Cometsgirl

Today I celebrated my birthday in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I’m at 7,790’ here in Ouray’, surrounded on all sides by peaks ranging from Stony Mountain at 12,698’ Potosi Peak at 13,786’ and Mt. Emma at 13,581’,

My day began with confetti texts from some of my family. Then throughout the day wonderful texts and calls from more family and friends. Also from my doctor, dentist, eye clinic and physical therapist. The number of latter texts goes along with being 82.

My sister gifted me with a bag of delightful gifts, and then coffee.

Mojo’s for coffee. After I ordered a Flat White, I discovered that Sara, the barista, was sharing this birth day. That was fun. We enjoyed our bond of the day with good conversation.

After coffee my sister and I set off to walk a short distance to Box Canyon Falls. Altitude and old knees soon required a car ride to the visitors center. From there it was a reasonably short distance to the grated walkways that took us through the box canyon. It was awesome!

All that effort made us hungry. My birthday meal was burgers and fries at Maggie’s. Greasy and delicious.

Later in the day I enjoyed my “cake” – ice cream!

We ended the day with a drive up Camp Bird Road alongside the Umcompahgre River. This may have been the best part about celebrating a birthday in Ouray, Colorado.

It’s been a wonderful day. Filled with love, joy, awe, connection; laughter and wonder. And sustenance of food, sights, and sounds. Blessings beyond measure.

These are the opening words of the Judy Collins song, “When I was a Girl in Colorado”. I grew up in Colorado. Judy was just a year ahead of me in high school. I did not know her personally, but I remember when we had school assemblies, she often sang while the students gathered.

Now some sixty-four years later she released the album “Spellbound” which includes this song.

Listening to Judy sing this song, takes me back to when I was a girl in Colorado. I’ve not lived in Colorado for over fifty years, but I feel the place in my heart and soul. I love to say “I’m from Colorado”.

Today I begin a journey to Colorado.

My sister and I are meeting in Albuquerque, NM later today. From there we’ll drive to Santa Fe and spend the night.

The next morning we’ll begin our drive to Colorado. Along the way were stopping in Espanola, NM to enjoy breakfast with a friend of forty years. She ran La Posada de Chimayo, just down the road from Espanola. I, along with my family and friends, stayed with her over thirty years, until she decided she wanted what many of her guests had – retirement. I am so looking forward to seeing her.

After breakfast my sister and I will drive north to Colorado! I’ve never been in this area of the state – the Western Slope, as it’s known. I expect to have a lot of “wow” moments on the drive.

We’re staying a couple of nights in Ouray, journeying out and about to take in the mountains and rivers – mountains close and distant, rivers running past.

Traveling Mercies.

What a game!

It was electric! Sold out! Happy fans. “Faster-than-light” women running the length of the court, and back again!

My grandkids and I arrived early. We hoped to see the ACES player who had played at the University of South Carolina. Actually, we wanted her to notice us. We stationed ourselves where she couldn’t miss us.

We called out her name and pointed to our Gamecock shirts as she ran by after her warm-up. She saw us!

The game was close the entire time. While we loved two players on the Las Vegas ACES team, we were for both teams – and in the end, for the home team, the DALLAS WINGS.

So we enjoyed and cheered both teams and all buckets made. The crowd was the loudest I can remember, and I think their cheering their team is what allowed the Dallas Wings to prevail. 80 – 78.

It was a joyous and joy-filled time which I shared with

and

I loved being sandwiched by my grandkids while in the midst of sports excellence and passionate fans. A Happy time!

Here I go again. Off to see a woman’s basketball game. This time with my Texas grandchildren. We planned this event when I was in town last April for the “not-Stevie Nicks” concert.

While the Dallas Wings play in an arena near my granddaughter’s home, this particular game was picked because the opponent is the Las Vegas Aces. Two outstanding players on the ACES team played college basketball at the University of South Carolina.

When my granddaughter was a student at USC, I would drive down a couple of times during the season to go to the games together. One of the Aces player was on the USC team during those years, and we were rewarded with her high-performance game playing.

So my grandkids and I shall be at the “big” game tomorrow night.

We picked our seats across the floor from the team seats. We’re hoping the two Gamecock players will notice us, as we will be wearing USC Gamecock shirts!

As you may recall, a month ago I was in Seattle for another WNBA game. The Seattle Storm vs. Washington Mystics. The reason for attending this particular game was because Sue Bird’s jersey was being retired. It was a well-deserved honor for a record-setting player of 21 years with the Storm.

A brief summary of that experience.

We rode a city bus – which I love to do – to the game, arriving over an hour ahead of the game that was to be played prior to the jersey retirement ceremony. We got Sue Bird jersey-retirement bobblehead dolls by getting there early.

We enjoyed the game, even if they failed to win. THEN the honoring of Sue began. She was honored and honored, and honored some more. All much deserved and given by legends in woman’s basketball.

After all the honoring, Sue took the mike to share some thoughts- some 90 minute of thoughts.

Finally, seven hours after arriving, the jersey was lifted on high. I would not have missed being present for the above moment.

I don’t expect the ACES – WINGS game to last much longer than a couple of hours. Stay tuned. However long the game, my joy will be because I’ll be with my grandkids. And, of course, I’ll be watching women who play high level basketball.

Traveling mercies.

What makes a person a legend? What makes someone legendary?

Google tells me it’s Famed. Illustrious. Renowned. Well-known. Celebrated. I add honorable.

I use these words occasionally, but I haven’t considered them carefully until now. Today I’m thinking about this because I’m traveling to Seattle to celebrate a legend.

Point guard for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA draft, Sue Bird is a legend. I’ve been fortunate to attend a number of games in Seattle when I traveled to visit my Seattle family to see Sue Bird in action! WOW!

During her 22 years with the Storm, she led her team to four WNBA national championships. She was a 13-time all star and was named to the All-WNBA First Team five times. She won five Olympic gold medals and four FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championships. WHEW!

“As awesome as she is on the court she’s been a role model for uncounted young people who aspired to greatness. Young girls who started watching Bird play 22 years ago, now are adults, and they had their favorite player along for the entire journey. Both on and off the court, she eschewed drama and controversy. She showed that hard work and character — and some talent — could take a person far.” The Seattle Times.

I love watching Sue play. Quick! Fast! Pass or shoot. It’s a Bucket!

Sue retired in 2022 at the end of the season. Happily I was in town to see her play one of her last games. During the upcoming game on Sunday, Sue Bird’s No. 10 jersey will be raised to the rafters and eternalized in Seattle sports history! I’ll be there!

My Seattle family, with the exception of my daughter-in-law (who will be hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim), will be at the game. My sister is journeying to Seattle as well to join in the joy.

Now airborne after multiple delays, I’m on my way. Traveling mercies.

A few days ago I returned from my travels to Texas to attend the Stevie Nicks concert that wasn’t. As I noted previously, it was cancelled because of COVID cases in the band. It was a such a blow.

I did, however find Jesus…

in the Texas bluebonnets that had bloomed into the promise of spring return;

in the Maundy Thursday service I attended with with my daughter-in-law, where we were invited into silence;

in the Good Friday service, seated with my best friend and my daughter-in-law, where the three of us were the voices of the Jews as spoken in John’s account of the Passion gospel;

in the time I shared with my son and daughter-in-law, most joyously around the fire-pit, roasting marshmallows;

and in the anything-can-happen day with my grandkids.

Jack picked me up and we listened to a playlist he had curated for the drive to Georgia’s home. (Jack lives there while he attends college nearby). Some of the song lyrics, performed by musicians new to me, were profound and provided good conversation for us. Stevie-music was on the playlist, of course.

After showing me around their home, we set off off on our adventure. Georgia, too, had curated a playlist featuring Stevie. We even had a request, placed as a comment on my blog. “Play Sara for me”. We had a sing-along as we headed to the white rhino for breakfast.

From there it was a visit to the Arlington Museum of Art, with a retrospective exhibit of their permanent collection.

Then on to a local sculpture garden.

A stop at a martial arts store (Georgia is a 1st degree black belt, Jack a 2nd degree),

and a tour of the University of Texas at Arlington where Jack is a student.

We wrapped up our adventures with pizza!

The grandkids returned me home, where for the next couple of hours I basked in the midst of my Texas family as we retold our shared stories, wrapped in laughter and covered in grace.

My visit culminated on Easter Sunday as I joined my family for worship. Alleluia. Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

While there was no Stevie Nicks, there was music everywhere. Of course we plan to attend the rescheduled concert next March!

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I love Stevie Nicks. I loved Fleetwood Mac, mostly because of Stevie. When she announced her tour with Billy Joel, and the venue was to be in the city where my grandkids live….

I asked my granddaughter and my grandson if they wanted to go. Yes! Yes! I took a very deep breath and purchased three tickets somewhere closish to the stage.

It was some months later when I realized the concert was during Holy Week. Uh oh. Stevie Nicks would be singing her songs during the Great Vigil.

My best friend said “so let me get this straight – during the Great Vigil you’ll be at a concert?” Sheepishly I replied, yes. I new I would attend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services, so I felt okay about it.

Today I’m on my way to Texas. I’ll attend the services as planned. However, we’re not going to the concert. It has been postponed until March 9, 2024. COVID cases in the band. OH. NO.

I’m traveling anyway. It was never all about Stevie Nicks. Well, it kind of was for a time. Even more it’s about being with my Texas family whom I have longed to see.

Earlier today I was seated next to young woman in the lounge st the airport as we awaited our flights. She asked where I was traveling. I told her the story. She commiserated. Briefly. She then had a suggestion for me: Cook something delicious and put on some Stevie Nicks music. Find clips from her other concerts on YouTube.” She was charming.

A few weeks ago I decided my blog would be titled “I came for Stevie and got Jesus”. Indeed, I have.

Traveling mercies.

I’m departing for home in a couple of hours. As I await my flight, I’m thinking about the past few days.

I’ve settled on “reunion” as a theme for my trip to Arizona. In just five days I spent time with seven members of The Harvey family; eight when you count me. These are descendants and spouses of my mother’s family.

I spent time with my brother and his wife and a sweet cousin during the first few days of this trip.

Yesterday my sister and I had lunch with a dear cousin. We immediately picked up our conversation from four months ago. That’s how close this family is.

Last night my sister and I had a wood-stove fired pizza dinner with her son and his wife.

This was laugh and love-filled time! Five days of precious family time.

Women’s basketball March Madness was raging! My sister and I somehow found time to sit and cheer for my favorite teams.

On this Sabbath day I feel blessed beyond measure.

Traveling mercies.

The past couple of days can be summed up in one word – beauty.

Of honoring…

of reuniting with family…

of water…

of scenic roads,,,,

of day’s end and rest.

Days before I left home I had concerns about the plan to drive north to mile-high Prescott. Heavy rain, high winds, ice and snow were all in the forecast. I still had concerns when I landed in Phoenix.

Much time last night, and again this morning, was devoted to researching weather and road conditions. Lots of conversation and angst about what we should do. In the end we decided to take an audacious risk and go. As my sister said, “let’s try it…we can always turn around.”

So we packed our things and left home with trust and hope. We experienced no rain, no high winds, ice or snow. All that angst! A bold move – well, a bold move with an option to retreat – brought us to a place of joy.

The drive north was lovely.

We met a cousin who lives in Prescott for lunch at The Colt. It was great fun!

A day that began with concern, ended with laughter.