Native American prayer cloths adorn a weathered tree on Black Elk Peak, South Dakota. Photo by Steve Martaindale
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I HAVE FOUR more travel stories contributed by readers (one by Leah!) that I will post here Friday. However, there’s still plenty of time for you to submit yours. Go to this link, which explains what I’m talking about, and fill out the form with your memory.
Here’s one more from me and it highlights South Dakota.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Photo by Steve Martaindale
Wednesday, I asked readers to submit memories they had from one of six particular states (having not been to one of those states, they could choose another). Following are the first contributions. I will post more as I can. Go to the previous post, Memories, and send us one of your own.
Catherine South Dakota
I visited South Dakota on a trip across the country with my parents in the summer just shy of my 16th birthday. We did the obligatory cross-country road trip piled into a car together for 3.5 weeks. SD was early in the trip which stretched across the northern states all the way to California and then circled back through the south.
Making a grand entry into our 50th state — Wisconsin — in September 2015.
Play a game with me. It’s easy and everyone is a winner. (No trophies included, but feel free to design your own.)
I ran a random U.S. state name generator (you can find anything on the Internet) that produced these six names: (1) West Virginia, (2) Wisconsin, (3) Iowa, (4) New Mexico, (5) North Carolina, and (6) South Dakota.
Pretty random, huh?
Here’s the game: pick one of those states and share with us an in-person memory you have of that state, preferably not one in which you’ve lived. Make it as short or long as you desire.
And remember, everyone’s a winner, so if you’ve never been to any of those states, pick another.
Traveling always involves taking a risk. This fallen rock in Australia surely hampered traffic a bit, but things were clearing up by the time we arrived. May it soon be so of the coronavirus epidemic. I’m ready to hit the road. What are you anxious to do? Share in the comments.
Today is Towel Day. Fans of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – Douglas Adams’ five-book “trilogy” – recognize the importance of towels as a tool of those hitchhiking the universe.
Oh, if only a good towel could solve the COVID-19 problem for us. Perhaps we’ll find the answer to be 42.
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So, how are you doing? We’re mostly sane, having embraced self-containment and limited social interaction as an acceptable price for protecting our health and helping shield others. However, one’s mind can’t help but wander, even if the body cannot. Maybe that helps us deal with what we must go through.
What is at the top of your list?
Where do you want to go once you’re able? Who do you want to hug? What do you want to do?
Me, I have a hankering to get behind the wheel of the car and just start driving. I don’t know where. If I felt it safe to leave tomorrow, I might roll a die to determine which direction to head.
Seriously, tell us what you want to do. In preferably two sentences or more, give as much detail as your imagination allows. Use the “Leave a comment” section below or on one of our social media sites.
And, another nugget of hitchhiker advice: “Don’t panic.”
Please note this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
THE ORIGIN OF Dream Chasing 101 must be credited to the dozens, likely hundreds, of friends and strangers over the years who have bombarded us with questions and statements of disbelief that such a lifestyle was practical and achievable.
Some months ago, we decided to publish a series of booklets about pursuing one’s dreams. Since our knowledge is built around chasing our own wishes, that takes the central storyline. However, it is our hope that others who may be hesitant about pushing forward for what they want will find some inspiration, maybe even some direction, within our experiences.
Davis Mountains State Park in West Texas holds a special spot in our family history. A life-changing accident ended up changing life in good ways. Times are good, even when they’re not. (Photo by Steve Martaindale)
Today marks eight weeks – 56 days – since Leah and I did anything “normal.” On March 13, we saw a movie (“The Way Back,” starring Ben Affleck, I gave it seven stars) at an 11 a.m. showing, when there were maybe eight other people scattered around the theater.
This afternoon, I opened two beers, a bock for her and a Scotch style ale for me. As we prepared to clink the bottles, she looked up and waited as I briefly considered a toast.
“Times!” I said. To be honest, though, there was no exclamation point in my voice.
“Not ‘good’ times?” she asked.
“‘All’ times,” I replied, maybe with a slight exclamation point.
I saw something the other day lamenting the fact that many kegs of beer have been stranded at sports venues, restaurants, convention centers and the like due to the rapid onset of shutdowns in wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Tragic.
Then I came across a feature story from the Eastern Arizona Courier newspaper in Safford, Ariz., about some folks who are making some dough off the situation.
Everyone is lining up for the looming publication of the Dream Chasing 101 booklet series. Make sure you’re following this page for email notification of the release and all posts or at least follow on Facebook and/or Twitter. This photo by Steve Martaindale was taken in March 2019 on Lake Chapala in western central Mexico. The American white pelicans visited the country’s largest lake while migrating north for the summer.
Point One: The launch of our Dream Chasing 101 booklet series was delayed due to the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two: Initially, the pause seemed a good idea because all focus was on the coronavirus.
Three: The “real world” has pretty much been put on hold while the disease runs its course and humans (well, many humans) attempt to minimize the casualties.
Four: What we’re beginning to see now is the formation of new realities. More working and schooling from home, increased respect and rewards for service providers whose importance was once minimized, necessity of a substantial healthcare foundation for all, a valid need for dependable and widespread Internet availability … among beginners.
Summation: Maybe chasing dreams is now more important than ever.
Conclusion: Stand by for publication of the Dream Chasing 101 seven-part series very soon.
Why now?
While we’re collectively looking forward to getting back to “normal,” we must realize that it might, indeed, be a “new normal.”
Jobs, schools, transportation, entertainment, socializing, religious services, medical care, economics … just how far will transformations go? So, if anything and everything might be subject to change, now just might be the best time for us to consider positioning our lives to move in a new direction.
A good bit of what you will read in the forthcoming booklet series is colored with having a good attitude, making the best of situations and finding happiness where you are.
Right now, we find ourselves sheltering in place, Friday marking two weeks since anything but necessary business outside of our home. Well, since our current RV park is in the country, we have enjoyed walks two or three times a day.
Wednesday, however, we did something extra special … still within the safety of our home.
Mount Rushmore at sunrise. Photo by Steve Martaindale
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” goes the line adapted from Robert Burns.
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,” said John Lennon.
“Man plans, God laughs,” according to a Yiddish proverb (Mann traoch, Gott Lauch).
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In the last post, one week ago, I laid out our 9-month-old plans for a cruise with six friends from Chile through the Panama Canal to Florida. We had been doing a lot of debating about whether the rising coronavirus threat should cause us to change our plans. We all knew we were taking a chance, but at least three of the four couples, including us, were going anyway.
Dream Chasing 101 