Death-the final frontier? Or an experience to build on?

Brittany Maynard

Today I read about Brittany Maynard (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPfe3rCcUeQ#t=235), a 29 yr old woman that had terminal brain cancer & was given 3-6 months to live when diagnosed. Can you imagine being 29 & knowing your life was virtually over before it had begun?

According to her family, Maynard had always been an adventuresome spirit & lived life to the hilt. She spent the last months of her life making the most of the time she had left. She traveled to Alaska, British Columbia and Yellowstone National Park with her loved ones and explored more local attractions like Olympic National Park in Washington. On Oct. 21, she and her family took a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon, a place she'd been longing to see before she died. The following day she had her worst seizure & was reminded of what was in store for her medically, due to her tumor.

"Assisted suicide", or "Dying with Dignity" has always been of interest to me. I believe everyone should have this choice, especially if confronting a terminal illness. However apparently this, as many other personal decisions, are controversial issues & many other people do not agree that one should have the final say on issues that affect only them. (I was amazed at the reactions & responses on YouTube to Brittany's decision.)

The Dying with Dignity process is legal in Oregon (via the Oregon Death with Dignity Act), Washington (Washington Death with Dignity Act), Vermont (Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act), and New Mexico.

Brittany made headlines around the world when she announced she intended to die, under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act,  by taking a fatal dose of barbiturates, prescribed to her by a doctor, when her suffering became too great. 

Brittany moved to Oregon with her husband, her mother, and her stepfather so she could have access to Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which allows physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to certain terminally ill patients. She ended her life on 2 Nov.

I have a friend who is currently involved with watching his 87 yr old Mother decline. Today she is in the ICU ward of a local hospital, with no specific diagnosis. She is just weak & is her condition really that surprising? Many of us have been in similar situations, where someone close to you has actually embarked on the final stages of their lives. I believe this is one of the important opportunities in our lives-To witness & hopefully assist the loved one in a nurturing, positive manner in crossing over to their next phase. 

My friend & I were talking about how other family members & friends are usual in the state of denial & avoid the issue of death when it comes to talking about or dealing with death. Some are more comfortable with the idea of death than others. I think if you have personally dealt with your own mortality, actually watched someone die or been exposed to the idea that death is indeed inevitable & not a bad experience, that death somehow easier to accept. Like assisting a loved pet or loved one during their final days. Isn't helping them die with dignity & as little pain & mental anguish as possible the last act of love we can show them?

I was privileged to be at my own Mother's bedside when she crossed over. This was a profound experience & one I will always treasure. We had said all we had to say to each other in the days leading up to this moment-but had always known this moment would most likely come, so had spent years discussing the particulars of how she wanted her death to play out. Somehow we both knew that THIS particular hospital stay was IT. 

Her medical directive was filed with the hospital & Mom was very clear that no measures were to be taken to prolong her life. Mom was completely aware of what was happening until about two days before she died, even telling me that she was in & out of "another dimension" & that she realized she was dying. I am so very grateful that our last words to each other were "I love you". 

When she was no longer communicative, I continued to talk to her, assuring her I was on this side & other family members were waiting for her on the other side, so she would not be alone when she was crossing over. When her last breath had passed, I was so very profoundly grateful to have shared this moment with her, realizing that this was a very meaningful lesson for me & a reminder that someday I too would make this exact journey. 

How different this moment could have been! I've heard of people surrounding their loved one's death bed, weeping, swooning, basically having an emotional meltdown & upsetting everyone, including the dying individual. Not a positive experience for anyone, especially the one who is actually dying. 

One could say that this momentous opportunity to assist the love one in having a good death & preparing for one's own demise was wasted on fear.  I am so very glad that I discovered Elizabeth Kubler-Ross & her work with terminal patients. Her research was invaluable to me in aiding my Mom in her final earthly experience. One day, I'd like to volunteer to assist a hospice organization in doing whatever I can to help someone else have a peaceful death. 

Death can be a horrendous event-not all die peacefully & without pain. But when one has the opportunity to witness & assist another fellow life traveller in their final journey, can we not learn & build from & on the moment?

I am very glad that Brittany's family supported her decision, thereby easing her mind to a great extent about leaving them behind. I can only hope that when my day comes that I can also transition peacefully, painlessly & with the full knowledge of the experience. And help others do the same.

Medicinal Herb class

Yesterday two of my favorite peeps & I attended a very informative class on medicinal herbs. This class was taught by Deborah Wagganer, of Shadewood Herbal, just outside Gerald, MO (www.shadewoodherbal.com).

Deborah is a very knowledgeable & personable licensed Master Herbalist. Who knew there is an actually curriculum, leading to a degree in this subject! She began by her giving us a tour of her beautiful earth contact home & the grounds. Don't know whether I liked the outdoors better or the interior of her warm & welcoming home! And that's saying alot from this outdoors loving person.

Gargoyles guard the grounds

Serenity abounds

Peaceful waters 

home fits right into the woods

inspiration on how to utilize cedars for a bed

idea for a garden trellis

interesting method of stabilizing corner of wood pile

another trellis idea

Deborah then took us into her home & we reviewed the binder she provides with the course material. We learned different terms & techniques. Then Deborah served us a delicious home made lunch she prepared of soup, cheeses & bread. Yummy!

Lunch time with friends!! Yum!

Tour of her herb garden

After lunch we took another walk about on the grounds. Deborah showed us what some of the herbs we had discussed looked like, smelled like & tasted like, when applicable. Very instructional!! I learn best doing hands on so really appreciated her connecting the 'book learnin' with what the plants actually look like!

Explaining properties of the plant

identifying native herbs

Calendula Marigold

We then went inside to put our knowledge to work! Deborah showed us her inventory of various herbs & the equipment she uses when preparing her concoctions, tinctures & poultices for her family & friends. 

Really great class & day shared with friends & learned a great deal about medicinal herb prep! Looking forward to attending Deborah's follow up class with more hands on preparations, tentatively scheduled in Feb 2015!

Adventures anyone?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

I've been ruminating about how to make happen certain adventures that I'd like to check off my bucket list recently. I stumbled upon a video

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v,=vViRgycJmVI) of Veronica Kwapisz, a young 28 yr old woman from Poland, that decided to do a solo 19,728 km (thats 12,258 miles!) on a Triumph Bonneville. All I can say is WOW! Now thats quite a trip for anyone to do by themselves!!

And if that wasn't impressive enough, this wasn't her first adventure. Her previous expeditions include:

- Riding Across Europe on a Suzuki VanVan 125cc – 7456 miles in 48 days

- Italy – 2050 miles in 6 days

- Alps/Dolomites – 2112 miles in 6 days

- Norway – 2734 miles in 14 days 

So what inspires a person to attempt & complete similar adventures, instead of just talking about doing something of this magnitude?! I think ATTITUDE!

I am at a stage in my own life where I have the time & inclination to have similar adventures. Reading about young people that have the balls to actually do these types of experiences are very inspiring & motivating. If a 28 yr old can do this in a foreign country, what the heck is keeping me from getting out the front door!?

The town I live in is in full swing this month for Octoberfest. This is the most busy month (October) for my small town & for most of the local businesses, this will be their busiest time of the year. Of course, this hasn't motivated them to be open any more hours than their usual bankers' hours-which is a constant source of aggravation to me. How can you whine about not enough business when you close at 1700?!??!! Who the heck would close at this hour when there are people milling about, walking the streets, just looking for a place to spend $$$, but you're store is closed & you are sitting at home. ARG! 

Anyway, I digress....There is a young man that is selling plane rides over this town. He takes off from the MO River & flies over the town & about the area. How innovated & cool is that?!

His website is: http://nautiwings.com & for a 15-17 minute ride, his rates are:
$60 per person – 3 passenger
 ride/$75 per person – 2 passenger ride/$95 per person – 1 passenger ride. Wouldn't that be a blast?

I watched one of the other videos on his site & was blown away at the thrill of watching someone "go for it!" down around at my hometown of lake oz. Is this cool or what!? Check it out!

My point of this blog is what is it that separates those that just think about doing things & those that actually make their dreams happen? I can't help but believe its all in one's attitude. Makes me want to commit to scheduling something, then doing it!

With the recent fall weather & perfect days, there certainly isn't any excuse for NOT getting out in the world & maximizing one's life! Life is good for those with the gumption to seize the day! 

Here is to identifying something, anything that one hopes to do-then making it happen! I can't help but remember Thoreau's quote, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” (Civil Disobedience and Other Essays) 

Life should be lived! Fully, with deliberate intent & the sobering realization that we all have a finite amount of time. Let's not waste a moment of this precious time. 

2014 October Fall colors 

Cloudless MO sky

Nature's sumac fall colors

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

The title of this post is one of my very favorite quotes. So often we limit ourselves needlessly. I know I've been very surprised in my own life to have pulled off a couple of things that, upon looking back on the situations, weren't really that hard. All I had to do was simply ask, submit paperwork or just make the attemp!! So am going to work on not quitting some insurmountable goals I have & recommit to simply doing!! What did Yoda say, “Do or do not... there is no try.”

The theme of this entry was that I just read about a Polish woman that travelled 10K by herself, across the US! YES 10K miles, all by herself, in a foreign country on her motorcycle!
http://www.womenridersnow.com/pages/fearless_american_motorcycle_expedition_by_a_polish_woman.aspx

Of course, there are always other women that have done even more miles! Who knew?! Started reading about a few gals that have done incredible trips:
http://www.womenridersnow.com/pages/Big_Dreams_Big_Rides_Monumental_Motorcycle_Journeys_by_Women_Riders.aspx

Damn! Surely one could replicate this in their own country! And just when I thought I had done something travelling 3200 miles!! Am inspired by their journeys & have decided that this is something I should add to my bucket list too!

Today, I am going to not try (thanks Yoda) but actually visualize some goal that I've been "trying" to accomplish. Don't know if I will be successful, but know if I just half heartedly attempt anything, I will probably get a half ass result. Wrong answer!! Here is to setting goals, dreams, hopes that we actually MAKE HAPPEN instead of just talking, talking, talking about whatever!

Fall colors & musings

Fall for me is that time of the year when nature & the rhythm of life begin to slow down in most obvious ways. Other than spring, is there any other time of the year when nature changes so dramatically? One day can be very different from the next & the view of colors seems to change from day to day.

 The landscape on my little patch of land is very different than a couple of weeks ago & the colors hature displays are already incredible! 

I am also very aware that this is the season of Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. This year, in particular, I am making a concentrated effort to be even more mindful of all the beauty that surrounds us, the appreciation I have toward my family & friends, my animal companions & the gift of health.

There are so many seemingly insurmountable problems in our world today. Ebola, climate change, species extinction, poverty, economic inequity, energy constraints, resource rape of our earth, lack of personal integrity & fascism replacing capitalism in the US government. All weighing heavily on any aware person's mind. If I allow myself to become too heavily focused on any of these issues, life can become a very heavy burden to bear. Then I walk outside & look at Nature's beauty, take a deep breath

& decide to retreat from the world mankind has created & instead feed my thoughts on what is right in front of me-life, beauty, peace. Positive aspects to my life.

I used to read the morning paper every day. I wanted to be 'informed' & aware of world events. Now I no longer read newspapers, but look at news online & read some websites.However lately I find that I am reducing further my attention to these sources of news. Seems there is much more bad news about issues I can't possibly do anything about. And this effects me in a very debilitating manner. I have zero faith that the "decision makers" have the common mans' interest at heart & definitely not the earth's interest. Civilization keeps marching ever toward the cliff, just like lemmings. What is the average person to do?

My hope is that I will feed my goal of being more in the now & more positive. I am trying to deliberately limit my exposure to negativity, focus inward & locally & concentrate my efforts towards things that hopefully I can contribute toward to bring about some meaningful change. 

There is a Native American story about what you choose to feed by your thoughts & actions will grow. If you no longer give time, energy or thought to an issue, the issue will decline & starve from lack of attention. So today, let us all try to consciously "feed" whatever inspires, nourishes & contributes to our own well being. 

Whether that is to sit in the sun on a porch & gaze at Nature's beauty or watching chickens peacefully search for that elusive bug. 

Beauty is all around us & just for today, right now, may we be wise enough to actually SEE all these gifts freely offered. 

Home/Memphis/Panama City/Perry/Bradenton/Perry/Ocean Springs/NOLA/Memphis/Home

If someone had told me I'd be taking a 3200 mile trip BY MYSELF-ON A MOTORCYCLE a year ago, I'd had thought they were on crack! But life has a funny way of sometimes taking you where you'd never expect. And I guess one does what one has to do. My previous trips to Key West & Eureka Springs, AR gave me the confidence to believe that, what the hell....I can do this!!! IF I can find a home sitter!

Had been talking about knocking off an item on my bucket list (that of driving from MO to FL on a motorcycle) with my bud Susan H., after our previous adventure to Key West. We had hoped that she would be able to fly back to MO from FL & then ride her Shadow Aero 750 back with me. Kinda like a Thelma & Louise thing, but with alot less drama & a much happier ending.

2 chicks' bikes on a road trip

But she couldn't swing it so I could either solo it or forget it. Anyone that knows me, probably would guess what I would do.Planned accordingly to leave MO on the 1st of October & return home the 15th of Oct., weather permitting.

Set the dates with Susan, who was able to take off from work (YEA!) the whole time that I was down there!! Then thanks to the wonderful generosity of my Dear Kid, Stacy, the most important home sitting job was filled!

Tried so very hard to get new tires & a radio installed before I left (safety first!) but never would have guessed it would take 6 weeks just to GET the tires to my service techs (Larry's Honda in Jeff City).  Jeez.....so the tires finally arrived at Larry's on 16 OCT, the day AFTER I return home from my trip! Great.Onward, hoping the tires hold out.  Printed the Mapquest route maps of my deliberately planned, scenic routes, packed my bag & away we go!

In keeping with my goal of striving toward, "Its not the destination, it's the journey", I was determined to:

First, be safe & expect stupidity;
Second, NOT be in so much of a hurry that I didn't enjoy the road & the scenery;
Third, take it easy on myself & savor the adventure.

I believe I succeeded.

First Memphis, familiar, comfortable. Did my usual drive by the marina, exit 1, Mud Island drive by, stop at the Miss Cordelia's, remember living here, drive down the river & head for Millington. Navy Lodge-always great! Clean, fresh, crisp sheets, quiet....except in the morning. No need for an alarm clock for the fire proof doors to each room "clunk" very loudly. So after about the 3rd guest letting their door swing closed, one is awake.

Panama City was next-my longest run of the trip. Got there after dark, about 12 hours. Was tired & there were alot of bikes on the road AND cars. Had a guy think about pulling into the road & probably t-bonin me, but he swerved the side of the road after I flashed my brights at him a couple of times. Probably too many lights on the road.

He & another motorcycle dude were the only two "issues" I had on the road-which I think is nothing short of remarkable! The other guy was a motorcyclist of all things! And he passes me to the right, with my turn indicator ON & in the exit ramp. O K.....If it hadn't been for his loud pipes, I'd have pulled right in front of him, when exiting on the ramp.

Anyway, finally met up with Susan H. in front of the Tyndall AFB. She didn't have her driver's license in hand so getting her to our mutual room on base was not gonna happen. Susan decided to spend the night in her own room. After about an hour of catch up, we agreed to meet at her place the next day, to try to get me into the free breakfast.

Susan at hotel, loading her gear.

The next day I just walked in to the hotel like I owned the place. No one was at the front desk either, which was definitely an advantage. One of the staff was getting something to drink at the juice dispenser & asked me how I slept. I thought that was funny. Little did she know I hadn't spent the night there.

Susan & I ate breakfast & then took off via hwy 98 for Carrabelle to see her (soon to be former) sis-in-law.

The beautiful view from hwy 98, Carrabelle FL

Was beautiful driving along this Coastal Hwy! The sun was out, temps were comfortable & the scenery was fantastic! Pine trees wherever the water wasn't!

We decided to stop for lunch & stowed all our gear in anticipation for rain. Hadn't been inside very long & it just poured!!!!!!! We were soooo glad to be inside. But after lunch, had to get on top of wet bike seats & then head into the storm we just watched pass. 

We quickly realized that we'd hung in Carrabelle just a little too long. The storm that I left one step ahead of in Mo had finally caught up with me. If we hadn't have stopped for a couple of hours, who knows?

Made it to Perry & started scrounging for a room. First place, Hampton Inn, WITH a military discount was $106, down from $169 because of a Tallahassee football game. A what? 

Susan thought that was steep. I was just pooped. But her cool head prevailed & she found us a Holiday Inn Express, almost right across the street from where we stood, with a room for $92 (with a military discount)! And with free breakfast AND happy hour, 18-2000!!!! Oh.... Yeah....Can't say enough great things about this place! They even let us park the bikes directly in front of the entrance doors, under shelter & where anyone would see any mischief!

Next day, after our free breakfast, we followed hwy 98 all the way down to Tarpon Springs, where we dined with dolphins & fishing boats, & along the water.

Just two wild & crazy girls!

Then onto Tampa, thru a zillion non-sequinized stop lights. But we made it to Bradenton & chill-laxed! Susan was very hospitable & showed me the town! We had a great time. Some of the things we checked out were:

Mangrove Trail Kayaking!

Boat shopping!

Beverages!

Firehouse tour!

Waterfront dining!

Susan was a fantastic hostess & everybody down there was just great to me. Gotta love the South. Thank you my Friends. 

After a few days, was time to head West to NOLA. Spent an extra day, driving just to Perry from Bradenton. Had to stay at the fantastic Holiday Inn Express for that free happy hour & breakfast! Then off to Ocean Springs, MS. 

Another long day & a Cruisers Convention in town so NO hotel rooms! I must have really good karma-which I am eternally grateful for-because a complete stranger wanted to give me a room! Some French gentleman noticed that I didn't get a room because of their convention so offered me a room he had already paid for, since the usual occupant wasn't going to be there that night. I went directly to the closest ATM, got him some $ & paid him $10 more than he wanted ($60) for the room. Then armed with my Heineken 'dinner', I took a hot shower & crashed.

Next day NOLA!!! Gioia & Alan live in the Quarter. Always a trip to party in the Quarter. I drove right down Bourbon Street on my motorcycle. Only other person in the street was a bicyclist! Kinda cool! 

Found my way to Gioia & Alan's place & spent the next 3 days with them, catching up, eating Gioia's sinfully delicious cooking & seeing some of their friends. Got to go to the Hong Kong Market, out toward Harvey. Looked at a recently purchased 'retirement home' Gioia's Dad is refurbishing. Last night there, hung with the Johns. A couple that I've met a few times previously. Was another really fun trip & I am so grateful to be able to keep my friendship going with these dear friends!

Next stop Memphis.... I think I will always love Memphis. Have always known that I'd be back there repeatedly & have only good memories of times there. Home away from Home. 

Came North via 61, which I don't recommend! Major cotton fields & chemical smells, poverty, few gas stations or places to piddle. Came into TN & Memphis & had a very light drizzle. I had to smile, since I've felt sooo very lucky to NOT have the rain most of the area has experienced almost every day since I'd been gone!! Cleared up almost immediately, long enough for me to git some friend green tomatoes, friend chicken & the fixins, plus a Heineken & a Memphis Flyer at Gus' Fried Chicken on 2nd Street. GREAT FOOD! Have been going here for years. I felt just like a local! 

Crashed at the Navy Lodge in Millington, then on the road the next day about 0630, headed north for home. Was looking forward to checking out the scenic route 19 North, all the way home but of course, missed some sign so drove about 1.5 hrs out of my way on a not so scenic ( & very frickin windy!) hwy 63, thru Rolla. By the time I got home, was shot. Had a headache so went directly to bed. 

Lesson learned....don't be afraid to challenge yourself & DON'T listen to the nay sayers! All went great & many adventures were experienced.But more importantly, I drove 3200 miles by my damn self! One can do whatever they have the courage to do. 

Got some miles behind me now!

My 1st road adventure of any significance was a 485 mile trip to Eureka Springs, AR with 3 friends, Andrea, Alan, & Buddy. They invited me to go down with them to the BBQ, beer & bikes fest (http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org) in Eureka Springs, AR.

Lots of bikes were down there!

So I made the trek to A&As Lake Oz home for the night. We debated to go with a group that was meeting at 0800 the following morn or just go ourselves. All agreed we'd rather go in our own group. So after a relaxing night, catching up with my friends, we left the following morn.

A&A & Buddy were on their new, almost identical 2014 Harley Street Glides. Beautiful bikes with dashboards & all kinds of bells & whistles! GPS, gas gauge & miles remaining displayed too! AND a port to plug in their custom music stick! Who could ask for more? Beautiful machines!

Only thing better than a Harley is a pair of Harleys!

Fortunately had no probs hangin with my peeps on my 750 Aero, despite the many twisty turns down around that area. Was even let into the 'inner parking area' at the HD dealership, despite driving a Honda Shadow, because I was travelling between two Harleys! LOL!

Was also very pleased with my initial packing & loading of my bag, tent & bedroll onto my bike. Only fly in the ointment was my forgetting my tent poles-DUH! Fortunately Buddy was cool & let me crash in his HUGE tent, otherwise would have been mosquito food! One could walk about in his tent standing upright & he had so much room that he actually had a chair & table in the tent, between our respective bed areas! So he saved my bacon-big time! And we talked gear, which is always of great interest to me. Thanks Buddy for your hospitality AND sharing some great info on gear!

Was very relaxing NOT having to worry about how to navigate down there or back, thanks to their GPSs & this trip gave me the courage to do a solo trip, since I wasn't that familiar with how my bike would do OR how I would do on any long distance road trip.

But had a great trip with them, got to catch up with my gal pal, Andrea, & finished the last night with an excellent meal & vino at one of the local Eureka Springs restaurants with a top notch server named Dan.

Nothing better than sharing a good meal with great friends!

Coming back the next day, peeled away from them, as they returned back to Lake Oz via hwy 73 & I onto I-44 & back home solo. Great trip! We discussed doing Sturgis next year, not so much for the bike fest but for the ride. No betta way to see the country!

Thank you A&A & Buddy for helping me get my "feet wet" & letting me share in this adventure with ya!!