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The Road Less Traveled
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~ Robert Frost
Friendship ~ Love
Friendship is a quiet walk in the park with the one you trust
Love is when you feel like you are the only two around.
Friendship is when they gaze into your eyes and you know they care.
Love is when they gaze into your eyes and it warms your heart.
Friendship is being close even when you are far apart.
Love is when you can still feel their hand on your heart when they are not near.
Friendship is hoping that they experience the very best.
Love is when you bring them the very best.
Friendship occupies your mind.
Love occupies your soul.
Friendship is knowing that you will always try to be there when in need.
Love is when you will give up everything to be at their side.
Friendship is a warm smile in the winter.
Love is a warming touch that sends a pulse through your heart.
Love is a beautiful smile to which nothing compares:
A tender laugh, which opens your heart,
A single touch that melts away your fears,
A smell that reminds you of the tenderness of heaven,
A voice that reminds you of the innocence of youth.
As the cool winds begin to blow and the night air turns cooler I am reminded once again of the feelings of Fall. I look forward to warm crackling fires and nights spent camping under the stars. The feel of a warm blanket as I snuggle down for the night. The sounds of the owl in the distance and the other noises that are so welcoming as the days grow shorter. I welcome the feelings of tranquility and satisfaction as the hot summer days wind to an end and the crisp cool air reminds me that winter is on the way.
The star filled skies of the October nights are magnificent and the colors of the Colorado aspens in contrast to the evergreens are majestic.
I have always enjoyed taking road trips. It seems that just the thought of taking off footloose and fancy free with no real destination in mind is one of my favorite things; some of life’s best surprises are the trips that are unplanned, spur of the moment journeys.
I am one of those people who will jump in their car and take off with absolutely no plans for where I am going or when I will arrive. I always like the idea of enjoying life without having to plan it all out; I always enjoy the interesting occurrences that have taken place off of the beaten path and it seems that some of the best loved memories occur when they are least expected and not planned.
The old saying “the best part of the journey is the journey not the destination” is one that always proves itself true. To travel with no destination in mind is wonderful and to travel with a partner that shares your since of adventure is even more fulfilling.
I have been blessed to find a partner in life that is a teacher, a lover and a friend. Together we are enjoying our new mode of transportation as we begin our journey of seeing this country up close and personal.
Our latest adventure was a 1500 mile motorcycle trip. We began our trip in Illinois, traveled into Wyoming, down to Colorado and back to Wyoming. It was my first experience on any motorcycle trip that involved more that riding around the block. In preparation I had scoured the internet and questioned many friends on what to expect and what I would need to take along. It seems that the best piece of advice I received was that it is not what you bring but how you experience the ride that is most important.
From the passenger seat I experienced it all by involving every one of my senses in the experience. To me it was the embodiment of total freedom. I think, besides flying, this has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences imaginable. The feel of the wind in my face was amazing and the closeness it gave me with my partner was tremendous. We could both experience the sights, sounds and feelings separately and then could talk about them once we had stopped to picnic, stretch, gas up or just because. This is a simple way to travel and it is so very wonderful and it turned into a trip that I will forever treasure.
Taking an extended motorcycle trip was one of the things that had always been on my “to do list” but the opportunity had never presented itself to me until now. I am so thankful that the timing on this journey turned out the way it did because it was even better than I could have imagined. The weather was perfect as we traveled through the heartland of America, there were beautiful clear skies and the temperatures were pleasant and comfortable. We traveled leisurely, taking in the scenery and stopping and enjoying life. It is refreshing to know that this wonderful life is filled with one adventure after another and it is absolutely amazing how many things I find to give thanks for each and every day. I am truly, truly blessed.
As the summer days turn cooler and the beginning of autumn is on the horizon I am reminded once again of the enchantment of Bavaria. This area in Germany is full of romance and intrigue. The buildings are an architectural dream and the countryside with the rolling hills is breathtaking.
Here in my world I am trapped in the modernism of today’s lifestyle and the way of life that we as Americans have become accustomed to. In the small towns of Germany, the world moves at a slower pace and I remember with delight the feelings of complete happiness that I experienced while visiting there.
Though it has been several years, when I close my eyes, it is as if I were once again standing in the Alps and experiencing the most majestic views imaginable. My time there was a true gift and one that will live forever in my heart.
There is an area in Bavaria that is known as the Romantic Road. The area is all that is implied by the name and more. It is full of castles, churches, monasteries and every romantic image one could dream of. This is truly a step back into the past to the days of knights and ladies fair and a remarkable fairytale view of romance in full bloom.
Another breathtaking area is the Rhine River. In traveling down this river I was amazed at all of the wonderful castles that dotted the banks. Some were in various states of ruin but all evoked a since of the romanticism that seems to be missing in the modern world of today. This river and valley is full of mythical legends and myths of love and enchantment and romance.
I remember vividly the magnificent colors that were visible in the trees this time of year, the oranges, reds and greens. I remember the feelings that grew deep in my soul because I was able to embrace a place that had become so important to me. I remember the feelings of acceptance of myself and the world around me because I had rediscovered myself in this beautiful part of the world.
I know that life is full of blessings and of magical moments, for me, visiting this area of the world and remembering its allure, is one of the greatest and most extraordinary. So, as I once again snuggle under the blanket on this wonderfully chilly and rainy day, I will reflect on the pictures in my mind and will forever be thankful for the moments that have made me realize that I am truly blessed.
Why does the thought of the American cowboy bring to mind romance and nostalgia? What is it about the cowboy that personifies the American spirit of adventure and intrigue? Do we all dream of a simpler life and time that is only imagined by most but lived out daily by the cowboys of the Western frontiers? While spending time in Wyoming, looking out over the endless prairie I have begun to imagine what life could be like for these iconic figures.
While growing up watching westerns it is refreshing to think, to hope actually, that the true western spirit can be captured by the visions of dark starry nights, campfires with cowboys singing and storytelling about the adventures of the day and a way of life that has been played out on the screen and played out in our heart and through our imagination. In many ways it seems a contradiction that these cowboys are the reckless, fearless, honorable men that make up the backbone of the American frontier while they are also the adventurous spirits that we think of as young children in make believe. These cowboys in our mind and heart are the ones who still believe in chivalry, who still believe in adventure, who still believe in loyalty, who still believe in honor, who still believe in love of family and love of life. Like the lyrics to “my heroes have always been cowboys” true cowboys are a breed unto themselves, dreamers, adventurers, loners and romantics.
In watching the old westerns, we realize that cowboys, with all of their romantic values, bring forth what we all hope for and dream of in a county divided by ideas and ways of life. Through them we are unafraid of where we are going and always able to look back with pride at where we have come from and who we are growing up to envision and become. We realize, through watching, that life is a journey full of trials, tribulations and jubilations – one step forward with dreams of what could be, what should be and what all is in store for us once we realize that the world before us is full of adventure and happiness and all that that entails. The life of a cowboy is always a challenge, forever a vision.
Imagine the dark indigo sky of the western Wyoming frontier. Imagine the feel of vast acreage spreading out in every direction. Imagine a life of freedom and a life of love, happiness and all that the true dream of the west encompasses. Life is good in Wyoming and life is good through the eyes of the American cowboy. Long live the Wyoming cowboy and long live his dreams.
As the Labor Day Weekend approaches I am filled with excitement to be heading to Denver. We have just completed a 1000 mile motorcycle trip from Illinois to Wyoming and will be heading to Colorado for the long weekend to see friends and attend a Zac Brown concert in Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
The views from Red Rocks are so spectacular. On a clear night you can see the lights from Denver, enjoy the beautiful stars and listen to amazing music in one of the most spectactular outdoor amphitheatres in the world.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre http://www.redrocksonline.comis a rock structure in Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado (west of Denver), concerts are given in the open-air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large outcrops angled outwards from stage left and a seating area for up to 9,450 people in between.
As Labor Day approaches I am reminded that it has been a year since I began writing this Bohemian Review Blog. There have been times that I have published a lot and others that I have slacked off. This year I hope to dedicate more time to this project and expand and follow through on other ideas that are running around in my head. Once again, in honor of Labor Day, I thought it would be nice to hear Come Monday by Jimmy Buffet. This song was written for his girlfriend who later became his wife.
I am always the romantic and this song has a special meaning to me as we head out to Denver for the holiday.
I am one of those travelers who love to go off of the beaten path. On my first cross country excursion, I made it a point to travel through “Texas towns” that songs had been written about. I also avoided major interstates and thoroughfares as much as possible. I enjoyed visiting the small towns but did spend some time as well in some of the larger, more famous cities.
Traveling the backroads of Texas, I made my way through Amarillo, Abeline, LaGrange, Dallas, Houston, etc. As one who always believe in “signs” I was excited and thrilled that as I entered the town of Amarillo, I heard “Amarillo by Morning” a longtime favorite of mine by George Strait.
The icing on the cake however, was when I made my way into Luckenbach, Texas. I had been a fan of the song by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson and had always wanted to visit there.
I arrived in Luckenbach in April, first stopping and setting up my tent at the Armadillo Farm Campground. I was fortunate enough to arrive in the off season, thus giving me the opportunity to meet and befriend the friendliest campground host imaginable. Her campground was conveniently located across from the Luckenback general store gathering area (or dance hall) where the locals meet to play music and visit. My tentsite was actually so close that I could hear the music of the Luckenback locals from my tent. I chose, of course, to visit the dance hall and hear the music firsthand.
The night was wonderful and the music was phenominal. I went as a guest of my camphost and was introduced to all of the locals and made to feel special and at home. I told everyone about my quest to visit songs that had been made famous in song and was serenaded with all the ones that we could think of. The thrill of the night was hearing Luckenback Texas, in Luckenback…. what a special memory. A special thank you to all of the musicians and new friends that I met.
Luckenbach is an unincorporated community thirteen miles (19Â km) from Fredericksburg in southeastern Gillespie County, Texas. Its oldest building is a combination general store and saloon reputedly opened in 1849. Today the town maintains a ghost town feel with its small population and strong western roots. One of its two main buildings houses a post office, saloon, and general store, the other is the dance hall. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson memorialized Luckenbach with the song “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)”
If you get a chance to visit Luckenback be sure to stop by and visit The Armadillo Farm www.armadillofarmcampground.com located in wonderful Texas hill country. It is billed as an “in tents experience” and they offer daily, weekly, and monthly tent and rv sites and also have cabins available for rent.
Always know that your life is what you make it and only you can choose the direction and path it will follow. This is the song I woke up singing today. Enjoy!!!
Hallelujah was written by Leonard Cohen and was first recorded by him in 1984. Cohen’s original version contains several biblical references, most notably evoking the stories of Samson and traitorous Delilah from the Book of Judges as well King David and Bathsheba: “she cut your hair” and “you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you”
It was recorded again by John Cale and Jeff Buckley to mention two of many. “Hallelujah”, in its original version, is a song in “12/8 feel”, which evokes the styles of both waltz and gospel music. Written in the key of C major the chord progression follows the lyric “it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, and the major lift“: C, F, G, A minor, F.
Cohen performed the original song in 1985, but live performances during his 1988 and 1993 tours contained a different set of lyrics with only the last verse being common to the two versions. Numerous other artists have mixed lyrics from both versions sometimes making direct lyric changes.
Yesterday a friend and I went to Disneyland. I was giddy with excitement as it had been almost a quarter of a century since I last stepped into the Magic Kingdom, billed as the happiest place on earth.
It was so exciting and fun riding the rides and seeing the sites, we rode and rode and stayed until almost closing. What fun!! For me, the truly magical part was thinking of the imagination and fortitude it must have took to dream, believe and conceive of such an idea. Imagine if you can, being a part of something of such magnitude that it is known the world over, imagine having a dream and following through with your vision, imagine bringing happiness to so many children and adults alike, imagine the possibilities. So is life, some dream, set goals and see them to fruition, others only dream.
You see things and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?
~ George Bernard Shaw
Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.
Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
~ Albert Einstein
If you can dream it, you can do it. It’s kind of fun to do the impossible
~ Walt Disney
Remember to dream but more importantly remember to make your dreams a reality, for what is life without our dreams?
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.
But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And his tune is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
And the trade winds soft through
The sighing trees
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
Lawn and he names the sky his own.
But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.
