From Obstacles to Possibilities

I spent 7 months full time in the motorhome in 2006 travelling across the U.S. and back – visiting family and friends and seeing new things.  I was in Traverse City, MI – late June – a spot where my family vacationed when I was a child and home to my Great-Aunt Betty.   The mid-west heat and humidity made me homesick for the west, the mountains and Montana and one afternoon I looked at the Montana real estate online site and saw…  1 bedroom, 1 bath house on 8 acres on a road I knew and liked….  I had a friend look at it for me – should I fly back??  She looked, called me and said I should, that it was “me” and a special piece of property.  I was on the ‘net booking a flight when I panicked – it just did not feel right.  I regrouped, phoned her and told her I would wait until I returned in late July and look – if it was right, it would be there.

Late July I arrived back in Montana and set up in an RV park near Glacier National Park.  The house was still on the market and the price had been reduced.  I had an appointment to see it within a couple days of returning.  I was sure it would be perfect – it wasn’t…  The yard was overgrown, the front porch needed help, the interior had this low ceiling, goofy light fixtures, the garage had no power to it, the woods badly needed cleanup…on and on – all I saw was stuff that needed to be done and needed money to do it.  I had been overwhelmed by my last house and really wanted something simpler…

I went away disappointed and disheartened.  I decided to look at modest homes, with a bit of yard that could be fenced and try “city” living.  I made lists from the real estate site, drove past many homes in many neighborhoods.  I looked at some.  On my birthday I was looking at a couple of houses in a subdivision – new homes, nice houses, perfect landscaping – in my price range.  I stood in one and looked out past the neighboring houses to a nice view.  All I could think about was the goofy little house in the woods. 

I spent that birthday afternoon walking through the woods and the house and felt like I had come home.  The rightness of that place – for me – turned all of the obstacles into possibilities.  Suddenly I saw the opportunity to have something I had dreamed of.  It didn’t look exactly like my “dream” but it had the possibility to be that and maybe more.

From obstacles to possibilities – it happens with people too… people who cross our path who at first it seems like there are differences or distances of some sort that make friendship or closeness seem impossible – but some connection, some intangible want or need changes things.  

I’ve learned to catch myself when everything in my path seems like an obstacle – and REALLY look – into my heart – to see if maybe, just maybe that “obstacle” is really a possibility that I don’t want to miss.

a new perspective

I wrote the title above having an idea of what I intended to write about and then started wondering if I had the word right?  Or, if there were varied meanings so did I need to make clear which I was thinking about…

From Merriam-Webster (online)

per·spec·tive  noun

Etymology: Middle English perspectyf, from Medieval Latin perspectivum, from neuter of perspectivus of sight, optical, from Latin perspectus, past participle of perspicere to look through, see clearly, from per- through + specere to look — more at

From Wikipedia – (which is not necessarily accurate as the entries can be submitted by anyone..) 

Perspective may mean:

Literally, in visual topics:

Metaphorically, in relation to cognitive topics:

Onward, then… “perspective” – “to look more at” and “the way in which objects appear to the eye” – that’s behind today’s thoughts.  Pine Tree  Walking yesterday, I turned to check on Karl and saw this tree – backlit by the late afternoon sun.  I walk past this tree once or twice a day – I’m usually looking out at the mountains which are beautiful and majestic in the opposite direction.

But today, by accident of timing, I turned at a moment when this ordinary tree was cast in extraordinary beauty – at least to my eye.

Years ago, during a difficult time for me, I was seeing a counselor and had related some incident that was upsetting to me.  His comment when I finished my rant was simply: “You could look at it that way or you could look at it this way” and he told the incident from a “different” [new to me] perspective.  Either one could have been the “truth” or even some other scenario…

A valuable lesson – actually more than one:  Most of us are not mind readers and it is so easy to look at things, events or people from a point of view unique to our own experience but not necessairily accurate.

Sometimes, we need to turn around, take a step forward, backward, to the side, cock our head – look more at – the world and the people we care about. 

A slight change in perspective can change the ordinary into the extraordinary.

A Goose Story

This “story” is not mine… last year about this time I kept hearing geese flying over – flight after flight of them, directly over my house. They were just above tree top and lots of honking and flapping of wings to be heard.  I got to wondering – why all of the honking, how did they decide who flew with who, how do they decide when to leave – some leave early, some late – I know why the V formation but the other ???  I googled “goose” and this is my favorite even though it doesn’t answer all of the questions.  Here is the exact link to the original:  The Goose Story

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in ‘V formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following it.  By flying in a ‘V formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own.

Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they cooperate.

When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who are going the same way as we are.

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point.

It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. The lead goose (on the point) never honks

The power of praise and recognition is critical to success.

Finally, (get this) when a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group.

If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.

Year 1

Today is the one year anniversary of the day I closed on my little house.  I’m not big on the whole anniversary thing but the last two houses I bought were a stretch for me and my first places chosen on my own and with an amount of land and I’ve pretty much felt like I’m flying without a net!  So to get through the first year has seemed like a big deal to me with these 2 places.

10 days after move in, I closed out my last RV Trip Log with this entry dated 9/23/2006:

We are “settled” – all boxes are unpacked, pictures are hung, belongings are stowed.  This is harder and takes longer than I remember!  Love this little house more each day – the land is very special.  Karl, Bob and I (yep, Bob comes along) walk the perimeter at least twice a day.  There is plenty of room for a bit of soccer and chase games also.  Lots of things I’d love to do and I look forward to years of doing them!  Still – I am always open to opportunity and exploration – so, one day at a time!

In this last year, in the last several months some surprising – to me – changes in priorities – the house, the place – I still love them and enjoy the beauty and the quiet but there are new stories to be told, new adventure to be lived – I find I have no qualms about exploring something new.

Let the new year begin!

Things found

Feather and rockI found these things…a raven feather and a heart-shaped rock.

The rock is so interesting to me not only for its shape – who can resist something heart-shaped – a symbol of love – but it is so smooth on all of its edges.  It was in the ground like a stepping stone amongst the dirt, weeds, other rocks and what are probably the tips of boulders that are along a path I often walk near my home.  How many times did I step on it, over it, near it before the day I actually saw it….  I could spin all kinds of stories around that…

The feather – there are feathers around fairly often, but this is the first raven feather.  Ravens are not uncommon here – I don’t know how often they drop feathers but probably that is not uncommon either.  This caught my eye as it was in such good condition and although it looks black as night on the ground, when you pick it up and light catches it, there are the blue and green reflections in the black.

 And then there is the Native American lore surrounding the Raven.  I went searching on the internet hoping to find some prediction of good fortune or ???

As in all things of lore and mystic there are various interpretations and tales of what things mean but here is what I found that is from tribes in my area:

Raven’s medicine is magic.  She is the Great Mystery of the Void. Black, to Native Americans, is a color of magical power, and only to be feared if misused.  Raven symbolizes the void – the mystery of that which is not yet formed.  Ravens are symbolic of the Black Hole in Space, which draws in all energy toward itself and releases it in new forms.  The iridescent blue and green that can be seen in the glossy black feathers of the raven represents the constant change of forms and shapes that emerge from the vast blackness of the void.  In Native American tradition, Raven is the guardian of both ceremonial magic and healing circles. She is also the patron of smoke signals. Raven’s element is air, and she is a messenger spirit, which Native American shamans use to project their magic over great distances.

So, it is a message, I just don’t know what the message is….

Sat-ur-day… in the Park

Back to Whitefish – post eye Dr….beautiful day and SO grateful that my eye is ok.  Karl was with so we stopped at our walking place – now the Soccer fields…

daughter, Dad and ??? in the trailer:

Family always something special about Dad’s and daughters…maybe because I’m a daughter.  This little girl was interested in Karl and she and her dad had a short discussion about his color and white “socks” as they passed.  I couldn’t see “who” was in the trailer…

The photos following show the soccer fields which were being used for their intended purpose today. 

 Also below is a view into Glacier National Park with the pond in the foreground that is home to a variety of birds at least – this entire area is a bit of a wetlands – reclaimed by manmade methods for the soccer fields, a church and housing subdivision.  Privately, Karl and I preferred it as open land… but change – progress are inevitable – even in Montana…

Soccer

GNP