A New Beginning

August 11, 2011 · Filed under Health · Tagged , , ,

It’s been several months since you last heard from me.  I had finally made it to Spokane Washington and was thrilled to be in a city with so many quilt shops.  As I weaved my way through this city, I kept getting these strange leg cramps and a feeling of instability in my legs.  Being one who doesn’t like going to doctors or taking meds for anything, I chose to ignore the pain and instability and figured my exercise would make it go away. 

After visiting every quilt store, every novelty store, and I think every restaurant in Spokane, I decided it was time to move on.  The Pacific Ocean was calling out to me so I was back on the road to Sprague and then Ritzville Washington.  As I cycled down the highway, those sharp pains in my knee continued as if someone had stuck me with a knife.  I figured it was a Charlie horse and rode on although there were days when I found I couldn’t go any farther than 2 miles.  

What should have taken me 8-10 days to ride ended up taking me almost a month.  When I got into Sprague I ended up staying at a hotel for a week trying to get my knees to quit hurting.  I’d do stretches, iced them, and actually rode around town a bit hoping to keep them from stiffening up.  It seemed to be helping some so back on my bike I got and headed towards Ritzville. 

Ritzville was only 25 miles away so I figured 2 days and I’d be there.  A week later I limped my way into town.  I found a little neighborhood diner where I ended up flopping into the booth.  The waitress asked if she could get me anything to drink.  “Water,” I said.  She returned with a large glass of iced water.  As I sucked it down she stood there looking at me.  I was a mess.  She finally asked if everything was okay.  I explained who I was, what I was doing, and that my knees were killing me.  She told me that it sounded like I had torn something in my knee.  My initial thought was “What makes you think you know anything about knees?  You’re a waitress for gosh sakes.”  But instead I asked why she would say that.  She said she had done a cross-country trip a few years ago and one of her team members had torn his ACL on the trip.  He was riding one day without pain, and the next day he could barely walk.  She then told me where their local hospital was, took my order and went about her business. 

After a delicious meal, I rode over to the hospital’s ER.  After a 2 hour wait I was finally seen by the doctor.  The news was not good.  I hadn’t torn my ACL, but I had what looked like a bad case of knee tendon bursitis.  I was ordered to rest and given anti-inflammatories.  I was to be seen again in a week to see if there was any improvement.  A week showed slight improvement, but the doctor ordered me to continue with my rest and inactivity for 3 more weeks.  The good news about this downtime was I was able to start using some of that fabric that I had just purchased in Spokane.  This downtime was just what I needed and I’m forever grateful to all the wonderful people who have helped me out along this journey.  It truly seems that there’s still a lot of people who care for others in a day and age where it seems we are only concerned about money and power. 

And in my real world some of this story is slightly true.  I recently found myself hobbling worse than my 82 year old mother.  Not knowing if I had actually torn something, I quit riding my bike until I was able to see a doctor.  Of course it took me 2 ½ months to make that appointment.  Thankfully I only have arthritic knees with bone spurs.  The bike riding I was doing is actually good for them so back on my bike I go.  It feels like I’m starting this trip all over again for I find myself having new found energy with some hope that this riding will again give me back my legs so that I don’t feel like I’m going to fall with every step I take. 

I know that God made us in His image and likeness.  He doesn’t want us to abuse our bodies the way so many of us do.  This latest health issue was my wake-up call that tells me to get off the couch, put down those chips, and get some good overall exercise.  I don’t want to end up like my mother who uses a walker and is so tottery that she can’t leave the house without supervision and she’s tethered to one of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” buttons.  I am feeling now like I felt back in the mid 80’s regarding not wanting to become like my parents.  

I come from a family of heavy drinkers.  It was nothing for any of us to crack open a beer at 9:00 in the morning and sometimes earlier I’m now ashamed to say.  Drinking came first in our lives.  If we were going on a vacation, the beer was the first thing we’d pack.  If we went to visit family who lived a mere 2 hours away, we’d have a 6 pack drank before we got to their house.  Imagine all the drinking and driving that went on back then.  It scares me to think about it now, but it scared me back then too.  Not because I was afraid of getting picked up for DUI, but because I had times where I’d remember getting into the car at my folk’s house and the next thing I’d consciously remember was getting out of the car at my house.  We are talking driving unconsciously for 8-10 blocks.  I’d sober up enough to circle the car to make sure I hadn’t hit anything.  My guardian angel must really love me because I kept him busy back then.  

By my late 20’s I started seeing just how bad my parent’s drinking had gotten and knew that I was drinking way more at my age than they had when they had been my age.  My mother always looked bedraggled and unkempt and my father was wasting away because all he did was drink, he never ate.  I finally told myself that if I didn’t quit drinking I would end up like them or worse, I’d end up in jail for killing someone because I was driving drunk. 

For probably a year every day I’d wake up and say “Today is the day that I quit drinking.”  I’d do great all day long simply because I was at work, but then I’d come home and the first thing I’d do was to look in the fridge for a beer.  So much will power I had.  Yeah, right!  But the notion of quitting remained with me. 

In 1986 I moved from my home town to Denver to work for my cousin’s company.  Her boyfriend and I would share the beer buying expenses since we were about the only ones in the house who drank beer.  It got to a point, though, where I was doing more of the buying.  I guess her boyfriend figured that was one way of getting some extra rent money out of me.  Well, one snowy Sunday my cousin and her boyfriend decided to go workout at a local gym.  They asked me to go along, but I said I preferred to stay at home and work on crafts.  I decided to have some beers.  I probably had 4 while the 2 of them were at the gym.  When they returned, the boyfriend made a big production over how many beers I had drank.  I chose to ignore him.  Then he started drinking his share.  

Later in the evening I decided to have one more beer.  I went to the refrigerator and noticed that there were 2 beers left.  I thought to myself “Thank God there are 2 beers left.  I’ll have one and that leaves one for him.”  When he came back upstairs for that final beer he opened the refrigerator and said “One beer left.  Well, were you being nice or did you finally decide you were a drunk.”  I said nothing, but I thought long and hard about what he said.  He called me a drunk.  He didn’t say “did you decide you were drunk” he said I was a drunk.  It bothered me because I never saw myself as being a drunk.  To me a drunk was one of those homeless people who panhandle for a little whiskey money.  I thought “I’m not one of them.”  Then I thought “Do others see me that way?  Is this how Mom and Dad got as bad as they are?”  I didn’t like the image in my head and the only way I knew how to change that image was to truly quit drinking.  So on February 22, 1987 I had taken my last drink. 

The boyfriend finally asked me after a month why I wasn’t buying any beer.  I told him I had quit.  He laughed and said “I bet my entire wealth that you’ll never make it to 2 months.”  I should have taken him up on that bet because I’ve been sober ever since.  I can’t imagine my life anymore being controlled by drinking.  And I’m forever grateful to my cousin’s ex-boyfriend for saying that one letter word that gave me the will power to quit drinking.  One little word changed my life – “a”.  Through the grace of God, He placed that one little word in that sentence that my cousin’s boyfriend said and I was given a new beginning on life.  I had broken that cycle of drinking that my parents had unconsciously shown me was the way to live. 

I think God is giving me another new beginning now.  I know I need to take advantage of this gift that God has disguised as arthritic knees.  I know at some point in the future these knees will have to be replaced, but if I can be in a lot better shape and weigh a lot less that should make my recovery time a lot easier.  And I know by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program with this new beginning I’ve been given, I will NOT end up like my mother needing that walker by the time I’m 82.  So take advantage of those gifts that God gives us, the gifts of new beginnings.  Through God, all things are possible. 

May God bless you all and let’s keep going the distance.

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Bits and Pieces

May 24, 2011 · Filed under Health · Tagged , , ,

I found a quilter’s haven in Spokane so I decided to stay awhile and check out this fine city.  After doing some checking around, I decided my best bet for a long stay was at the Park Lane Motel, Suites & RV Park.  As I was checking in the park manager asked if I was the lady riding across the country on a bike.  I told him I was indeed that crazy lady and that this trip has opened up my eyes to a whole new world of people out there.  We had a nice visit about how we get caught up in our own lives and tend to ignore things going on around us.  He then asked how long I’d be staying.  I told him that I was feeling a bit fatigued and since there was a bunch of quilting stores I wanted to visit, I thought my stay here would be at least a week, but as it eventually turned out I spent almost a month there.  He offered me a maid service job in exchange for my stay there and any hours worked over 20 hours I’d get paid $8.25 an hour.  I figured that was a fair deal so I took him up on this offer. 

I got myself settled in my studio apartment then went to learn all of what I’d be doing as a maid.  Having done this type of work before, I found it to be much the same routine.  It is hard work, but rewarding and it was paying for my room so that was good. 

At the end of my day I walked to the Costco and bought some foods that I could quickly prepare in my tiny kitchen.  Over the next few weeks I checked out the many quilt stores and the rest of this fine town.  I found each quilt store to have something unique, but there was one store that would change my life forever. 

As I entered the A Heart Like Yours Quilt Shop I found an elderly woman showing off a beautifully made quilt to the shop owner.  Not wanting to disturb their conversation I quickly rounded a rack of fabrics and began my search for new and exciting fabrics.  As I moved through the store I kept hearing bits and pieces of their conversation.  I suddenly realized that the elderly woman was trying to sell her quilt to the store owner, that this quilt had been made by her grandmother, and that she had meticulously cared for it for all these years.  The store owner kept telling her that she wasn’t in the market for antique quilts and that the woman would be better off going to an antique store to try to sell it. 

The elderly woman, whose name I would find out soon was Margaret, seemed exasperated with the store owner.  As she carefully folded the quilt and the store owner went off to help a different customer I approached Margaret.  I asked if I could see this fine quilt.  It was exquisite with lots of applique, something I hated doing, with intricate lace work.  I told Margaret that I had overheard that her grandmother had made it, but that I hadn’t heard if it was made for her or if it was something that was handed down to her.  She told me that the quilt was made for her mother’s wedding gift and that when she had gotten married her mother gave it to her.  Being the snoop that I am I asked Margaret why she wasn’t giving it to any of her children.  Margaret explained that the only child she had died at birth and that she had been unable to have any more children.  I pressed her for more information asking why she wanted to sell such an heirloom.  It was at this moment that I was hit with words that cut me right to my core.  

The woman had just lost her husband after a long battle with cancer.  Their insurance company had dropped them claiming that they had been delinquent with their premium payments.  The hospital was demanding payment of over $150,000 and was ready to sue her for payment.  She was forced to sell her house along with most of the furnishings, but she still owed $5000 and the hospital was being relentless.  She said that she didn’t blame the hospital for their aggressive ways because they were hurting financially too.  She just didn’t know where she was going to come up with that final $5000.  

I was close to tears partly because of the woman’s plight, but mostly out of anger with her insurance company, the hospital, and even the store’s owner.  I felt overwhelmed to help this woman, but knew I didn’t have $5000 to give to her.  I at least needed to know what the shop owner felt this quilt was worth.  The store’s owner stated the woman could possibly get a couple thousand dollars if she took it to the right antique store, but she wasn’t sure if any of the antique stores in that area would be willing to pay that much money.  She went on to say that she was trying to convince the woman to hold on to it as it was a family heirloom.  

I returned to Margaret and asked where she was living now that she had sold her home.  She hesitated to tell me, but finally said that she was living in a small storage unit along with the few belongings she had not sold.  I knew that this woman needed a lot more help than just paying off the hospital.  I asked Margaret to come with me that I was going to make sure she got the help she needed. 

We headed back to the RV park.  I found the manager and explained to him what was going on with the woman.  He graciously offered her a room to stay in and asked if she was capable of doing maid work in exchange for the room.  He also contacted the local Catholic Charities there.  The staff at Catholic Charities was able to get Margaret into their Catholic Housing Community and also got the hospital to reduce the amount she owed plus found her a job that wasn’t as taxing as the maid job was.  Margaret was able to keep her heirloom quilt and the few belongings that meant so much to her. 

It would be a few years later that I’d receive a package in the mail containing that beautiful quilt.  There was a note with the quilt that said “Margaret passed away peacefully in the night and that she considered me a daughter to her.”  I was grateful that I had caught bits and pieces of Margaret’s story and had decided to try to help her. 

And in my real life my story isn’t as dramatic, but I must say that God has a way of making our lives bits and pieces of other people’s lives.  I was doing some shopping for my elderly mother at the local Wal-Mart store one Sunday.  The checkout lanes were packed with people standing behind huge carts of groceries.  I kept walking down the aisle looking for the shortest checkout lane.  I finally chose one, but soon realized that I had made a mistake.  My line didn’t seem to be moving. 

I was starting to get frustrated thinking the customers were simply being slow.  I contemplated switching lanes, but remembered every time I had done that in the past the new lane would become the slow lane.  So I stuck it out and stood there impatiently while my legs cramped up on me causing me even more angst.  After an excruciating 15 minute wait I was the next in line.  It was then I realized it was the cashier who was sort of holding up the line with the way she was scanning items.  I wanted to give her a dirty look, but refrained figuring she had enough problems simply being a cashier at Wal-Mart.  I put all my items on the belt when suddenly I heard behind me “is that any good?”  I turned to find the man asking me if something in my basket was any good.  I looked into the basket and soon figured out that he was asking me about the mayonnaise made with olive oil.  I told him that I thought it tasted good, that you really couldn’t taste the olive oil, and that I figured it had to be a little healthier for me. 

We continued to talk about our love of olive oil as the cashier started checking me out.  The cashier quickly got into our conversation.  She said she just loved sautéing vegetables in olive oil and that now that she and her husband finally had a place she’ll be able to do that soon.  I asked her if she just moved to town and was bowled over when she said they had been living out of their car ever since they moved here.  She went on to say they had to move here because she had cancer and was getting treatments here.  I immediately asked if she needed any household items.  She said all they had were the clothes in their suitcases, but that she was so grateful to have a roof over her head.  I told her she needed to call Catholic Charities as we should be able to help her with some household items and possibly some food.  She thanked me over and over again for the information and said she’d call first thing Monday morning. 

As I walked to my car I felt the urge to cry thinking about what she and her husband must be going through.  Then I realized that without my knowing God had directed me to that line, had gotten the guy behind me to ask about bits and pieces of my life, and got the cashier to share bits and pieces of her life.  I prayed that she would follow through with a phone call to Catholic Charities and that we’d be able to help her and her husband get a foot up on life. 

We don’t always know when God is going to tap us on the shoulder and get us involved in other’s lives, but we need to not be afraid to share bits and pieces of our lives with our fellow human beings.  You just never know when what you have to share may change your life and the lives of others forever.  May God bless you all and let’s keep going the distance.

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An Historic Journey

April 21, 2011 · Filed under Health · Tagged , ,

My journey has almost taken me to one of this fine country’s Pacific coastal states.  I’m 18 miles from Spokane, Washington, but I must say that Idaho has certainly delivered with scenery, hospitality, and comfort.

My first stop in Idaho was the city of Mullan, a town rich in mining although I was soon to discover that many towns I’d pass through were also mining towns. 

Wallace, Idaho was my next stop.  As I rode into Wallace I felt déjà vu like I’ve seen this place before.  I soon discovered why I felt this way.  I made my way to the Wallace RV Park and found a brochure proclaiming Wallace as the #1 Hollywood movie site in Idaho not only for Lana Turner being born there, but also by having had films like “Tornado”, “Heaven’s Gate”, and “Dante’s Peak” filmed there.  Having seen “Dante’s Peak” many times I realized that’s why the town looked so familiar.  It’s funny how our minds can file such an image away for years and retrieve it so quickly.  I did some shopping at the Silver Pine Mercantile, a delightful shop that had a vast array of unique items for sale.  I found myself tempted, but managed to only window shop during my stay in Wallace. 

Kellogg, Idaho was my next stop.  As you enter this town you see a sign that reads “This is the town founded by a jackass and inhabited by his descendants.”  I, of course, needed to find out why such a sign would be posted.  I found a local diner and soon found myself in an energetic conversation with the locals about Noah Kellogg, a prospector who founded this fine city.  Legend has it that his donkey wandered off in 1885.  When Kellogg found the donkey he was grazing in an outcropping of galena, a natural mineral form of lead sulfide.  This outcropping became the site for the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mines.  There were many colorful tales to be heard from some of this town’s elders.  It never ceases to amaze me how friendly people can be if we just stop and allow them to be them.  

A tour of Old Mission State Park capped off my trip through this region before arriving in the last town of Idaho on this route.  The Sacred Heart Mission is the oldest building in Idaho and was built without using a single nail.  This mission was started by Fr. Pierre-Jean De Smet, Fr. Nicholas Point, and Br. Charles Duet at the request of the Coeur D’Alene Indians.  My visit here was well worth the time. 

As I peddled on towards Coeur d’Alene I enjoyed the feel of spring, the quiet of the forest, and the closeness I felt to God.  The surrounding forest is rugged and dense.  My mind thought about how settlers came through this area in covered wagons hoping to find a new life and the riches of finding gold.  Riding along the edge of I-90 suited me fine because I can only imagine how many people lost their lives striving for a new life while trying to make it through this forest range. 

Having been through many small towns while making my way through Idaho, it was nice to know that Coeur d’Alene would have the much needed bike specialists to do some maintenance work on my bike and for me to spend some days snooping around and learning more about the history of this town, the Native Americans it was named after, and to see what a little publicity by Barbara Walters calling it “a little slice of Heaven” could do to help bolster the economy here.  At least now the state of Idaho will mean more to me than just a potato state. 

And on the real side of this trip it has once again taken me longer to go through the state of Idaho than I had hoped as I continue to deal with health issues.  Not serious ones, but ones that require doctor appointments that seem to drain me of my energy.  I have been told that I have the beginnings of one of the health issues that eventually took my father’s life.  It was a true eye-opener making me realize that one shouldn’t wait to lose weight after the body has been stressed by the excess weight it has carried for so many years.  This health news took me on a historical journey back in time to the days when my father was alive, healthy, and vibrant.  I thought about things we did together as a family, vacations we went on, Sunday excursions, and sitting around the kitchen table on a blustery winter Saturday playing cards.  This journey made me realize just how important and precious life is.  It has impressed upon me the importance of making my virtual bike trip a priority in my life and that healthy eating is that much more important now. 

Like those settlers who trekked through the Coeur d’Alene forest searching for a new life, I find myself realizing that for the past 2 years I have been creating the basis for a new and healthier life by continuing on this biking journey, virtual though it is.  I hope, with this new information on my health, that I stay motivated to ride my bike every day even if it’s only a mile or two.  Like a former co-worker told me when I complained about only having 15-20 minutes to work on a quilt, her comment to me was “You add up all those 15-20 minutes and pretty soon your quilt will be done.”  If I add up each of those miles I do each day, I will eventually reach my goal and hopefully will find myself a whole lot thinner and healthier. 

So take an historical journey in your own life and think about what it was like growing up, what things you enjoyed, what things you’d like to change, and where you see yourself in the future.  You may find yourself saying “I don’t want to end up like Dad did” and then doing something to prevent the same mistakes he made.  Eating healthier has become my new P L A N along with going the distance on this virtual trip of mine.  May God bless you all.

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All Good Things Must Come to an End

February 22, 2011 · Filed under Health, Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

As with all good things, an end comes at some point.  No, my trip has not ended, but my money came to an end.  I found myself in Drummond Montana with depleted funds and in desperate need of a job.  I knew that I had enough money left to buy food and lodging at an RV park for a month, but I didn’t want to continue on the road knowing that my money was dwindling. 

So my first task when I arrived in Drummond was to find an RV park and then a job.   I was a bit concerned knowing that Drummond is a small town of 400 citizens, but I stood in faith that God would direct me as He had done up to this point.  What happened to me could be considered extraordinaire, but is pretty typical of what I found in small towns and by having faith in God.  I stopped by a gas station to inquire about any RV parks and was a bit taken aback when I discovered they only had a city park.  When asked why I was looking for a park I explained my predicament.  To my surprise this town had been waiting for the crazy lady riding across the United States to come through their town.  I was told to go to the Wagon Wheel Café and Motel where I’d be able to get my free lunch.  

I headed over to the Wagon Wheel thinking “a free meal is nice, but what I really need is a job.”  As I approached the Wagon Wheel my eyes immediately gravitated to a sign in the window saying “Help Wanted”.  Could God be this good to me by providing me a free meal and possibly a job?  I would soon find out.  

I entered the restaurant and was immediately greeted by the hostess.  She asked me where I was from and when I explained, her grin seemed as wide as the state of Montana.  “Great, we were hoping that you would stop in our town.  Your meal is on us.”  I thanked her and proceeded to tell her that I was also in need of a temporary job so that I could save some money and continue on my trip.  She seated me at a booth then went to tell the manager of my predicament.  The manager was soon seated across from me asking me what my talents were.  I explained that I had mostly done administrative work, but that I was also experienced with cleaning as I had my own cleaning business for a few years and also cleaned condo units while living in Aspen.  He asked if I had any experience cooking.  I told him I was a good cook, but that I hadn’t worked in a restaurant kitchen since my high school days.  He grinned and said I was exactly what he was looking for and that I had a job for as long as I needed to stay.  He also said that housing would not be an issue because he had a small cottage behind his home that he’d let me stay in.  

I got myself settled in and the next day I began working at my newest job.  My time at the Wagon Wheel allowed me to meet some great people who know the meaning of treating people right.  The staff was always happy and it showed with the work they did.  Rooms were always immaculate and the clientele would always comment on how surprised they were and how they’d make this their stop each and every time they’d come through this way.  Despite the lousy economy across this country, this small Montana town still knew how to keep business going. 

I have been so blessed on this trip of mine and I know that God is truly a great God.  I believe that my faith in God has led me on this trip and continues to lead me through life.  I spent 2 months there before I felt I had enough funds built back up to make it to the west coast.  I know that I’ll need to find jobs along the way, but I also realize that faith in God and the goodness you receive back from God is the one good thing that does not come to an end.  It grows as we grow.  And it’s through this faith in God that I’m able to continue my trek across this great country of ours.

 And in my real world, faith in God gives me the strength to deal with the sorrow of having to put my dog down, deal with the issues of caring for my elderly mother, dealing with my own health issues, and working for a non-profit that struggles with these economic times just as our clients struggle to make ends meet.  It is this faith that has kept me going forward on this virtual bike ride of mine.  I have never stuck with any exercise program as long as I have this one.  It is true that it’s taken me several months to get across one state and I did take a lot of time off during these past several months to regroup and deal with the issues of life.  But it is through my faith in God that has kept me focused on my goal and has given me the drive to continue.  I don’t beat myself up for taking so many days off or for taking so long to make it through Montana on this virtual ride.  I see this as a huge accomplishment. 

As I say my daily prayers I always include those whose faith may not be so strong.  I ask that God inspire them, motivate them, and help them through all their needs.  We all cannot be famous heroes that will be written about and remembered for years to come, but we all have a place here on this fine earth.  God finds us to all be heroes and He is there for us each and every day, giving us the direction we need.  All we have to do is ask for His help.  And that’s what I’ve done these past several months as I struggled to maintain this bike ride experience.  

Now that I’m in Idaho I find new motivation to keep going the distance.  Let us all find the faith we need to keep going the distance in our daily lives.  May God bless you all.

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A Will to Survive

October 12, 2010 · Filed under Health · Tagged , , ,

I was told by residents of Three Forks to make Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park my next stop on this trip of mine.  They highly recommended taking the cave tour and promised I would not be disappointed.  They were right.  The cave tour was fabulous and although I’ve taken other cave tours, this one amazed me because of all the life that lives in these caves.  To be able to adapt your life to total darkness and survive was astounding to me.  It made me think about all those who are afflicted with blindness and have adapted so well to life in this world.  God truly gives us a will to survive any and all situations.

After a good nights stay in one of the cabins at this state park, I pointed my bike towards Butte, Montana.  This city is not only rich in mining history, but has survived many of the hazards that go along with mining like heavy metal in the ground.  I must admit this has probably been the most unimpressive town I’ve been through on this trip, but in my survival mode I decided to see what this town had to offer beside its mining history.  I toured the Dumas Brothel Museum considered to be America’s longest running house of prostitution.  I stayed at the Copper King Mansion which was the home of William Andrews Clark.  And I toured the Berkeley Pit which is the huge open pit copper mine now filled with toxic water.

What I discovered in this town was not so much a true tourist town, but a town filled with wonderful people who continued to live life through all the adversities this town has had.  They’ve embraced the good and the bad and have survived to lead good lives.  And although I was glad to be away from a town where the water may or may not be good for you, I was glad to have had the experience of spending some time in this town.

And survival in my real life seems to be surrounding me.  I have my Irish setter who is dying of cancer, but to look at him you’d never know it.  He continues to enjoy playing with his stuffed toys, he eats well, and he still has that sparkle in his eyes letting me know that he’s not ready to go yet.  You have my mother who lost her best friend, my father, in 2004.  I feared then that she would give up on life, but 6 years later she continues to live life with as much gusto as an 81 year old woman can have.  I look at 2 of my nieces whose fiancés are in the military; one stationed in Iraq until next year and the other being stationed back east for 3 years.  These 2 nieces have accepted living apart from them as so many other military spouses have learned to deal with.  And our fine military gives so wholeheartedly to give us the freedoms we have in this country.  They exemplify a will to survive. 

And finally, working here at Catholic Charities we see clients who face survival issues daily.  Sometimes I get the feeling that these people see themselves as being failures.  That would be incorrect.  They are strong-willed fighters who survive much more than most of us could even imagine having to deal with.

 My prayers go out to my mother, my nieces and their fiancés, our military, and all of Catholic Charities’ clients plus my dog.  May they continue to survive the obstacles placed before each of them.  And may we all continue to go the distance.  God bless you all.

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The Next Phase

September 20, 2010 · Filed under Health

It seems I’ve been hit with the summer blues. My travels haven’t taken me far from Bozeman, but I continue to make slow progress towards the Montana/Idaho border.

My first stop after leaving Bozeman was Manhattan Montana. As I approached this town it felt like I was riding into a Hollywood movie scene because the town just looked so idyllic of what people who have never been to Montana think Montana looks like. And, as I soon discovered, this town is a little Mecca for that artsy crowd that I so love. I knew I’d be spending some time in this town. And as I walked around the town visiting the different shops, I found myself thinking “Could I live in a place like this?” My answer was yes then I began to wonder if that was what this trip was more about; finding my next phase in life.

Knowing I still had well over 200 miles to go to get to Idaho, I bid farewell to Manhattan and rode on to Three Forks, Montana. It is here where the Missouri River begins and it was fun to see where the river I grew up by got its start. I felt a tug at my heart to get back to Omaha, Nebraska, but knew that phase of my life was over.

Three Forks offered so much to do there that I ended up staying 4 days. It was a much needed rest for me and gave me time to think about all those phases in life I’ve experienced. While I was trout fishing on the Missouri River, I thought of my childhood living in Nebraska. The memories of spending time on my grandparent’s farm or camping with my cousins are firmly etched into my brain. My parents, although never rich, provided a good, healthy upbringing sheltering us from the trials and tribulations they faced each day. It felt like we were millionaires and to some degree we were; rich in love. There have also been phases in my life that I choose not to remember so clearly although the memories are forever there, but for the most part, my life has been a very blessed life. Where my bike takes me on this trip around the country is definitely a part of the next phase in this life of mine.

And in my real life, I often find myself pondering where I’ve been, what I’m doing now, and where God will lead me next. These ponderings became even stronger last week when I was able to connect with a former client of Catholic Charities allowing me to be able to give her the money that was donated to us for her when her daughter had been severely bitten by a dog and she was new to Colorado Springs. She had said that until that very moment of receiving this money, she didn’t know how she was going to buy supper for that night. Now she had enough to buy a couple of weeks of groceries. It warmed my heart to know that a little extra effort on my part maybe helped this woman to enter a better phase in her life.

And thinking about those future phases of my life, I have notions about retiring in Chadron, Nebraska some day, but who knows if that’s part of God’s plan for me. I take each phase in my life lightly, cherish the fond memories I have of each phase, and wait for signs from God as to where He wants me next. For it’s through my faith in God that has brought me to this phase and it will be God’s direction that takes me to the next phase. May your phases in life be as joyous as mine have been and may we all keep going the distance.

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Just another Montana Town or Is It?

August 31, 2010 · Filed under Health, Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

The summer heat beating off the asphalt of the highway can be suffocating at times, but I must say the scenery around me helps keep my mind off the increasing temperatures. I’ve learned to pack enough water to get me from town to town so I don’t dehydrate myself. And as I look towards Bozeman’s city limits I’m grateful that I’ll be off the road for even just a day.

Bozeman looked like it was going to be just another one of those Montana towns, and for the most part it was, but as I’ve found so many times on this crazy trip of mine there’s always that one person that will leave a mark on your life forever. And that person came from a most unexpected person, a college student with pink and yellow hair and a chain going from her ear to her nose ring.

I met this young gal at a local restaurant I was eating at. She overheard me asking my waitress if I could replenish my water bottles. My waitress, in that oh-so-kind way and I am being sarcastic, told me that I’d have to buy my water at a grocery store like everyone else. I thought to myself “whatever!” and figured this gal probably hated her job, hated her life, or was just having a lousy day. So I gave her my order and went about my business of figuring out how to get to the park at which I was supposed to be staying.

That’s when Carin came up to me and said “Don’t mind her, she’s always a crab. I don’t know why they don’t fire her.” Well, she actually ended her sentence with an expletive but I’ve decided not to print that. Anyway, Carin told me she’d be happy to fill my water jugs then asked where I was from. I told her my tale of trekking across the United States on a bike. She just thought that was the coolest idea. She asked where I stayed while traveling. I told her that I had camping gear, but there were times I’d stay in hotels or cabins just to get off the ground. When I told her where I was supposed to be staying that night she looked at me horrified.

“You don’t want to stay there. Not only is it a pretty bad place as far as the possibility of being robbed, but they’ve had a lot of reports of wild animals. You look like such a nice lady, I’d hate for you to get a bad impression of this town because of where you stayed.”

I smiled at her thinking how nice she was to forewarn me, but I think she took my smile as an old person thinking this young thing with a chain hanging off her face was yanking my chain. Carin said, “I know I’ve probably already given you a bad impression, what with my hair color and this,” pointing to the chain, “but believe me you don’t want to stay there.” I told her I was thinking nothing of the kind, that I was thanking God that He brought her to me. Carin was the one taken aback this time for she said “You are the first person your age who hasn’t made fun of me. I mean not like I was saying you’re old, but more like someone who’s older than me.” She made me think of my nieces who often times changed the color of their hair and would have more earrings in their ears than I owned. I asked her if I could give her a hug. She obliged me, then went on to tell me about the Silver Creek Cabins which weren’t too far from where I was supposed to stay, but was a lot safer and a whole lot more scenic. She got me their number which I called half expecting them to say they were booked up, but to my astonishment they had an opening.

As I sat in my cabin that night watching the news, they talked about a bear attack at the park I was supposed to be staying at. When they showed pictures of this park I was horrified, as Carin said I would be, of the condition of the park. I guess you can’t believe everything you see on-line. I looked around this fabulous cabin and thanked God for sending this little sweetheart my way and giving me the guidance and direction I needed to keep me safe. It impressed upon me that we can’t look at anyone from the outside only. Like the old saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover.

My waitress fit the mold of someone who looked like she was caring, well groomed, well dressed, and spoke articulately, but she was nothing more than a mean, nasty person. I can say that because I saw her yelling at a family whose toddler had spilt some food on the floor and was telling them that she was tired of having to clean up after other people’s rugrats. If you saw Carin on the street your mind would automatically think, drug user, smart mouthed hoodlum, but after talking more with Carin before leaving the restaurant I found out that she also worked with special needs children at a local agency, she sang in her church choir, and she was attending college to become a counselor/social worker for the elderly and disabled. It takes a good heart to take on like that  a life commitment.

And in my real world I’ve run across a lot of people who have surprised me by being someone they didn’t look like. How many of us have run across that person who talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk; those smooth talkers who are dressed to the nine’s, drive the smart vehicles, and talk with a finesse that could astound Webster. And then you find out that they’ve cheated on their spouse, bilked their employer, sold or used drugs, or any other immoral act and did so in the name of God.

I’ve learned to not judge a person by the way they look or act. We must get to know people before making an opinion about them. It may be some bum on a street corner who pulls you back from stepping out in front of a turning car, or it may be a high school student wearing all black and looking angry who comes to your rescue when your car breaks down, or it may be a foreigner who looks suspicious who steps in when that smooth talker tries to cheat you out of something. We need to remember that God has placed each and every one of us on this earth and expects us to treat each person with dignity. It doesn’t matter to God how good you look, how much money you’ve attained, how famous you are. What does matter to God is how well you treated people here on earth and how you lived your life. May we all treat each other with dignity and live our lives according to God’s plan.

And, as always, let’s keep going the distance!

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Dreams Do Come True

August 10, 2010 · Filed under Health · Tagged , , , , , ,

It seems my new bike has energized me as I’m making better progress getting across this massive state. I entered Livingston Montana in the early afternoon on Thursday and knew instantly that I would be spending some time in this town of almost 7000. As awesome as the views of the majestic Rockies are from Livingston, it wasn’t that which made me know I’d be staying here for a few days.

As I rode my bike through town my eyes connect with a store front that was beckoning me. Huge rainbow trout adorn the front of this building and the “Open” sign seemed to pull me in. Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop is a store I knew would be able to help me realize a dream of mine: fly fishing.

I had always wanted to take fly fishing classes while living in Aspen Colorado, but I never got that job done. I just knew today was the day I’d sign up to fulfill this dream. So I parked my bike and went inside. The place was a fisherman’s dream come true. This store had everything you could imagine. I was as excited to see the array of fishing items as I am when walking into a new quilt store.

I soon found what I was looking for; the sign-up sheet for a fly fishing excursion with fly fishing lessons. I promptly made my reservation before any fears of mine would wake up halting me from taking this trip like it did those years I lived in Aspen. I was shown the equipment that I’d be using and was told that if I liked fly fishing I’d be getting a 20% discount on all new items purchased after the trip. I was also told about their classes on fly making. With my crafty mindset, I knew this was a class for me.

Once I completed all reservations for the next couple of day’s events, I checked into the Murray Hotel. This was a hotel where such celebrities as Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane stayed. The accommodations were mind-boggling with marble stairways, hardwood floors, and rooms that were sometimes bigger than apartments I lived in. Of course, since it was just me, I chose a nice standard guest room. The price was better than some chain hotels I’ve stayed in.

After a nice meal at the 2nd Street Bistro Restaurant inside the Murray Hotel, I went back to my room where I lay in anticipation for my trip and classes. It took awhile for my mind to shut off, but I did manage to get some much needed sleep. And the next day’s fly lesson and excursion was everything they said it would be. I was taken to the river where “A River Runs Through It” was filmed. Hollywood does a great job of highlighting the beauty of certain areas of the country, but I must say they don’t hold a candle to what God has truly given to us.

The water was crisp, clear, and cold, but with the temperatures hitting the 90’s the water felt good. I had difficulties with my fly casting at first, but after a couple of pointers from the guides I felt like a pro even though I knew I was nowhere close to being one. I was beginning to think that this would only be a lesson in casting, but suddenly I felt a tug on my line. The guide helped me land a 14 inch rainbow trout. I could taste that fish already although I knew this was a catch and release trip. After my trip was over, I did indeed buy some fly fishing gear and hoped that future rivers on my cross-country trip would give me fresh fish to eat and enjoy.

My fly making class was just as fun and Dan Bailey’s Fly Fishing business got a few more dollars out of me. It was amazing how one could make an insect out of some silk, feathers, a hook, and a few other items. I’m a sucker when it comes to crafting things and I knew I was hooked, no pun intended.

After spending 3 days and a lot of money in Livingston, I knew that I needed to be on my way. I was grateful for the experiences I had in Livingston and knew that I would be back there some day.

And as my real life continues on, I think back on all the dreams I have had and am amazed at how many have come true. I also think about how many of those dreams started out as a prayer for I think prayers are sometimes no more than us asking God to help us achieve dreams we have in life. And God working His powers on prayers/dreams became very evident in my life when I found myself getting laid off after 8 years of service at a local check printing company. It was a heart wrenching day in February, 2004, but I decided to go through their call center training at a much lower rate of pay to avoid having to search for a new job. The fear of doing something new kept me from searching for a new job just as my fear of learning fly fishing years ago kept me from ever taking those lessons.

After going through 5 weeks of call center training, I soon began to realize what a hard job customer service in a call center was. My nerves were shot each and every day. My self-esteem was plummeting. I knew I needed to get out because I knew my best was never going to be good enough for that company. I knew I needed to face my fear and find a new job and soon a dream began to form. I knew the type of job I wanted and I knew how much longer I could stand working for this company that seemed to hold so little regard for their employees. I asked God to guide me to that job where my talents would be used and I’d be treated as a child of God.

Each day I would go home and search the internet for possible jobs. I was concerned about how long it would take me to find a different job more suited to my talents. My mother told me not to get my hopes up, but I told her that God just had to listen to me.

When I saw the ad for an administrative assistant at Catholic Charities I thanked God because I knew that was the job for me. I applied for the job on that Monday, was interviewed on Thursday, offered the job that afternoon, and went to my soon to be ex-job on Friday tendering my resignation. I went home after saying good-bye to people I had grown fond of and knew, without a doubt, that God had been beside me, helping me along this bumpy path in my life. He had helped me overcome my fears, He had guided me towards the job of my dreams, and He had made it work out exactly as I had hoped it would.

My faith in God, in my prayers, and in myself grew immensely during that period of my life. I think it’s having faith that helps dreams come true. And Hebrews 11:1 states this with clarity: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see and the conviction of their reality. It is my faith that keeps me strong and moving forward knowing that a bump in the road is just a bump and that God is there beside me.

And one more note, I no longer desire to learn fly fishing not out of fear, but for 2 reasons. I’m not a fan of catch and release which most fly fishing lessons are, but more importantly I’m not a fan of killing any living creature. I love fish, I love meats, but I just don’t have it in me to end any creature’s life. I’ll buy my fish and meats in those nice little plastic trays covered in plastic.

May God bless you all and let’s keep going the distance.

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A Little Garden of Eden

July 28, 2010 · Filed under Health · Tagged , , ,

It’s been over a year since I started this crazy trip. I thought I’d be further along, but I’ve realized just how big this country is. It seems like I’ve been in Montana forever with another 398 miles more to go before I get to Idaho, but the good thing is I have majestic mountains to look at to the west and south and a grand prairie to the north and east.

All in all this has been a good state to be in and riding into Big Timber Montana was no different.  My newly tricked out bike has been a true blessing. I didn’t realize how bad the old bike had gotten until I set out on the road with my new gear. And with the trailer on the back I knew that I’d have room to stop at the Little Timber Quilt shop. The staff was so friendly and helpful. I truly wanted to spend way more than I did, but knew this would become a problem with trailer room if I filled it up with tons of fabric.

One gal helping me with my selections made some great suggestions for making this traveling quilt and helped me buy the fabric needed to chart my course on this quilt. Then, in true small town hospitality, they gave me suggestions on the best places to stay and eat in town. Of course I ended up at the Grand Hotel where I enjoyed a fabulous dinner with locally grown produce and meat. The sleeping accommodations were more than I could ask for. And it was fun snooping around this fully restored 1890’s saloon. Feeling the need to get to know these people better, I chose to stay a few days longer.

I took a horseback ride from Gallatin National Forest through Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Area. The serene feeling I got while plodding along the trail brought me closer to God than I have ever felt. The honesty and integrity of every person living in this area was right there in front of me. There were no airs put on by anyone I met. No one boasted about what they had and what others didn’t have. It was as if I rode into the Garden of Eden where everything was perfect.

But as we all know, nothing on earth is perfect. I knew that this town faced harsh winters and many were feeling the hard economic times that so many other small towns are facing. Those that weren’t hurting as bad didn’t have a whole lot, but it didn’t seem to matter to any of the residents of Big Timber. They seemed content with the lives they led. And it made me think that maybe that’s what America’s problem truly is. It’s not that the economy is so bad, but that we’ve all gotten so greedy about what we think we need to survive that it brings about discontentment.

Here was a town where the houses were nice, but none were the huge monstrosities that line the mountainsides of Aspen. Many had clothes hanging on clothes lines in back yards bringing back memories of those crisp fresh smelling sheets that my grandmother used to put on all her beds. Those were simpler times and this town was still living that way.

It is that simpler lifestyle that has brought me to this point in my trip. I realized that the feeling of closeness to God I had on that horse ride was merely that I had left behind all the things that I thought I needed to survive which ultimately became my burden. Now I’m not condemning those who have more, but what I’m saying is we need to be content with what we have and to live within our means.

And back in my real world I’ve experienced the pain of over-extending myself, but I thank God I had family who were able to help. It is that reason why I was so willing to help my sister and her husband recently when they found themselves without jobs and were unable to secure another job for months. I don’t know what Big Timber is really like, but I would hope that it has some semblance of what I envision it to be like. It would be nice if all of us were able to free ourselves of some of the material burdens we carry with us allowing us more time to spend with family and friends. It would be nice if there was not animosity between upper, middle, and lower classes of people. It would be nice if our government leaders would work together to make this the greatest nation on earth.

But this is reality and we will always have those who have and those who have not but want to have. We will always have disparity between races, religions, and politics. That’s what this earthly life is all about. We do not live in the Garden of Eden. But what we need to do is to ensure that we are not allowing our life to be a living hell. We need to be happy and content with what we have and if one wants more then we need to work for it. Riches and happiness is not a given just like respect is not a given. We get back what we give. So take some time to assess your life and ask yourself “Am I giving of myself enough? Could I be doing more to make my life a happier more fulfilling life?” And may the answers to those questions take you to a place similar to my idea of life in Big Timber Montana; to your own version of the Garden of Eden. And as always God’s love and peace to you all and let’s keep going the distance.

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