New Zealand
Other than some sleep adjustments, Meg and I have enjoyed an easy return to La Grande. Our community schedule has been light, so the "catch up" tasks have been easily accomplished. Slowly I am going through my images--visual and emotional--and gaining perspective and meaning from the three weeks we spent in New Zealand.
Regardless of one's world view--whether religious or not--this world is a unique and special place. We feast at an endless banquet, made more profound when we are able to take the time to savor the opportunities of each day. The "flavors" of our encounters with people and with nature are endless. The word "sacred" really does apply and at least mentally/emotionally, we do need to "take off our shoes" periodically in recognition of how blessed we are to have a short time to live on this earth.
Meg and I have been especially blessed in our travels since I retired in January, 2003. Our international travels to Ecuador, and mine to China, have been connected with working with the people of those countries. The flavors of food, people, and scenery have been both nuanced and intense. And now, spending three weeks in New Zealand with Matt, Teresa, Sebastian, and Emma has created family memories that anchor us to the incredible varied geography of that country.
Matt desinged a wonderful twelve day tour of South Island. More details of that trip will follow later. However, the over arcing memory is how well we did together. Sebstian is 10 and Emma is 8. Spending long days in a van and hiking the country side is not always fun for children that age. They were not always happy, but Matt and Teresa handled the children's "moments" gracefully and with patience. Most often, our nights were in a motel with two bedrooms, and a den/kitchen and one bathroom for six people. Again, our memory is of patience, good will, good naturedness and humor. The relationships of love and openness were deepened and expanded on many different levels during this time.
So, thank you for "listening" to this summary. More pictures and thoughts will follow as I continue to process the experience. Eric
2009-02-26 19:24:51
The Pacific Crest Trail from Willamette Pass to Elk Lake
Bob Carter, my hiking companion and I enjoyed a good hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from Willamette Pass ( the southern pass across the Cascades that connects Central Oregon to Eugene) and Elk Lake, a lovely lake 30 or so miles west of Bend. Although the trail itself was easy with little elevation gain, the surrounding circumstances challenged our mental stamina. Heat in the mid nineties and incessant mosquitoes from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed.
Whenever we exited our tents, the mosquitoes were immediately upon us, and 30 to 40 followed us into the tent. The first five to ten minutes after each reentry was spent killing mosquitoes. Fortunately are reflexives are still fast enough, and theirs are slow enough, that eliminating them inside the tent was not too hard. We wore head nets most of the time, except at mid day. The heat then seemed high enough that for whatever reasons they disappeared for several hours. Head nets helped immensely. However, it always was a macabre moment to see a mosquito inside the my head net, with the sun backlighting the body, and noticing that its translucent abdomen was bright red--a sign that it had found my body nourishing. :)
Many of the pictures I am sending out in this group represent a theme I love in the nature outside of us, and the nature inside of us--namely, recovery and renewal. Nothing truly dies in nature; it is always restored in some fashion. We, too, if we choose simply and/or courageously, can also find that hope. Blessings, Eric
2009-08-08 16:34:31
Time in Ecuador
Our medical mission trip to Vilcabamba and Catamayo, Ecuador lasted two weeks. Despite fully absorbing the sights, sounds, smells, moods, light of each day, I still could not believe how fast the time slipped down the hour glass. Two weeks felt like two days.
I returned home to La Grande early Sunday afternoon. As I hugged Meg, petted our golden retriever, looked around the familiar surroundings of our house, I felt that I had been gone for two months.
Two weeks are two weeks. However, from my perspective in Ecuador the time flew by, yet from my vantage point in La Grande, the time was greatly lengthened. To come to the end of experience is to make a new beginning. My "time past" is now my present and my future. New experiences await here at my earthly home, yet more and more, I wonder what my eternal home will be like. Blessings, Eric
2010-02-08 14:25:56
2010-02-08 14:43:22
UPDATES AND NOTES
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2010-02-08 14:43:22
Time in Ecuador
Our medical mission trip to Vilcabamba and Catamayo, Ecuador lasted two weeks. Despite fully absorbing the sights, soun ... read more
2010-02-08 14:25:56
The Pacific Crest Trail from Willamette Pass to Elk Lake
Bob Carter, my hiking companion and I enjoyed a good hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from Willamette Pass ( the southern ... read more
2009-08-08 16:34:31
New Zealand
Other than some sleep adjustments, Meg and I have enjoyed an easy return to La Grande. Our community schedule has been ... read more
2009-02-26 19:24:51
A boy and his duck