I Heart My Subaru

Quote of the Day:  A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. Peter DeVries

Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly payment is due. Author unknown, quotes found on quotegarden.com.

The car has become the secular sanctuary for the individual, his (her) shrine to the self, his (her) mobile Walden Pond. Edward McDonagh

Here I am driving my shiny new Subaru off the lot!

In The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, she asks the question, "What would you buy your artist if you weren't so stingy?" I thought I had given her all she needs. But, as the 2003 Dodge Caravan's odometer creeps up past 160,000 miles and the rust spreads like cancer, and the groaning old thing sounds like it's ready for retirement, I started looking for a newer road partner. I had no intention of buying something brand new. I had almost ruled out the Subaru because the dealership is in St. Cloud and I live an hour north of there. Still, it was a nice day, and we had some free time, so we jumped in the Biker Chef's Honda and went car shopping. After almost a week of research, driving around car lots, test-driving a Chevy Equinox, crunching numbers, and talking it over with family and friends, I felt fairly well informed. We told Dan, at the Subaru dealership, that we were looking for used. He said, "We have a screamin' deal on new Subarus." We looked. We took it for a ride. We crunched numbers. We said, "We need to ruminate," and went out for lunch. 

And, here she is parked in my driveway.

The t-shirt says, I heart my Subaru.

So, what sold me on the new Subaru? Number one is the gas mileage. The old van gets about 19 mpg, the Subaru around 30 mpg. We have verification on that from some very happy Subaru owners, who, btw, said they love their Subaru and wouldn't buy anything else. In fact, two of our friends are on their second Subaru. The other things I needed were enough room for my three cowboys, as The Biker Chef calls them. Three football player size teenage boys, and once in a while their older brother who might be visiting us from college. And, a huge factor in Minnesota is that it can handle ice and snow. That's what the Subaru is known for with its AWD system. It handled well, nice tight steering and brakes. I love the back-up camera. I've worried for years about backing out of my driveway, which is dark at night, and all the little kids that live around here. 

Alright, and it's a shiny, new, red car. I think my "cool factor" just went up with my kids. The middle son, who is just learning to drive, jumped in the driver's seat and seemed fairly confident. I named her Scarlet and she really sparkles in the sunlight. I think we'll have many grand adventures together!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about getting your first car, a new car, learning how to drive, or describe your dream vehicle.

The Travel Bug

 

Quote of the Day:  Taking a page from my own photo album (circa 1988).

 

Here I am having a snack at the airport/train connection in Frankfurt, Germany, during my study abroad experience. I wrote: The starting point of a one month tour of Europe.

(My early days of "blogging!")

Top picture: Me at the Frankfurt station.

Bottom picture: Me and Ric at the Munich train station, heading to Italy.

 

Last year, I posted this picture of my First Born, graduating high school, here in Minnesota, and heading to Texas Tech University for school.

 

Bobby who says, "Texas or Bust."

 

This year's cake (if we'd gotten one) would say, "Spain or Bust!"

Yep, he's taking the summer semester in Spain. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Again, I can only blame myself. I spent a full semester in Germany, January-May 1988, and added one more month of travel before I came home. It's an experience of a life time.

 

Bobby, ready to board the airport shuttle to start his European Adventure!

 

I sent a text message to his dad after I wiped a tear from my eye: He's off on the Lakes Express.

Reply from his dad: I am a combination of nervous and excited for him.

Me too, I wrote back.

 

What an exciting time of life, to be 19 and have the world at your feet. I feel so many emotions. I wish I could be there with him to make sure he gets safely to his destination and connects with the group. I'm proud of him for braving it on his own. I want to experience it with him, but know that it's his journey to take. So, with a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, I sent him off by saying, "I love you. Have fun, and be safe."

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  Write about your own grand adventures, or sending off a loved one. (I don't know how the military moms survive it. It's tough enough sending them off for an education.)



 

Adventure! Who knew?

Quote of the Day:  Mommy, your blog is just going to get bigger and bigger. - sweet, sweet words from my encouraging sons

One look at my flag counter and you'll see - I really get around - the cyber globe, that is.  My most recent visitor was from Italy which excites me to no end as I've recently been awed by the beauty and food of Italy from watching movies like Letters to Juliet and Eat, Pray, Love.

When I was in college, I studied abroad in Germany for a semester and traveled around Western Europe: Italy, Austria - where I met the pen pal I started writing to in the 5th grade, Holland.  Our group had a long weekend in Prague which was a huge learning experience to be inside a communist country.  I visited relatives in Norway and Sweden (Hi! family from the old country!)

I determined that my word is Adventure!  In the book and movie, Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert talks with her friends about how a place or person has a word.  Rome's is sex.  She thought New York City was succeed.  After seeing the movie with some friends, we talked about our word.  One gal liked saucy.  I didn't know until the next day that I'd named mine.  I had talked about my travels while in college, and how I'm getting out in the world again, traveling to PA in the fall for a writer's workshop.  I told them that I do have a sense of adventure.

My boys asked me about my first plane ride.  It was when I was 18-years-old.  I boarded the plane in Fargo, ND, and with a few stops along the way, ended up in Frankfurt, Germany.  How's that for your first flight experience!  That trip was mostly touring with a short home stay and meeting some families and students in a Gymnasium (Germany's word for high school).  My second big trip was back to Germany as a college student for a study abroad program.  I was there for six months.

My kids were shocked that I was so brave.  They see me as safety mom whose afraid of anything that goes too fast or too high, and makes them wear helmets and check in with me all the time - you get the picture.  So, when my oldest son heard about my adventures, he said, "Well, you like to travel.  When we're all grown up and gone I suppose you'll start traveling again."

I paused, "Yes, I think you're right.  That will just happen naturally because I'll have more time to do that, but it's not like I'm sitting around thinking, hmm, as soon as these kids are gone, I'm outta here."

Adventures can happen in big, long flights across the ocean, or they can happen when you venture outside your own door and move out of one comfort zone and into another one.

Today is my birthday - think I'll go have an adventure!

Photo taken at Aalgaard Studios by my grandpa Arne Aalgaard.

His adventure brought him from the old country to a new one, but that's a story for another day.

Journaling Prompt:  What's your word?  What is one of your greatest adventures?

A New Look

Quote of the Day:  Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

The Rose Gardens in Portland, OR give pleasure to all the senses.
 

They inspire creativity and offer moments of rest and peace, a place to breathe in beauty.

In the Shakespeare Garden, the woman in the background has her easel set up and is capturing this sight.

 
Walk slowly, breathe deeply, inhale the beauty all around you. It is our glimpse of Heaven.

Journaling Prompt: Describe something (or someone) beautiful in your life.

Tripping the Light Fantastic

Quote of the Day:  I could have danced all night! And still have begged for more.  I could have spread my wings, and done a thousand things I've never done before. - from I Could Have Danced All Night from the musical My Fair Lady

This past week I was in Portland, OR visiting my little sister, Joy.  There she is cuttin' a rug with her friend.  Our cousin Angie and I traveled together from Minnesota to see Joy and have a West Coast experience.  She took us out dancing where we were stretched out of our comfort zone learning dance steps and being led around the dance floor with new partners.  We were taught the East Coast Swing at the lesson, so when the guy asked me to dance the Rumba, I said, "I don't know that one."  That didn't stop him.  He said, "I'll teach you," and off I went whirling and twirling, slow-slow-fast, or something like that. (I did not step on his foot.)

The first thing she did was make us eat with our hands off the same plate at a Moroccan restaurant.  It was delicious and messy, but they wash your hands.

We sang show tunes together, like I Could have Danced all Night and The Music of the Night where Joy hit that amazing B.  I still have goosebumps.

I found myself noticing feet.  These red suede shoes belong to a waiter at a lovely French bistro where we had lunch.

Nordlys dancers at the Midsummer Festival - Scandinavian festival to celebrate the longest day of the year, and our heritage.

Our toes in the sand on the Oregon coast at Lincoln City.  Beautiful, but cool, and full of shadow and light.

These feet have taken me out of Minnesota, out of my comfort zone, and into a new light.  This is just the first glimpse, folks.  Look for more of this fantastic trip, the food, the journey - inward and outward, the books, and the fun.

Journaling Prompt: Where have your feet taken you lately?  Where would you like them to go?

I Left my Bra in Omaha

Quote of the Day:  So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.  Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. from The Message, Colossians 3:12-17

I wore that uncomfortable bra all the way from Brainerd to Omaha.  The under wire was poking near my underarm.  It was rubbing me the wrong way!  I needed to discard that old thing. Although no one else really sees it, I'd know that what was underneath the outer covering needed to feel and look right.  Purge out the old, put on something new!

I accompanied my friend on an inward-outward journey to Omaha because what's inside of her has been rubbing her the wrong way for years.  She suffers from depression, grew up in an alcoholic home, and is working very hard at getting healthy and living an authentic life.  She was willing to go alone and meet with a highly skilled therapist who lives there.  I thought about how hard that would be, to face your inner demons, then go to a hotel room all alone at night.  I offered to be her travel companion. I gave her the gift of a loving friend.

While she counseled for two days for inner healing, to shed the old nettles that poked and prodded her life, I went shopping.  Yes, I experienced retail therapy.  Nothing like getting a new bra to lift your spirits.  But, I also took time for myself - read a book, took a nap.  Something many moms neglect to do.  I hadn't made myself so unavailable to my kids in years.  Their Dad had to make arrangements to be "on call" for them.  As you know, we tend to have an emergency now and then!

What's underneath your outer appearance has everything to do with the way you feel.  If it's ugly and broken, purge it, and try on something new.  If you need a professional to help you figure it out, don't be afraid to ask for help.  You deserve to have a life filled with good people, healthy living, comfort and peace.

On a related subject, Jeannie Campbell is a writer/therapist whose blog The Character Therapist is filled with great insight into people's/character's psyches.  A recent post is on the top 10 reason's characters stay in abusive relationships.  Please read it and share the info with someone who needs it. Thanks.

Journaling Prompt:  Is there something in your life that's rubbing you the wrong way?  What can you do for yourself today?  What can you do to show love to a friend?