Traveling back in time...

Northeast corner of Colorado...

Union Pacific Depot in Julesburg (now a museum) where my dad, John Sandoval worked many years as station agent

South Platte River

Remembering Kenny...my beautiful nephew, gone too soon.

View of Colorado plains

Traveling back to Julesburg always brings mixed emotions. It was with great sorrow that I moved away from this small farming community in the early 60's. I was in 8th grade...Julesburg had the only school, town, friends, church and way of life I had ever known. It was the type of community where everyone knew who you were, to whom you belonged, and whether or not you were supposed to be where you were and would quickly call your parents if they thought you were headed down the wrong road. I loved it. We moved because of my mother's rheumatoid arthritis and fortunately my father had a career with the Union Pacific that allowed him to transfer to a warmer, dryer climate. We moved to Southern California and I hated it.

Julesburg is a small (pop. approximately 1200) farming community...Ontario, California where we moved was huge by comparison. My high school graduating class had more students than the entire town of Julesburg. Chaffey High School campus in Ontario was originally a college campus and we had acres of land to traverse between classes. There was North Hall, South Hall, Library, Gym...and many other buildings besides...I never really felt like I belonged or fit in. Fortunately I had a few good friends that kept me centered and sane but I never really recovered the culture shock from our initial move during my high school years. For years I felt behind the proverbial eight ball because of the move.

But now...66 and looking back on my life...I can only say thank you! Thank you mom and dad for having the foresight to get me out of my comfort zone and into a world of change. That set me up for a life of loving change...embracing change...instigating change...still with an appreciation for the stability of sameness. My experiences have been so much richer as a result...you were good parents and role models. Thank you.

Retirement...starting the day with something you love...

Notice I said something...not someone. Someone you love may have something else in mind...like work, exercise, breakfast, news, newspaper, meditation...YOU need to identify what you love and begin your day with it.

I've begun my days with whining and laughing children, a mad dash to my workplace, cramming last minute for an exam or presentation, furious exercise, and numerous other endeavors both fun and sexy, seemingly critical at the time. But NOW...retired and with the luxury of doing pretty much as I please, most of my days begin as I choose.

Days beginning with partnership activities still occur, whether fixing breakfast, bag lunches, conversation and other stuff...:)...but most mornings begin singularly for me. I'm still up early...still choose to feed and water the dogs as soon as my feet hit the floor. Coffee is on before I have my eyes completely open...and then it happens. I think...what next? Oh my gosh...what luxury! Shall I paint a little...photograph the beautiful snowfall, work on images already taken that need some 'Photoshop' magic, swim a few laps at the local community center, EAT OUT...my all-time favorite meal to venture out for...and the list goes on. This morning is no exception. (Next week starts my online classes so I have a little more required structure to my life then) but for this morning...it's my choice! And I choose to...

Blog...really? Is that what I wanted to do this morning? Yes! Why? Who cares? I've started another wonderful day of retirement (I know, am I really retired when I'm teaching online part-time?) YES! I'm still doing something of my choosing...something I love to do, with the luxury of not doing it tomorrow if that's my choice. You can't beat that, right?

Retirement years...are they really golden? They have been for me...

Views from my 'blogging spot' this am

Write daily...right!? Well, how about painting every other day?

Oh my gosh...where has the time gone? And my commitment to write daily? Oh well...better late than never, right? Even if it's ten days late. I'd like to use the excuse of busyness, but that's not really the case. I've complained of 'boredom' all month long as I continually work to adjust to a slower pace and retirement.

Hopefully my commitment to paint more often has more staying power. Here is what I"m working on currently.

Holton Poppies

Irrational fear of the DENTIST!

The dentist is high on my list of irrational fears. Not only the dentist but even the hygienist appointments are objects of dread. One of my teeth needed a filling and so with a great amount of trepidation (obsessed over this past week) I sat in the dentist's chair this morning.

The fear is getting worse although I've never experienced anything extremely painful. I've been attending the dentist regularly (or fairly regularly) most of my life. I've kept regular cleaning appointments and have had done all the work the dentist has recommended. Again...practically pain free (only little pokes when you get a shot) and occasionally jab of pain when cleaning, but really nothing at all to warrant the dread with which I think of having to walk into that office for work to be done.

Jokingly I asked if I could 'smoke a joint' to relax me (after all medical marijuana is legal in the state of Michigan) and the dentist laughed and said he was allowed to dispense something like Valium if I'd like...and of course I could always have nitrous oxide. Well, that would be letting fear get the best of me right, right. So of course, I sat back in the chair and tried to relax on my own with no help from drugs.

Once the work (shot, drilling, filling) begins, I do feel my fear start to subside. Knowing that all I have to do is raise my little finger and the dentist and/or his assistant will immediately try to make me more comfortable if necessary, makes the journey as comfortable as is possible.

One half hour later and I'm home free! The work is done and I'm SO relieved. As I walk out of the office I think...that was ridiculous, I'd wasted precious moments obsessing about this 'piece of cake' visit instead of living my life. I hope I'll remember that next time. Well actually I'm hoping there will be no next time...that my teeth will stay in good shape for the rest of my long and healthy life!

Hey, I'm trying to work here!

After receiving a challenge (backhanded since it wasn't really addressed to me) to blog every day, here I am. I'm excited to have the reason to write. I love to write...look forward to it, anticipate what subjects to write about...but still can't quite get into the blogging mode daily. I hope this challenge starts me down the road with no return.

Georgia trying to entice me to play with her

I think one of the reasons my blog is difficult for me to write daily is because I have no real focus. I seem to write whatever hits my fancy for the day...retirement, work, relationships, travel, dogs, etc. There is no consistency...and some days, I just don't recognize the inspiration.

Then...day before yesterday, inspiration walked right through my door. By accident, I was introduced to a Pulitzer Prize winning writer...Dale Maharidge. He was sourcing interviews for an article in progress and came upon my husband's name in a news article. To make a long story much shorter, he interviewed my husband, stopped by the house for a moment after the interview and proceeded to make me green with envy as he explained his writing life.

So here I am...practicing writing. I know I can't expect to be a journalist without training and advanced education in journalism, but I can practice...and that I will do. Who knows where this road may lead!

66 and Sleeping like a dog...

Literally...the view from and of my sleeping facilities for the night. Beautiful, cozy and shared with one of my favorite travel companions, Mack, on the road to Colorado.

As one of my previous posts indicated, recently retired and feeling a strong need to see my sis in Colorado, Mack and I started out going north from our home base of Holton, over the bridge (Mackinaw) and through the UP, around the lower tip of Lake Superior and westward ho! Although our destination was the northeastern tip of Colorado, my secondary goal (photographing something...anything ) propelled my drive through the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the way down.

Our successful maiden voyage in the almost new auto, a Ford, Hybrid CMax Sel,  averaging about 40 mpg, combined with the comfy and inexpensive sleeping arrangements, guaranteed it would not be our last.

Paradoxically, if you know me at all, you'd swear I was a 4-star minimum, hotel kind of gal. And quite honestly, I was until the realities of retirement hit me. EEKK...no every other week payday? (And I blamed it on the influx of bedbugs in hotel rooms.)

While I've been planning for it, prepared and anxiously awaiting it, retirement does STILL come as a huge shock. Here it is...I finally have time for my passions...travel and art, but... I have more time. I have less money. I have a career. I have no regular payday (well I really do...retirement and social security) but not from my freelance business. I obsess about the unimportant details encountered in daily living but have time to appreciate life. I have time to write and do art but diminished motivation (have always had to squeeze it in...and with laser-like focus accomplished a lot in a small window of time.)

So...life changes...adjustments are made...and new goals established. What's next? A road trip? I think I'll try either a color tour or a drive by of lighthouses in Michigan...on the cheap, in the car with Mack. My next art project? A pastel painting of poppies.

I'll keep you posted.

Driving through though the Dakotas

Verterans of War Memorial Cemetery visited on 9/11 - South Dakota

View from our sleeping quarters night three

Another view from our sleeping quarters (back of car) in a small campground

Landscape in South Dakota

Buffalo Chip campground outside Sturgis, South Dakota

The images I can capture are a huge reason I love to drive through the Dakotas. The landscape, clouds and beauty of the farmland beckon me and my camera every few years.