I am embracing the Gypsy in my soul again, giving in to wanderlust. Good thing the man I married likes to travel – though I figured as much since he was driving an 18-wheeler all over the country when I met him.

This year, I have realized the dream of visiting two places I have always wanted to experience. In late fall, we packed our suitcases and headed for New Mexico. It was everything I’d dreamed of and more. It has made my list of possible places to live.

A few weeks ago, when the realm of the MAD Goddess started looking like a snow globe about to burst at the seams, it was the hubby who said, “Pack the trailer, we’re outta here.”

Two weeks later (it takes a long time to prepare and pack a travel trailer in 20-below zero weather, having to trudge through three feet of snow to get to it), we were on the road bound for New Orleans – The Big Easy, baby!

Morning on the Pond

This experience has been nothing near to what I expected. That’s okay – it’s still enriching.

I am in the Deep South, where I expected cedar swamps, trees dripping with Spanish moss and an air of mystery. Looking out my window as I write, I see towering white pines – just like at home.  And no mystery about it, the air is humid. That much I expected.

A few bluebirds visit every morning, enjoying the grape jelly I started serving after the first day I spotted one winging past our site. A flock of Canadian Geese is lingering on the pond, along with a pair of ducks. I’ve also caught a few glimpses of an elusive white crane.

And this —

Precious the Beer Drinking Monkey

Those who know me well know I’ve had a secret desire to run away with the circus since I was a child. So you might understand that I couldn’t be more tickled to have Precious, the beer drinking, horse riding monkey, as a camp neighbor.

Okay, its one of those springy-horse toys for children. Regardless, if Precious were given the opportunity I know she’d love to ride a real horse – and if that isn’t circus worthy, I don’t know what is.

Precious is just one more delightful reminder to me that the fulfillment of our dreams can be just around the next corner – so long as we keep the desire in our heart and remain open to all the possibilities life has to offer . . . and the many ways wishes might be fulfilled.

Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it?  P-shaw.  I say wish away, buckle your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride. In the words of E.L.O., “Accroches-toi a ton reve.” Hold on tight to your dreams!

If you are joining me in the Dark Moon Lodge, hop over to that page for this weeks BIG, EASY journaling prompt.

Throughout our lifetime we are many things to many people, including ourselves when we choose paths to careers, lifestyles and relationships. As women we wear many hats. We are born somebody’s daughter and perhaps sister. We grow up and become someone else’s lover and maybe wife. Likely we are mother to one or more children. Even if we do not give birth we foster others, or we nurture other creative endeavors; it’s our way.

Another way we have is to become shape shifters. My stars! – we can become whatever the situation calls for in the time it took Samantha Stevens to wiggle that pretty little nose of hers. And I’m not laying the rap for that on any outside control. We do it willingly. We do it for the strokes it gives us. We purr and lap up the praise like greedy little felines lapping up milk.

To be clear, here, I’m talking about women of a certain era. The younger generations have learned and earned an independence we believed existed about as much as we believed the moon was made of green cheese. It comes with it’s own set of undie-bundlers, but that’s another story for another day.

I recently posted this poem (I wrote a few decades ago), but I think it’s worth sharing again. It says so much about how we shape our lives in willing service to others. Sometimes it all happens so easily, we to forget who we really are.

My Own Small Voice ~
daughter
sister
mother
wife
what if ?
orphan
only child
childless woman
widow
who am I, then?
lover
friend
just more names
fitting me to others’ frames
i have listened long to their words
fragmented by the messages heard
now one voice, though quiet and small
has the magic to silence them all
© – All rights reserved.

I wrote this at a time, not of discontent for my lot in life, but when I was rightly questioning how or if I might make different day-to-day choices if I were not attached to any other person. What movies would I choose to see, what food would I cook and eat, where would I like to live, work, and play? This type of healthy, self-examination kept me from martyring myself to any quarter – because we all know, martyrdom rarely ends well.

Beneath all the hats, and all of the masks you wear, who are you? Who do you want to be in your second half of life? What spark of creativity is hiding beneath layers of imposed fear, pain, anger – maybe even abuse?

Begin to listen to that small voice speaking from your heart of hearts. She is you in your purest essence. She will tell you what happiness is. She will show you loving ways of nurturing yourself at least as much as you nurture others. She has the power to heal your wounds, feed your dreams and lead you on your path to a life lived with purpose, passion and pizzazz.

Are you ready to begin the journey. Come into the Dark Moon Lodge and see what it’s all about. Use password – darkmoon.