Somewhere in the World
As our trip nears the end,
And we say goodbye to friends,
We vow to meet again
Somewhere in the world.
We took a long train ride,
With friends side by side.
We explored near and wide
Somewhere in the world.
We ate a fancy meal
And laughed and talked with zeal
With a win-the-jackpot feel,
Somewhere
in the world.
We did fun things like paint
And walked till we felt faint.
Someday we’ll reacquaint,
Somewhere in the world.
Quebec City
We took a tour of the city
And were told of its history.
We wandered in a citadel
And looked out in a battlefield.
We shopped a street of cobble stones.
We felt France in our bones.
We ate a lunch of sandwich and fries,
Chatted and laughed, a joyful surprise.
We discovered a wood carver’s shop,
Amazing carvings that did not stop.
He showed his work bench amidst saw dust.
To see work in progress was a must.
The next adventure was a steep hill.
To ride the toboggan was a thrill.
A long, slow trudge up to the top,
Then lickety-split we came to a stop.
We topped the evening
With a Michelin Star dinner,
A six-course meal,
A real award winner.
We said our good byes.
I saw some tears.
Imagined we’d meet again
Through the years.
We packed up our things
And went to bed that night,
Not knowing what awaited
In the morning light.
On to Quebec
From Montreal to Quebec by train,
A little snow, a little sun, fog and rain.
Settled into a castle on a high hill top.
The fun and adventures seem not to stop.
We took a tour which started outside.
We bought tickets for a toboggan ride.
We viewed the mountains and the river,
A beautiful gift from the ultimate Giver.
We toured inside the castle with a dapper man.
To tell us of its history was his plan.
We went to the ball room, now divided by three.
On the stairs, a wish, a kiss, and Karen kissed me.
We painted pictures for a lark.
I liked the one I did of the park.
We ate till our bellies were full.
For vacation, that’s a golden rule.
Montreal
Tall buildings, old and new
A lovely park with a view
A whole city under ground
Sis and I found our way around.
Walking to strengthen the heart
To a museum of modern art.
A pasta dinner along with jazz.
Some of the wonders Montreal has.
Iranians dancing in the street,
May their oppressors know defeat.
Some games of Splendor to settle in.
How does Judy always win?
Had a short sleep, but no pity.
Tomorrow a train to Quebec City.
Train Ride
Chugging along on the train
Amidst fog, snow and rain.
And then a five-star hotel
Add dinner and all is well.
Only four days remain.
Malory told us her tale
Of hiking the Pacific Trail.
“I would love to do that,” I said,
“However, I might end up dead.”
At this stage, I’d surely fail.
Niagara Falls
Very dismal weather,
cold, foggy, a bit of rain.
Glad for my winter coat, gloves, hood.
Prof, our guide, very knowledgeable,
gave us some of Canada’s history,
of which I know precious little.
We snapped smiling pictures
in front of the Toronto sign,
and at a LOVE sign made of locks
in the red brick distillery region,
and ate pizza and shopped for souvenirs
at St. Lawrence Market.
We rode on our roomy bus
to the Niagara Falls.
We walked about
and found a good overlook,
one which Gordon Ramsey
and entourage didn’t block.
The three sets of falls,
shrouded in fog and mist,
still beautiful. More photos,
then a long ride back
and a nice dinner split
between us two sisters.
Tomorrow the train.
Arriving Toronto
The scenery from the airport
to downtown Toronto
looked like a black and white photo.
Rain painted everything in shades of gray.
The buildings tall.
The streets busy.
People everywhere.
It made me a bit dizzy.
After a long travel day,
with little food and little sleep,
I devoured my salmon dinner
and half of my sister’s beef.
Added ice cream on top of that.
I’m afraid our little tour group
thought, Wow that lady can eat!
Now it’s time to snuggle up
in this luxury hotel
and sleep,
and hope to be ready for a day of
exploration and adventure in Toronto.
But don’t pronounce the second “t”.
March 4th
Today I will march forth
on my way to Canada.
“You’re going on a trip AGAIN!”
Yes, I have a theory:
when the travel bug has bitten
and is given opportunity,
it will do a happy dance
that makes you feel alive.
So travel away!
So I’ll travel away
to Canada today.
But first stop in Durango,
Sleep at the Super 8,
To avoid driving in the dark.
One More Day
To see the blood moon,
I got up at four.
I would have preferred
To stay home and snore.
But I had to work
At the nature center,
With sixteen children
With Kathie a mentor.
And then home again,
Almost in a stupor,
Wanting to do nothing,
A real party pooper.
But I aim mentally
To get in gear,
As Sis and I head
For the second trip this year.
So we’re off to Canada.
Perhaps there will be snow.
Less than 24 hours,
We’ll be on the go.
Two More Days
I’m suffering from overwhelm.
Jesus, would You take the helm?
There’s too much to do.
My brain’s turned to goo.
I need my life to be in Your realm.
Three More Days
Some friends tend to flip
When I’m off on another trip,
But the time seems right
To take train or flight,
Since I just got back from a ship.
There once was a cat named Sledge
Who spied a glass on the ledge
He couldn’t resist it
And boldly did fist it
Glass smashed since it fell over edge
LOL
Laughing out loud from your spirit.
Humor abounds if you hear it.
Through trial, toil and trouble,
Let laughter so bubble.
Just let loose and do not fear it.
Matthew 26:15
For silver pieces, three time ten.
Our Lord was sold to die and then
He bled and died as sacrifice
In our place
In our place
In our place
Amazing that we’re worth that price
I Peter 1:7
First Peter says though gold is great,
It’s not so great as our pure faith—
The hope we hold to be with Him.
He promised.
He promised.
He promised.
Let’s not let faith in Christ grow dim.
Clean Start to Life as Usual
In Mesa, early church and pray,
Packed up our things and headed north.
A pleasant sunny drive that day,
As we made three stops going forth.
To me vacay is of great worth.
Monday, faced a long to-do list,
Shopping, laundry, you get the gist.
Tuesday, back to work, did my part
Today, I’m tired my mind’s a-fizz.
Took a nap, now, for a clean start.
Day 3 in Mesa, Return Trip
Family of four
Valentine’s celebration
Take out of chicken, burgers and fries
Preparing
Packing
Parting
See you in four months, Lord willing.
Till then you’re in our hearts.
Day Two in Mesa Return Trip
We could never imagine
when we met when our kids were small
that forty years later,
we’d plan to travel to Scotland together.
What a fun conversation we had this afternoon,
neither one of us wanting to end the phone call
Long-time friendships-- Sustenance for the soul.
Day One in Mesa Return Trip
Sleep
Cook, eat
Do dishes
Play Canasta
Do some groceries
Reorganize luggage
Write a poem and post online
Buy needed electronic cords
Watch TV till two in the morning
Delayed Again
Sat in the
Pheonix airport,
Delayed for
three hours.
Arrived in
Fort Lauderdale.
Had a
wonderful cruise in Central America.
Back in Fort
Lauderdale.
Delayed
again.
Missed
connection in Dallas.
Delayed
again.
No flight
till morning.
Counted the
hours.
Dozed off
with my backpack as a pillow.
Seven AM
finally came around.
On the plane,
pilot announces,
“Maintenance
Issue.”
Delayed
again.
Finally in
Mesa with my kids.
Going home
this weekend.
Next trip,
three weeks later.
I hope I’m
not delayed again.
Sitting in Ft Lauderdale Airport
We had an
early start
The ship to
disembark
And now I
sit and sit and sit
And I’ll eat
in just a bit
Then it will
be time to sit some more
I can’t wait
to go out the door
And to
Phoenix I will fly
And be
picked up by my son Eli
And then
Hubby will be waiting
And greet me
as if we’re dating
And Lori in
I will play Canasta
It’s fun
even though she’s the mast’ah
Last Day
Packing,
eating, resting
Trivia, art
gallery, Splendor
Bye to
Matthew the Chef
Our last day
aboard the ship.
Then Sis is
off to Lincoln
And I’m off
to Phoenix
As kids,
could we ever imagine
traveling
the world together?
Winding Down
Penultimate
day on the Viking Mars
Splendor is
a favorite pastime of ours
We also
learned to paint cute toucans
And we fit
doing laundry into our plans
It was
Sunday and church service was great
And we heard
that the Sea Hawks can celebrate
We ate meals
late because I had slept in
Nine hours
of sleep, what a way to begin!
Now we’re
headed for our last day of vacay
We’ve got to
do some packing on our last day.
