Author: cometsgirl

Continuing my Fall tour visiting my grandkids…

I took the detour route home from Seattle. The weather forecast for Denver had no mention of snow, unlike a year ago.

That was my cue, so I revised my route home from Seattle and flew to Denver.

Friday morning I grabbed a Flat White and soon I was on my way north to Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Driving north I could see the Rocky Mountains in the distance, running south to north. The further north I drove, the closer the mountains were.

At last! My reunion with Nathan! Great hugs. We hung out in his apartment for a good while, just chatting. We are good chatters.

Lunch time. Nathan recommended Dave’s Hot Chicken. Oh my, the chicken sliders were delicious. One can choose a leval of sauce heat. I went for Lite Spice, Nathan chose Reaper. Yikes!

Next up was board game shopping. Nathan found a nearby second hand shop. It was really fun to check out the significant offerings. We were diligent in evaluating. Of course I had little clue at first, and not a whole lot more by the time a purchase was made. He chose Brass.

I departed soon after. As I drove south, Nathan got the game all set up.

We had such fun together!

I had a beautiful sunset drive back to Denver.

A detour that really paid off.

Patti Smith and her Band in concert. Seattle, November 2025, the 50th year anniversary of her book, Horses.

The concert was held at the Paramount Theater. As the theater is 97 years old, it has no elevators. As our seats were two rows from the very top, it necessitated our climbing many steps. Eighty-seven steps to be exact. A passing gentleman told me I was his hero.

The real hero was Patti Smith.

For two hours she sang, read her poetry, sang her poetry. It was powerful!

“Looking around, every fan was dancing as though they were completely alone and embodying the most carefree version of themselves.” Audrey Vann.

“The show connected with a wide range of generations, and Smith’s message of rebellion, poetry, and power to the people resonated strongly.”

“Waving goodbye to the crowd as she finished singing Because the Night, Smith and company returned for the encore, dedicating Elegies to Jimi Hendrix, as well as the 29 crew members killed on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on the same day that Horses was released in 1975.”

“People Have the Power closed the show, leaving the audience all riled up and ready to make change in the world—or so Patti and her late husband Fred had hoped when they wrote it. ‘He hoped that it would excite and incite people to march and to use their voice.’”

The people have the power

The people have the power

The power to dream, to rule

to wrestle the world from fools

it’s decreed the people rule

it’s decreed the people rule

we have the power

People have the power

we have the power…

Amen!

I’m on tour once again, soon to take my seat in my chair in the sky for the fifth music concert in 2025.

Fog ruled the drive from home as we turned onto Highway 441 south.

Descending to Tallulah Falls Dam as the sun rose was glorious.

I’m headed to Seattle to see Patti Smith in concert.

“Patti is known to many as the queen of punk rock. She excelled in the genre, in many ways, before it even was one.” American Songwriter.

Traveling in the midst of the government shutdown brought a lot of angst to me. In the last several days prior to my flight, I was not at peace about flying. Flight may be cancelled? Security masses? I changed my flight a few times. At 1am this morning, I made the final change.

A short four hours of sleep later, my alarm went off. That was a short night. I quickly dressed and packed. From our turn on Highway 441, travel to Hartsfield-Jackson was just over two hours. That’s quick in my experience.

Pulling up to the terminal, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d seen videos of crowds backed up in airports across the US, and in particular, mine… waiting to go ever-so-slowly through security. I took a deep breath as I walked through the doors, and stepped into …. Chaos? Well, not quite.

Just imagine my, and other travelers, surprise. The extra time gave me a lovely three hours in the Delta lounge. When it was time for me to leave the lounge to board my flight, I hailed a wheelchair for the rather long trek from terminal T to terminal A to terminal B to terminal C to terminal D. Planes, trains, elevators, and a long ride to my gate.

On our way!

“If you feel good about who you are inside, it will radiate.” Patti Smith. I felt great about myself. I had fretted yet did not let myself freeze in place. I felt very good about who I am inside.

It was a beautiful day to fly for five and one-half hours.

Mount Rainer was out as we descended. It’s always a thrill to see!

As I wait for my traveling friend to arrive, I’m seated in the fancy Delta One lounge. Normally one can only access an airline lounge prior to one’s flight. And normally only Delta fliers who fly first class and have a high-end credit card AND are departing, can access the DELTA ONE lounge. Yet, here I am, seated as I await.

Both Delta lounges had a barrier to me entering. Yet, I was invited to enter each.

“Make your interactions with people transformational, not just transactional.” Patti Smith.

Indeed.

Traveling mercies.

This past weekend, Valerie picked me up for our lunch date.

She has her car, this her Senior year at Rice University. So she picked me up!

We chose to dine at Travelers Cart.

We had amazing street food dishes.

Our conversation was as delicious as our meal. We had much to discuss! It’s so fun chatting with her.

Plus dessert!

Our three hours together went far too fast! We made plans for our next time to be together in January 2026.

We have big plans.

This is a repeat send, this time with photographs of the two of us.

Yesterday, Valerie picked me up for our lunch date.

She has her car, this her Senior year at Rice University. So she picked me up!

We chose to dine at Travelers Cart.

We had amazing street food options.

Our conversation was as delicious as our meal. We had much to discuss! It’s so fun chatting with her.

Plus dessert!

Our three hours together went far too fast! We made plans for our next time to be together in January 2026.

We have big plans.

Best laid plans…

Today I am in Houston.

A night at home, repacked, and I was back in my chair in the sky.

My friend and I took separate flights from Atlanta to Houston, her home. We have loyalty and miles to earn on separate airlines after all.

Today I’m having lunch and delightful conversation with my younger granddaughter. Logistics and the lives my grandchildren live, has made it difficult to have a full grandchildren Fall tour.

I’m SO grateful to be here in Houston to see Valerie!

She has her car this Senior year at Rice U. Instead of Ubering to her, she will pick me up. Whoo hoo!

So.. here we begin my Fall grandchildren tour.

Well. Color me surprised!

I was pretty certain I would be both uninterested in baking, and unable to bake bread. (I had the praying part down.)

Yet…

We were greeted by the leader upon our arrival, filled out a name tag, and found a seat at a place along the tables. It was fun to meet other attendees, especially one of whom I knew from ministry work in Atlanta.

Over two days, we learned about the art of baking, the mentions of bread throughout the Bible, and bread as a main feature in Christianity.

Along the way we sang songs.

And rested.

As did the bread overnight.

Our lodging, included breakfast and dinner, and was just down the road

at the Mast Farm Inn.

The second day we sang more songs, and heard how bread was present throughout Christianity, and its place in our lives.

We also gained more bread baking techniques, and next steps. We formed our dough for a second rise.

We had the afternoon off so we drove about thirty minutes to Boone. We found exceptional food and coffee at Hatchet.

The drive was lovely.

Later in the day, our loaves would be baked.

In went twenty-nine loaves!

And out they came! Beautiful!

I loved the bread baking retreat! It turned out I learned how to bake bread, and it was delicious!

More importantly, I loved gathering with so many wonderful people. Twenty-nine individuals learned to bake bread, from novices to well skilled. The conversations were rich, deep, enjoyable, and delightful.

I picked up my traveling friend yesterday at the Greenville, SC airport.

A quick bite for dinner and we headed northwest toward Asheville.

It’s hard for me to drive without taking photographs along the way when someone else drives. In lieu of a photo from the drive, is a photo I took as I pulled out of my driveway, bound for Greenville, SC.

I had to be content with the hotel welcome.

Until morning when I looked outside from our room. Ahhh, sunRISE.

A day in Asheville before we drive further north tomorrow to begin baking and praying.

Coffee and muffins.

Then on to East Fork Pottery. I own many beautiful pieces, but this was my first time to enter the place.

A couple hours later, after resisting purchasing one of everything that I don’t already have, it was time for an absolutely delicious lunch.

Time for coffee again.

To end this Sabbath day, A Celtic Evening Service with Eucharist. It was such good worship.

The Lord has made a promise to love you faithfully forever. Go out with joy and be led by God’s peace. Alleluia. Alleluia.

I’m on the road once again. My traveling friend and I are headed to a retreat of sorts. Titled Bake and Pray, I’m not certain about specifics, other than we will bake bread and pray. I’ll find out soon enough.

Ok, I Googled bake and pray. To quote, “retreat combines bread-baking with prayer, rest, and community.” Got it. Sounds good to me even if I’m not much of a baker. On the other hand, I’m a faithful prayer.

Come along.

The night before the Mary Chapin Carpenter/Brandy Clark concert, we attended the opening night of Praise House, featuring the photographic work of Adama Delphine Fawundu. On display were photographs from her life experiences through the Caribbean, the Americas, and Europe.

The evening included an artist talk. Fawundu’s life story, art, and passion are so interesting! She was joined by well-known curator, Dexter Wimberly. 

We took the train from near our hotel to downtown Charlotte for the event. I love train rides!

Below is downtown at nighttime as seen during the Uber ride home.

I had a brief encounter with Adama. I was struck by her socks and shoes and I proceeded to tell her so. It was a delightful moment.