Tales from the 2016 Road: Christmas in July

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 16, 2016 in children, Family, Personal Values, Travel

July 3, 2016, Avilla, MO- There was a span of 38 years, since I last saw Lisa, one of my younger cousins. In our family, last has never been least. Each member of the brood has an essential place. Lisa followed in the footsteps of her mother, who served as a WAVE during World War II, by becoming a member of the Women’s Army Corps, for several years. When that was finished, she became a teacher, like her father. She’s still a teacher- and a farm wife, in this little slice of heaven, in southwest Missouri, between Joplin and Springfield.

I was invited to join their family’s Christmas in July celebration, with attendant fireworks. People in the Midwest set off their own fireworks, as befits a farm culture. There was a marvelous spread, to get things started, and as we recalled from our childhood days, such gatherings involve sitting around ad spinning yarns, as well as discussing the topics of the day, in a civil fashion.

It was a lovely day and evening, so here are a few scenes from down on the farm, in Avilla.

The farm property at Avilla

Lisa and family were busy, setting up the festivities.

Here are some scenes of the gang sitting around, and of the fireworks.

Grandkids getting ready for the display.

Solving the world’s ills

Fire away!

Sky lit up!

Light show!

We then exchanged gifts, in White Elephant fashion.So went a fine re-connection with a bright and loving member of my extended family, which is now extended even further, with her husband, kids and grandkids.

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Other Half Gives

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 13, 2016 in Community, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Social, Travel

July 3, 2016, Ponca City- I spent about forty minutes visiting this spacious northern Oklahoma town’s three major landmarks, all associated with the oil magnate, E.W. Marland, and his family.

Prior to arriving here, I stopped at the roadside memorial to Chief Joseph, logistics chief of the Nez Perce, in the mid-Nineteenth Century. The captive Nez Perce, native to Idaho, had been brought here, to Tonkawa, in 1877, and made to remain there, until 1884. They were allowed to return to Idaho, then, and given the choice of becoming Christian and staying in Idaho, or retaining their old ways, and being moved to Colville, Washington. Chief Joseph and his band chose the latter. Below, is the photo of the memorial to him.

Memorial to Chief Joseph, Tonkawa, OK

Ponca City, in Osage country, has among the earliest ties to the petroleum industry in Oklahoma. It is, nonetheless, among the state’s most spacious and well-appointed communities. Here is a look at downtown.

Grand Avenue, Ponca City

City Hall is also strikingly modern.

Ponca City Hall

There are two homes, built by E.W. Marland, which feature prominently in Ponca City’s civic life. Marland’s Grand Home, built by him in 1916, now serves as the city’s cultural center and Indian Museum.

Veranda, Marland’s Grand House, Ponca City

Full view of Marland’s Great House, Ponca City

Original Marland Oil Company Flag Staff, Ponca City

Ernest Whitworth Marland had a sincere respect for the sacrifices made by women, on the prairie, and had this statue built, in their honour.

Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City

The Marland Mansion, where the family lived after 1916, is the centerpiece of a city park, and is maintained in the spirit of the early 20th Century. I toured the grounds, as the interior is not open on Sundays.

The Marland children, George and Lydie, are honoured with statues, at the northern and eastern ends of the property, respectively.

George Marland

Lydie Marland

The mansion itself was built in grand, European style. Ernest was a generous man, and did not spare himself or his family of that largesse.

Marland Mansion, Ponca City

There is a wealth of flora on the grounds.

Rhododendron bush, Marland Mansion, Ponca City

There is an extensive walking trail around the grounds, which I did not have time to explore, given my invitation to a Fourth of July gathering, east of Joplin.

The pond, though, lends a serenity, and a wildness, to this most epicurean of parks.

Pond, Marland Mansion grounds

The park is a refreshing place for Poncans to gather, so in my view, E.W.’s largesse has had a good long-term effect. Now, as long as we keep moving towards cleaner energy….

NEXT UP: Christmas in July

Tales from the 2016 Road: Da Vinci’s Coffee and A Welcoming Sun Room

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 11, 2016 in Family, Matters of Faith, Social, Travel

July 2, 2016, Enid- John Glaze and I have visited one another, back and forth, for about five years now- both online and in person. My latest stop in Enid found John going about his usual business: Mowing lawns, working out ideas about improving the back part of his house, and visiting with the Saturday morning crowd at da Vinci’s Coffee House, not far from his house.

John tended to the yards, front and back, first thing this morning, before the heat set in. I remained on the screened porch, for the time being.

Life on East Meadowbrook, Enid, OK

Back yard, East Meadowbrook, Enid

John is justifiably proud of the garden spot.

Master landscaper, Enid, OK

He also showed me a couple of ceramic tiles, sent him by a mutual friend.

Lizard Tile

Sun Dial Tile

We went to Grand Avenue Cafe, Enid’s oldest restaurant, for a fine breakfast. Then, it was off to da Vinci Coffee House, for an hour or so, enjoying rich java and home made pastries, brought by a couple of the fine ladies who help comprise the Saturday morning gathering. The young couple who own this establishment were on hand to greet everyone, with a handshake and a hug, for regular and visitor, alike. We were regaled by the stories of a well-traveled local resident, who had been everywhere I mentioned, except Alaska. I

After da Vinci, John brought me over to an antique emporium, where I picked up just the right coral serving dish to gift my cousin, whom I would visit the following day, in southwest Missouri. We also went to a Catholic thrift store, where I was happy to visit the Chapel of St. Ann.

Chapel of St. Ann, Enid, OK

I didn’t have as many photos of this solid town, in Oklahoma’s northwest, as I might have. It all was part of being unobtrusive, and being a polite visitor. Being in John’s company is always a pleasure, though.

NEXT UP: Chief Joseph’s Memorial and Ponca City

Tales from the 2016 Road: Back to the Texas Panhandle

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2016 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 1, 2016, Amarillo- Any road trip that involves I-40 will entail a stop in Amarillo- at least as long as Texas Tidbits is around to spin a yarn or two. Wes has been a friend for about ten years now, since I started reading his recollections of his town as it was, in the heyday of Route 66.

Southwest 6th Street, below Georgia Avenue, is a pleasing remnant of that time, and may as well be called Amarillo’s Fun Zone. It reminds me of the North Side, in Fort Worth, or old downtown Nashville.

Southwest 6th Street, Amarillo

The Goldenlight Cafe and Cantina is a good place for old men and young ladies to see each other as human beings, in search of an appreciative listening ear and reassuring arm around the shoulder- so I’m told. The folks who were here today seem to get along well, and the photo board shows many more, of people who have befriended one another, over the years. Wes has taken to this place, and its regulars, since Blue Front became a more upscale establishment. Oysters for breakfast don’t quite cut it, in the Amarillo he calls home. We each had our choice of hamburger, and shared a “small” basket of fries. (Remember, this is Texas.)

Interior of Goldenlight Cafe and Cantina, Amarillo

Wes was a bit more pensive than usual.

Wes, in the Goldenlight

After lunch, I drove Wes over to another of his favourite haunts, the Dragon Bar. It’s a small neighbourhood joint, close to I-27. Wes pointed out a mural, across the street. He said it was designed by an attorney who organized the Freedom Project, which focused on getting innocent people released from prison, a while back.

Street mural, 15th Street, Amarillo

Wes was tired, after a fashion. So, bidding him farewell, I headed towards Oklahoma, but via the upper Panhandle, stopping by Lake Meredith, a popular local boating site, west of Borger.

Lake Meredith, TX

The wild prairie, east of Lake Meredith, TX

There is much else worth exploring and photographing, in the rough remnants of glaciated North Texas. It was getting on in the day, though, and Enid, OK was still ahead.

NEXT UP: Da Vinci, Plant in the Window and Art Deco

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Long Walk of 1864

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2016 in Historical, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

Entrance to Fort Sumner National Monument,NM

July 1, 2016, Fort Sumner, NM- There are several places in the United States, that every citizen should see, if for no other reason than to know that unity is a delicate thing. Fort Sumner, a place of captivity for thousands of people, in the 1860’s, is such a place.

I have known, and worked with, Navajo (Dineh) and Hopi people, for several years. The Dineh, along with the Mescalero Apache (Indeh) people, were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, in 1864, by one of the most unfortunate edicts of President Lincoln, who had a blind spot, where Native Americans were concerned. He never stopped being an Indian fighter.

The people endured the harsh life of captives, very similar to what the Japanese internees endured in the camps of World War II. The difference was that the Dineh and Indeh people built the camps, including the quarters of their overseers. Many died of disease and starvation, in this squalid place.

The people were released in 1868, on orders from President Andrew Johnson, who had no real axe to grind with the Navajos or Apaches. They walked homeward, and the Navajo wept, when they spotted one of their sacred mountains, Mount Taylor, east of Albuquerque.

Here are some of the sights that presented themselves to me, during my visit here, this morning. The first shows the pyramid-like structure that houses the museum displays and theater, that tells the story of the Long Walk. The ranger initially interpreted my foregoing the film, as a sign of disinterest in the actual events. A conversation, afterward, corrected that misconstruance.

Monument Headquarters, Fort Sumner, NM

The second photo shows the area, as it might have appeared when the captives first arrived in Bosque Redondo, as the woods were called back then. The Commemoration Stone, first brought here by Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah, in 1994.

Nature Trail, Fort Sumner, NM

Commemoration Stone, Fort Sumner, AZ

The descendants of both Navajo and Mescalero Apache internees, and many others from various tribes, bring items of dedication to this memorial site.

Memorial Site, Fort Sumner, NM

Barracks for US Army troops, Fort Sumner National Monument, NM

The above is an example of the structures which captives were forced to build, for the housing of their overseers.

Below is a flock of Churro Sheep, raised by Navajos and now viewed as an heirloom breed, for the quality of their wool and meat.

Churro Sheep, Fort Sumner National Monument, NM

This visit, which I had planned for quite some time, was a sobering reminder of just how far we have come, and a caution of how far we can fall backwards, in our inter-human connections. Like Manzanar, and Berga, Germany, it is a place that the smug and self-assured would do well to see, as a wake-up call.

NEXT UP: Return to Amarillo’s Happy Southwest 6th Street.

Heat and Quotidia

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 27, 2016 in collaborating, Community, Personal goals, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

June 26, 2016, Prescott- I am back at Home Base, for four days or so, having served others, at a shelter in eastern Arizona and my spirit, at a Baha’i retreat, outside Flagstaff. There is enough heat to go around, across the continent, from the sound of things. It’s toasty here, but my ceiling fan, windows cracked open and plenty of cold water will see me through.

The week ahead will find me finishing the facilitation of a spiritual study group, joining a group of children on an outing to an animal rescue shelter, tending to a couple of quotidian comfort items (returning a sound system that isn’t working with my laptop and getting the zipper to the bottom of my tent’s door put back on track.) and being useful around here, wherever I can.

Come Thursday evening, I will be off again- this time focusing on family and friends, scattered as we are across the Midwest, Northeast and South. The “Garython”, if you will, is likely to be something of a sequel to the journey I took in 2011. That one was a reaction to my grief. This one is more of an in-gathering. Cousins, with whom I haven’t been in touch for several years, are reconnecting. Friends along the way will also be a priority. My mother and two siblings will be at one end of the route, and also a priority, given that the end of this year will find me largely focused on my son and his impending change of scene. Southern brother, and Penny’s family, will be at the lower end, as will a few other special souls. Then, a zip across the nation, to Colorado, and an Essential Oils conference, will end the whole shebang.

I read about fire and water, on opposite ends of the country, continuing to give grief to so many people. A fellow attendee, at the retreat I joined this weekend, is of the opinion that Earth will undergo severe climate and geological events for the next 30,000 years. If that’s the case, we’ll all spend much of our spirit lives responding to the urgent pleas of those who are here. Somehow, I don’t think it’ll be THAT long of a torment, but we surely have to deal with what is going on now.

Speaking of which, a black bear made its way to town today. It was spotted outside the Planet Fitness that I frequent. I haven’t left the house, since I got back from Bellemont, and will just have to keep tabs on the matter, tomorrow.

Who Am I?

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 23, 2016 in Community, Family, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Striving, Travel

June 22, 2016, Springerville, AZ- My father passed away, thirty years ago, today. Then, as now, I made a long journey. Then, as now, it took a few phone calls to get the details right. I arrived at my destination after six hours of travel. I was comforted by the very people I came to comfort. He was given a dignified send-off, and from the spirit realm, he still looks after me, in a stern, but loving manner.

Who, exactly, did Dad leave behind? I was not the easiest of sons to raise, but there was a lot about autism that was not known, that was misunderstood. There still is, in the perceptions of many people. There is, however, nothing about who I am that limits me. I have raised a fine young man, and am gladly here to answer his questions about the time of life that is young adulthood. I am here to encourage his success, to boost him over the bar.

I am also here to reach out to as many people as possible. July will be yet another month on the road. This time, though, it will be focused on family members, some close and some long-lost. It will be focused, as well, on friends- some in pain, some offering joy. I will be keeping an eye on things in Arizona, though there are still those nagging critics who take umbrage at my having missed this meeting, or not being available for that event during the coming four weeks.

I am not easy to define. Mostly, my living consists of proferring love on those around me. It’s the most basic thing in the world, and in the Universe, for that matter. There will always be those who try to obfuscate and throw me off course. There will always be those who hear the word “widower” and think, “troll”- as is the case with one of my co-workers here at the fire shelter. No matter: I am here to do a service, and I will continue, whether this person likes it or not. I am very open about my wife’s having passed on. The other part is that I am open about being comfortable with how my life is now. This life is full of bonds, and true friendships. The false of purpose, and the fearful, need not worry about my presence.

Another thing that colours my life: Commitment to the generations coming up behind me; not just my son and young relatives, but the well-being of all. A case in point: When I stopped for dinner at one of my “A-List” California restaurants, en route back to Prescott, I was struck by the humidity inside the place, and concerned for two young ladies, who were dressed in Victorian attire, in their roles as servers, and who were about to crumple from the stifling air. The manager, herself about to keel over, had them go into a small staff room, which was more comfortable. We need to pay close attention to those who work hard on our behalf. Fortunately, all three ladies recovered nicely.

This is my 1,000th Word Press post. To leave you with more of a sense of who I am, here are a few scenes from my coastal visit on Monday. First, here are two scenes of Cardiff State Beach, west of Encinitas.

Not your typical June Gloom, but a bit of mist was there, on San Elijo Beach.

Beach artistry is alive and well.

Up the coast, at Dana Point, I enjoyed a lengthy lunchtime conversation, with a longtime friend, at another of my California “A-list” establishments.

Harpoon Henry’s is at the south end of Dana Point Harbor.

Who am I, really? I’m just a human being who treasures those in his life, who is glad for the form in which I find myself, who does not have a need to judge the paths and courses of life taken by others, insofar as they do not harm those around them and who looks forward to whatever tale each day has to present.

Post 1,001 will look at an estuary- the mixing of fresh and salt water, and why brackishness is a good thing.

Father’s Day Weekend

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 22, 2016 in animal and plant life, Family, Travel

June 18-19, 2016, Chula Vista-

Saturday and Sunday were among the best, most bonding days I’ve had with Aram, in a good long while, which is saying something, because we are tight, for two who live such separate lives, in neighbouring states.

It comes down to parenting never being a work of completion. I bounced things off my Dad, every so often, until he was no longer physically here to approach, for that purpose. He still makes his views known, though, and I am finally at the point where I sense he is happy with my choices. I can say the same about my pride in my son. He has established himself as a valued presence, though his current position is not his life’s work.

Saturday was a day for errands, so we went to the recycling station, which is actually not from his place, contrary to what their website says. We also found a Michael’s, for some frames he needed. I was pleased to have found one that fit an off-sized print he had. Filippi’s, one of my A-List restaurants in San Diego, has a branch in Chula Vista, so we hopped on over there for a sandwich lunch.

Sunday was a scorcher, all over the continent it seems. I got reports from friends in Ontario, in Florida and in the Midwest, of horrible temps. We nonetheless enjoyed a forty-five minute revisit to Japanese-American Friendship Garden, in Balboa Park, with a concert featuring the world’s largest carillon pipe organ, in the background.

Given the heat which most people reading this endured yesterday, I present you with various scenes of running water.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

The bonsai exhibit is an exception, but it endures with minimal watering.

Aram’s birth sign is water. H2O has always been his friend.

Here’s a nice view of the Lower Garden pond, which opened in July, 2015.

The water filters along rocks, carefully placed along the downslope.

This mallard was more than glad to stand in pose.

Close your eyes, and imagine Old Japan.

Rocks and flowing water are staples of the Japanese garden.

Small cascades invite one to splash about; though that would be bad form.

Lilies are more common here, than they were a few years ago.

Just how deep are these rocks?

We were suitably inspired by the water scenes, to head straight for the Jamba Juice, in a Chula Vista shopping mall, near the harbour. Copious amounts of refreshing liquid are always welcome to both our palates.

Dinner was, of course, a buffet- at Zorba’s Cafe, with all my favourite Greek dishes. This time, though, we both “made do” with about half the offerings. Less can definitely be more.

I will go philosophical in my next post, which is the 1,000th of this website. Scenes of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea beachfront, and of San Elijo Preserve’s western lagoon, will help in this effort. Stay tuned.

Yuma Is for The Warm of Heart

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 19, 2016 in Historical, Travel

June 17, 2016, Yuma- This citrus capital of the West has become my go-to pit stop, en route to San Diego and Chula Vista, as I-8 is a less perplexing route to my son’s street, than CA 15 was.

Yuma has been known to hit 120 during this hottest of desert summer months. That puts it in the same league as Phoenix and Palm Springs. Nonetheless, a brief stop here is a pleasure. There are enough diverse attractions in the area to keep my camera and I busy, over the next two drives out to see my pride and joy. Besides the Algodones Dunes and the Colorado River Wetlands Trail, which I visited the last time I was here, there are the Territorial Prison, Martinez Lake, Santillan House and the area that occupied me this afternoon: Historic Downtown. It’s a small area, but Main Street, even in the 102 degree heat, is worth weaving in and out of the air-conditioned buildings. There is much to be said for a town with two theaters within a two-block radius of one another. Then, there is Lutes Casino, a family-friendly restaurant-bric-a-brac palace that offers a full range of old-fashioned fountain treats, as well as diner food and a full bar.

So, here’s a look at Main Street, Yuma:

Downtown’s West Entrance

Hotel San Carlos is downtown Yuma’s largest.

This is the larger of two cinemas on Main Street.

The desert CAN be pretty in summer. This lot is up for lease.

This courtyard had one drawback. The ice cream shop is closed until next Monday.

A few fountains grace Main Street. This is the largest.

Inside Lutes casino: I enjoyed a praline pecan malted milk.

The establishment is far more interesting than it looks.

For those heading in earnest, between Phoenix and San Diego, Yuma has done a fine job of offering a safe haven-even in the sizzling summer.

Stairstepping In Kodachrome Land, Part 3: A Zip Through The Cedars

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 8, 2016 in Hiking and Nature, Service Activities, Travel

June 3, 2016, Chinle, AZ- After leaving Nevada behind, I decided that the drive through the expanse of heaven that is southern Utah would have to be somewhat less than just. I have the Golden Circle on my radar screen for a full month of exploration- but not until next summer, at the very earliest, and maybe not until 2020. The pines, cedars and unparalleled canyons of southern Utah are treasures to be taken one inch at a time.

One caveat I share with most other drivers is: Don’t make a nuisance of yourself, by constantly and abruptly pulling to the side of the narrow road, to get that great photo. So, the scenes presented herein are few in number- focusing on two places: Navajo Lake/Duck Creek and Orderville Canyon. These two very different environments give a snippet of the variety in a relatively small area of Kane County.

I spent a few minutes in the commercial hub of Cedar City, just refueling and resting my Nissan. The traffic was already gearing up for a crowded weekend, hereabouts, so on up through Kolob Canyon it was. Navajo Lake lies in the rim country, above Zion National Park. There were about a dozen people at the overlook, so we took turns with photographs.

Navajo Lake, Dixie National Forest, Utah

Dike across Navajo Lake, Dixie National Forest, Utah

The dike was built by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps, during the New Deal, to maintain constant water flow.

Navajo Lake, and nearby Duck Creek, were created by lava flow, which altered the course of the Virgin River, which created Zion Canyon. Below, are some scenes of the lava beds, around Duck Creek Visitor Center.

Lava bed at Duck Creek Visitor Center, Dixie National Forest, Utah

Lava bed, Duck Creek Visitor Center, Dixie National Forest, Utah

Duck Creek, Dixie National Forest, Utah

Orderville is one of the small farming towns that are a delight to visit, in the midst of southern Utah’s canyon country. It is also a jumping off point for those headed east, towards Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Park. Orderville has a gorgeous canyon of its own, though, and can easily enchant the visitor for 2-3 days.

Orderville Canyon, Utah

With the day growing short, I headed on east and south, through Page, AZ, on the southern shore of Lake Powell, across the Navajo Nation, to Kayenta and Chinle. At Tsegi, just west of Kayenta, I cam across a couple whose vehicle and trailer had overturned. The Indian Health Service worker who had stopped to help was having a hard time getting through to emergency services. I was able to call and get help en route. Good thing that neither person,nor their two dogs, were injured. Past Kayenta, a brush fire had broken out, south of Chilchinbeto, where I once worked. Once again, 911 was dialed from my phone, and a fire truck was dispatched.

That was the end of the day’s excitement. I enjoyed a relaxing meal at Junction Restaurant, in Chinle, before heading down to Native American Baha’i Institute, another 1 1/2 hours further southeast. It is time to change gears, and focus on spirituality for a day or so.

	slmret on Widowhood
	murisopsis on Recaptured
	Sagittarian Seeker on Pros and Cons
	murisopsis on Pros and Cons
	murisopsis on What I’ve Done Late…

A Sagittarian Seeker

Sharing a life of inner and outer journeys

Category Archives: Travel

Tales from the 2016 Road: Christmas in July

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Long Walk of 1864

Who Am I?

Father’s Day Weekend

Yuma Is for The Warm of Heart

Stairstepping In Kodachrome Land, Part 3: A Zip Through The Cedars

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: