Going home, Day 340

Out west, Day 331

Nicolai and I are in California for a week. It is wonderful to be on vacation!

Landing, Day 196

Life has really been a roller coaster lately. Some wonderfully exciting things are shaping up on the horizon and then there's some really sad family stuff all rolled into one juicy package called life. I made this image today and it re-energized me for whatever is in store. I hadn't made an image in awhile that reminded me as to why I am doing this project. Some days it just feels like yet another thing to do before the end of the day. Thanks to my son and a piece of folded paper, my attitude changed.

West of the Rockies, Day 63

Today my son and I boarded a plane and headed west to California. At this very moment we are officially on vacation. I am excited to get out of town and leave my everyday life behind to visit the land of make believe also known as the City of Angels. We will be at the beach digging our toes in the sand with the majority of my family and I will be making every effort to not gain 5 pounds over the next week. But as much as I love to travel, one of these days I would like to just stay home and take a vacation. I wonder if this is actually possible? To relax, garden, eat good food, not feel obligated to answer the phone or respond to email messages, and take advantage of all the wonderful things that I never have time to do at home because I am working. Perhaps I don't need to go on "vacation" to do these things, I could just take one day off each week, or two...what a novel idea!

New Perspective, Day 13

I have a love/hate relationship with flying. I HATE turbulence because it reminds me that I am in a machine hovering above the earth which could come crashing down. At the same time I love having a widow seat on the plane so I can see the sky and the earth from a different perspective. My plane flight home was just fine. No delays, a row all to myself, a beautiful view, and of course some turbulence. Overall I had a good flying experience but I was relieved to step off the plane. In a way my flight today was like my visit to LA. It was wonderful to see my family, friends, to be in LA, and to eat good food, but it was definitely emotional and exhausting at times. Having my dad in the hospital reminded me that this life is precious and myself and my loved ones aren't going to be around forever...it was an important reminder. I am extremely thankful that my dad is going home tonight and he will recover. But all of us really need to just sit back, relax and enjoy the view.