A DEEP FOREST BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

BIRTHDAYS ARE A BIG DEAL TO LAURIE----and she carries everyone along with her enthusiasm  regardless of whose it is.  This day it was mine.

Monsoon rains are upon us nearly every afternoon.  I love it!

Laurie begins my special day with a delicious breakfast. 

 Eggs, potatoes, sausage, OJ

 Then three of us are off adventuring to the foothills of those mountains--the highest in Arizona.

 7 miles into the forest to visit this cave.

 We've decided to go a mile underground without a guide.  That's the entrance.

Tricky--but do-able--nearly straight down.

 

 CB about half way to the bottom

 Laurie's found something that glitters

 Mostly one can walk upright

 

 occasionally a little bending and crawling

 To the very end---about a mile from the entrance

 Laurie finally emerges---she sat alone in the dark --- played flute music--- meditated

Evening Back at home---they surprise me with gifts, cake and Ice cream

And for a super special treat she sings the song she wrote for me:

Here's the first verse:

BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY AND THE WIND

 

Between the highway and the wind

I'm taking to the road to reclaim my life again.

Though you may not understand

Why I'm leaving my friend

My heart lies between the highway and the wind.

 

 Click to hear her sing the song for a movie

 

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Isolation is a dead end--The self is fulfilled in community.  (Teilard de Chardin) 

A community committed to CHAMPION you is an incredible delight.

 

With the turning of this page I'm beginning to think of my END GAME----I hope to envision a new project for my final days, months, years.  I'm open to suggestion.