The Wandering Two…

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”

 – Anthony Bourdain

We emerged from the miasma of 2020 determined to regain our wanderlust!

But where to go? We plan an expanding circle of adventure – the record of which we will reveal in our next few posts.

– Daily walks in surrounding neighborhoods from our home renew us with sweetened air and simple beauty.

– In April, not venturing too far, we expand local mobility and enjoy a visit to Healdsburg, California, the best kept secret in Wine Country. 

– Next, an August flight to Santa Fe for socially distanced outreach to Opera, Native Lands, and Enchantment. 

– Finally a defiant slam dunk to NYC! We gain escape velocity to Big Apple entertainment and urbane normalcy – long lost, and now cherished.

As we all discover, the plague whip-tail is resilient and moves with frightening speed to temper our vaccinated hubris. 

Impressed by the seeming intelligence of this persistant virus, we now cower back at year-end, and timidly renew “safe” routines.

What follows here are telltale photos of swirled memories – presented in the year’s reverse order (ardor?). 

Feel free to provided your own interpretive captions!

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All pics captured on iPhone 12 / 13 Pro Max.

Click any pic to ride the photo carousel:

“In extraordinary times, the ordinary takes on a glow and wonder all of its own” 
                                                  ― Mike A. Lancaster, author

The Covid miasma un-conceals tuned-out treasures in plain sight: High-art of the everyday.

We are denied access to usual cherished distractions. Each morning begins with humble, recurring meditations:

Walks awaken pathways previously taken for granted. We are stimulated by the changes of seasonal portraits.

Dinner, and its devotional preparation, warms our appreciation of the hearth’s artistry.

Streaming videos each evening are fun explorations of foreign sensibilities and unknown histories.

We have rediscovered the compelling stimulation of…reading.

The previous prospect of restrictive living now yields new energized habits.

Surprisingly, we stay safe, and even flourish, in peaceful confinement.

“Extraordinary magic is woven through ordinary life. Look around!” 
                                   ― Amy Leigh, author

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All images captured on iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Click on any pic to engage the photo carousel:

Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away

– Rolling Stones

Sheltering-in-place lays bare unexpected curiosities. Wandering out in all directions we explore familiar surroundings, and discover riches formerly invisible to us. 

I view our neighborhood as if visiting an exotic destination.

Local streets are bursting with flowers that delight us with galleries of silent beauty. Amazingly, we glimpse the return of wildlife that reclaim abandoned territories.

Our seldom-seen neighbors now walk by peering from behind masks of cautious civility. We celebrate together via digital venues. Everywhere children express tender signs of encouragement.

Paradox is everywhere. Every day we walk paths of uncertainty and unease. 

Patience is the watchword. 

Unpredicted discovery is the reward.

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started 
And know the place for the first time…”

– T.S. Elliot

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All images captured on iPhone 11 Pro Max.   

Click on any pic to ride the carousel: