview Park. One of my friends in Spokane recommended taking the gondola, over the Falls. This I did, to the amusement of four high schoolers who were in line ahead of me. “Like, why is the old dude going up by himself?” Well, because it’s there. There are some decent views to be had, from the nosebleed level.

Once back down, I headed to the southern, less frenetic part of Riverside. I found the Clock Tower, Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and World’s Fair Pavilion to be restful places for meditation.

A flock of Canadian geese, lined up at the river’s edge, was an unusual sight. It almost seemed like the Bird Olympics was set to begin.

A unique feature, for kids and adults alike, was this set of giant blocks.

Lunch was from a hot dog vendor, in front of Atticus. As he advertised “all beef, no additives”, I was game. The coffee and gift shop was worth another visit, after lunch, for some chai and a few gift items. After an hour or so longer at the library, I called my local friend, and ascertained we weren’t going to meet, due to a sudden emergency.

So, it was off to the south side, and dinner at Chalet Restaurant, near a retirement community. I was received a bit cautiously by the waitstaff, but the salmon and side dishes were fine. Sometimes, it is a good idea to greet “outsiders”; like me, who tips 20 % to anyone who gives at least adequate service.

After attending a Baha’i worship service and social, nearby, and briefly connecting with an old friend from Arizona, now living in Spokane, (pictures didn’t come out), I headed east, then south. it was dark, so no photos of beautiful Coeur d’Alene. The night came to an end in Moscow, ID, at Royal Motor Lodge. I woke up the night clerk, who groggily lined me up with a room, and settled in for another comfortable night.

The Road to 65, Mile 218: Independence

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 6, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 4, 2015, Prescott- It is a strange twist of fate that, on this 239th anniversary of the issuance of the Declaration of Independence, many Americans’ minds, and those of others around the world, are on Athens, the Birthplace of Democracy and now a seeming hotbed of rebellion against a global system that emphasizes money and profit as indicators of responsible behaviour.

There are several schools of thought about this global system. Many here in the United States are convinced that it is the work of a tightly-knit group of families, whose specific identities are unknown and are called, collectively, Illuminati. Dozens of TV series,and a few movies, have featured this entity, in various configurations, as their Archvillain. Christians immediately identify it as serving the Antichrist, or maybe being It.

I only know that such a controlling presence, if real, would only suffocate and oppress the human spirit. Working for wages has never been liberating, and only adopting an ethic of work as an act of worship, of service to humanity, has given most of us any kind of fulfillment. My best years of working were when I was a school counselor, followed, oddly enough, by my years as a substitute teacher. Most prospective employers who’ve looked at my resume have shaken their heads at this, and the selection process has ended for me, then and there.

Work, though, has to be an act of service, because our humanity is what we take with us, and besides, acts of service, in the long run, are what make us independent. Money can be taken from a person, by the government, by creditors, and, in the form of lost investments, by a collapsing economy in a place far away. One’s accomplishments and relationships, however, can never be taken away.

I thought about all this tonight, as my good friend was driving us back from viewing the fireworks at Pioneer Park, on the northwest corner of town. Her concerns are with an imposed world government, and contrived financial collapse. These things are possible, but study of the teachings of various faiths and some secular philosophies tells us that they are not the End Game. Each of us has individual DNA and each of us has a distinct soul. We are, by nature, independent and will only successfully act in a collective manner, if our acts of service lead to a collective consciousness.

As I saw the other night, on “The Celestine Prophecies”, that consciousness, and not an externally-imposed mindset or false world order, represents the next step in the evolution of the human spirit. This is chosen by each of us, in healthy independence.

The Road to 65, Mile 207: Queen of the Inland Northwest, Day 1

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 6, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Travel

June 23, Spokane- I woke up from a night of roughing it, on the ground at Country Corners RV Park, in Wilbur, WA, about ninety-minutes west of Spokane. I got dressed and off to breakfast, at Doxie’s Diner, one of those places where the cook is the waitress, and the regulars address her as “Mom”. The coffee was on the main table, and I was invited to make myself at home. Great place, Doxie’s, and I could easily have whiled away a good morning there, especially listening to everyone’s stories of the previous night’s aurora borealis, through which I slept, of course. It had appeared around 2 AM.

I had a feeling it was about time I got over to Spokane, to see what had changed since I was last there, in 1995. I stopped for a bit of reflection, at a Rest Area, off US 2. Greeting me was this intrepid little critter, who might be a tad uncomfortable on a leash.

I got to Spokane, around 9 AM, and headed straight for Riverside Park, which was one of my fondest memories from 20 years ago. The first sight was the salmon ladder.

The Spokane Falls, though, are quite prominent, both at the north end of the park and towards the middle.

After a couple hours of meandering around the park, I headed east a bit, to the old Flour Mill, now home to about a dozen shops. One of these is Chocolate Apothecary, whose proprietor had sandwiches advertised, along with his main line of delectable chocolate.

Alas, his sandwiches, prepared by Rocket Bakery, had not arrived. At his suggestion, I headed across the parking lot, and up the street, to Stella’s Cafe. The Northwest is a fabulous place for cavernous, Steam Punk cafes and restaurants.

Stella’s offered a lovely Roast Beef, au jus and had some intriguing art work. This woman had tied up her demon and her ego, and was ready to take on the world.

After lunch, I checked out Spokane’s near north side, and its majestic County Courthouse. This neo-Renaissance classic was built by W. A. Ritchie, and was open for business in November, 1895. It is, arguably, one of Washington State’s finest buildings.

Returning to Riverside Park, I found quite a flock of gulls, feasting on whatever they could find in the Spokane River.

Anthony’s at Spokane Falls is another member, in that great chain of West Coast seafood establishments. It is across the bridge from the hydroelectric power station. It is notable that Spokane, using the force of its cascades, was the second community in the U.S., after New York City, to become electrified.

It was starting to get pretty hot, in mid-afternoon, so this fountain was a big treat for the children who were at Riverside for the day.

As for me, I went over to Atticus, a lovely coffee, book and gift shop, across Spokane Falls Drive from Riverside Park, and got a refreshing, cool beverage. After being there for an hour, catching up on my e-mails and correspondence, I noted the barrista’s consternation, and vowed to come back the next morning, sans laptop, and just savour the coffee.

The evening was spent, between Downtowner Lodge, which at the time was the only motel in downtown Spokane with no WiFi, Spokane Public Library, and the Food Court in River Park Square, which offered connections to anyone eating supper there. After satisfying myself that my friends and family were safe and well, I went back to the room and watched a bit of nondescript TV, then read for a while. Day two would feature a gondola ride, more walking around Riverside Park, perhaps a visit with an online friend and an evening with some of the Baha’is of Spokane.

The Road to 65, Mile 217: More Than

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 5, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 3, 2015- I encountered two online posts by women, today. One was a TED Talk, by a fashion model. The other was a blog post by a young friend, part of her ongoing exploration of who, and what, she is.

We thrive on the superficial, many of us, because it seems easier. Men ogle attractive females, from girls not even old enough to drive a car, or hold down a job to those women deemed by society to have “preserved well with age.” Women have their share of “Magic Mike” and Chippendales moments. There is not much difference, in such as we do in that regard, from a trip to the zoo. Now, to fend off any troll who may be sharpening his rhetorical knife as he reads this- Yes, I have had my share of such superficiality.

It’s time to move up the evolutionary scale, a few notches, however. I was married to a physically lovely woman, with a winsome personality, who was also several points higher than I, in terms of intelligence. Since she passed on, my friendships with women have been varied. In each case, I have learned to place their sense of self-worth, first and foremost. I was not a perfect husband, but Penny taught me that much about friendship across the much vaunted Gender Divide. We were best friends, as well as spouses. Anticipation of the other’s needs is part of it, and direct communication, another.

Of the utmost importance, though, as the young model and my blogging friend both attest, is that there is always more, far more, to any given human being, than the pretty face, lithe figure and statuesque bearing that seem to mean so much, to so many in society. I thought of this, constantly, during a recent visit to Spokane. As I walked from my motel to downtown, I passed a billboard featuring the singer/actress Taylor Swift. The ad stressed her features, and makeup. My immediate thought was “There is so much more to you than this, precious soul.”

Those dismissed as “eye candy” may buy into that shallow assessment. The human spirit, however, is a hard taskmaster. A pigeonholed person will act in restless fashion, and will either: Seek attention in unhealthy ways; will meekly submit and then fade into obscurity, as the feckless lose interest; or will, as the late, and estimable, Hedy Lamarr did, combine a healthy respect for her natural beauty with a vigourous pursuit of her intellectual skills. The same is true for men, though on a lesser scale.

The closest of my friends, both female and male, are those with whom I can carry on meaningful conversation, can engage in interesting activities or just sit in one another’s presence, each doing what is foremost in their personal realm. The key is mutual regard, a belief in the ability of the friend to reach whatever heights one’s soul seeks and a willingness to let go of limiting personal agendas. There are those in my life, conversely, who are often calculating what I might do FOR them. They see little of me. I have enough to do, to pay back those who have shown me great kindness, but that’s a topic for another post.

To each, falls the task of scaling one’s own mountain, and triumphantly setting foot on one’s own moon.

The Road to 65, Mile 206: Evergreen Crossings, Day 4- Cascades and Coulees

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 4, 2015 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

June 22, 2015, Wilbur, WA- The day started with getting laundry done, in Monroe, at one of the more expensive laundromats I’ve seen in a while. It uses an Easy Card, so the fare is purchased in advance, for laundry supplies, washer and dryer. I did everything in one load,as is my wont, when on the road.

I passed Travelers Park, before turning right onto Highway 2 East.

On the way out of town, I gave a short ride to three people, who my intuition said, correctly, were good risks. They had no interest in me, other than to know why I was here, from Arizona- a reasonable query of a stranger. Eight miles further, I let them off, at a place called Gold Bar.

My next stop, however, was a tough little town called Skykomish, which has about 500 people who still support a weekly bus service to Monroe and have their own school district. It was founded as a rail stop, by routing engineer John Stevens, for whom nearby Stevens Pass is named. This old building used to be Skykomish Hotel.

The rest of the town also has a frontier air about it, still.

I had lunch (leftover lasagna) at a picnic table facing the main street. Then, it was on to Deception Falls.

This popular trail, at the foot of Stevens Pass, offers the three cascades of Deception Creek.

Note the relative purity of the water.

The trees provide variety in the scenery, especially as they lean,

serve as springboard stumps,

or act as nesting pots for new trees.

or, still as a place to drive piles.

Meanwhile,back at the falls:

There was a plenitude of visitors, yet much of the time, I found myself alone, as most people gathered at two overlooks.

The road led next to Leavenworth, not the Federal prison, but the touristy mountain community, about forty minutes from Wenatchee. The Wenatchee River is a major comfort, for locals and visitors alike.

I stopped just long enough to walk along the river a bit, and to buy some coffee from a local grinder, Square 15. It was to be a gift for my friends in Reno. The faux Bavarian scene can be taken in small doses.

I stopped in Wenatchee,for about two hours, long enough to marvel at the clear air (compared to the smoke which brought me here in prayerful service, three years ago) and to enjoy a fine Hispanic-fusion meal, courtesy of two friends.

I shall send them some Arizona treats, very soon.

The rest of the evening entailed driving down from the central Cascades, and into the western edge of the Great Basin. Some outlying areas reminded me of the Great Plains. There are patches of desolation.

There is a worrisome dryness.

The coulees of the Columbia River, and its tributaries, provide irrigation water, regulated by a series of dams.

One of these is Dry Falls Dam, about a mile south of Grand Coulee.

No, that’s not a fresh-water dolphin, in the river above.

I settled in on a grassy patch, at a little RV park called Country Corners, and slept fairly well, except there was this event called Aurora Borealis, and my tired self couldn’t leap out of the sleeping bag and take a shot or two. Perhaps one or two of you saw it.

The Road to 65, Mile 216: Celestine

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 3, 2015 in Personal goals, Social

July 2, 2015, Prescott- I am grounded. The Nissan’s dash says “Service Engine Soon”, so it will sit in the carport until my mechanic, and everyone else, has gotten the holiday out of their system. It may stay there longer, if the money that I am expecting shows up in my account, tomorrow morning or Saturday. Then, I will catch a shuttle to Phoenix, and a plane to San Diego, and honour my son as his birthday approaches-on Sunday of course, and I would stay in SoCal until Wednesday evening.

I have personal and civic obligations here at base on Independence Day, and these, too, are labours of love. A parade, in which I will be in the Red Cross contingent, a gathering at the American Legion, and the rest of the day with my best friend in Prescott, all of which brought me back here on the 29th of June.

Last night, after I watched “The Celestine Prophecy”, about which more in a moment, I was upbraided on social media, for not being willing to conduct an online dalliance, with someone I’ve never met. What a change, from two years ago, when I was all over the place, trying to figure out what my emotions were and how to deal with them. Most of the people who were in on the mental anguish I was enduring at the time, are still my friends, and God bless every one of them.

This brings me back to “The Celestine Prophecy”. Every American film, it seems, has to have a romantic twist. In this one, Marjorie is pursued by John, captivated by both her beauty and her aura of mystery (he saw her in a vision, that appeared to have taken place in the year 1622). John learns, quickly, to give the lady her space, and eventually sees that it is not the time for them to be together, though they certainly endure a lot- especially at the hands of Jensen, a cartoonish villain (whom John also sees in his vision, replete with wispy, handlebar mustache.)

“Celestine”, a film adaptation of the first of a series of novels by James Redfield, explores the growth of human consciousness and postulates nine principles, revealed in a series of scrolls in ancient times. John, and a group of like-minded souls, seek to find the ninth scroll, which Jensen, representing The Powers That Be (an Illuminati-like entity, who, of course, remain unseen), wants to find first and destroy, lest it tear asunder the power structure.

The upshot of the film is that the quest for power, by the Illuminati and everyone else, is a chimera. Human consciousness is moving steadily to a far deeper level than any materially-oriented force an ever appreciate. It is emerging, regardless of the quibbling, death and destruction that The Powers That Be are visiting upon us, and will continue to visit upon this planet, for a certain time. Real power, however, is spiritual and collective. It is as present in the most humble, vulnerable child, as it is in the person of a brutish, swaggering general ( such as Jensen’s chief minion in the film), and perhaps more so.

So, I sit in a safe, comfortable room, and contemplate my blessings: A strong, hard-working son, a good woman who is a steadfast friend ( and who, much like the film’s Marjorie, is given the space she needs to process all that is going on in her own, considerably complex life), a community that stands firm together, in spite of the callow local government, and a Faith which can carry me through anything at all, and does.