Fires Everywhere

What a week this has been...
I've been sitting here watching my city go up in flames - watching the incredible bravery of our firefighters - watching the wonderful spirit and generosity of our people. We live in such a diverse amazing place. I am grateful to be here. I am grateful so few lives were lost and my heart aches for all those who lost their homes.
We have had some horrendous tragedies and natural disasters all over the world the past few years and yet somehow, people are able to continue. We think we are so different, but we're not. We all want the same things - shelter, food, water, security, safety for our families - support from those around us when everything goes wrong.
We may not look the same - we may not live the same - but we are all connected and we are all in this together. The more I travel the more I see our similarities and appreciate our differences.
May today be a good day for all of you and your families!

Debbi

My next trip...

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.

St. Augustine

We are less than a month away from our next trip to Mexico and I am looking forward to it so much! Princess Cruises take me away... Coffee on my balcony - watching the dolphins - looking for sea turtles - a massage maybe... Lunch in the old square in Mazatlan - people watching - enjoying the peace... Shopping for Christmas presents in Puerto Vallarta - drinking a margarita (or 2) - walking along the Malecon - maybe buying a small painting - meeting wonderful friendly people... Perhaps a trip to San Jose del Cabo in Baja - walking through a mission - wandering and discovering... No chores - no real decisions - no cooking - just doing whatever I want to do and enjoying the company... I can't wait. Not the most adventurous type of travel - but most definitely relaxing.
Debbi

Weekend Musings

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

I know a woman who has traveled all over the world. She doesn't take "trips", she has adventures. She writes wonderful travelogues to her friends, during and after her travel. Reading them makes me feel as though I am there. She never criticizes others' customs or lands - she just observes, delights in the differences and appreciates the opportunity to be there. We should all travel like that. Delighting in the fact that somewhere else is DIFFERENT. After all, isn't that why we leave our cozy homes and the known sameness of our regular lives?
I agree with Mr. Twain - our regrets are almost always the things we didn't do.
So... what are your dreams? Where do you want to go next? Why?

Debbi