It was a wonderful trip to Boise and a heart-warming visit with daughter and grand-daughter. I loved and treasured every moment. There is no music to surpass the sound of a young voice saying, “ Nana, come see this,” or “Nana, let’s play school,” or “Nana, read to me, please”. Unless it is her mother saying, “Coffee is ready.”

Thanks for all the encouraging comments about flying. The flight both ways was highly unadventurous and easy. As much as I hated saying goodby to family members, it balanced out with seeing Bob waiting for my plane. HE BROUGHT FLOWERS! Yes, I do think I married the most sentimental, loving man on the planet.

I am on my way to Oregon. I fly out at some ungodly early hour tomorrow morning. Take three flights and land in Boise Idaho where family will pick me up. Wish me luck because I am not the bravest flier. In fact, I try to sit on the aisle so I can pretend I am on a bus which in my estimation is safer than a plane. It is always easier flying when I have Bob’s hand to hold, but he is staying home and taking care of the birds and dogs.

Guess I better leave you with this joke. It explains my feelings about flying.

A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this cool guy, “Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?”

The guy replies, “I’m Peter Pilot, retired American Airlines Pilot from Dallas.”

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom.” The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff.

Next it’s the minister’s turn. He stands erect and booms out, “I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary’s in Pasadena for the last 43 years.”

Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, “Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom.”

“Just a minute,” says the minister. “That man was a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff, and I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?”

“”Up here…we work by results,” says Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept; while he flew, people prayed

So while I am gone, leave me a question. No subject is too small and no topic too broad. I’ll answer when I return, a week from Thursday.

Here is the poster I designed for the Affirmation for an Optomistic Attitude. I plan to read it each morning and I expect my blogger friends to remind me when I become pessimistic. Of course with this affirmation on my mirror, that will probably never happen.

In the latest Ode magazine ( a delightful gift from my daughter-in-law Rhea) there was an article called “Look at the bright side” by Jurriaan Kamp that I found to be an excellent source for learning to stay positive and optimistic.

The author refers to three different articles in three different magazines.. One from the French magazine Psychologies (Jan 2005 which explains that optimism is a quality that anyone can learn. True optimism isn’t about denying reality against our better judgement. And optimism is not the same thing as idealism, which also reflects tendency to push up against harsh realities. The idealist is chasing after a big ideal and runs the risk of big disappointment. Psychologies calls for “intelligent optimism.” Intelligent optimists don’t deny problems, but adjust to them, while seeking an opportunity to progress. Intelligent optimists don’t allow themselves to get carried away by circumstances they can’t change, but focus on things that are within their grasp and that they can enjoy.

The second from Balanced Living (winter 2004) comes to the conclusion that an optimistic attitude can be cultivated. “You have to work at it,” according to the magazine. “Satisfaction is something you have to practice.” And therein lies the challenge. Most of us are more aware of how to practice dissatisfaction: we worry about money, complain about our boss and compare ourselves to others. But satisfaction starts with accepting what you have and what you can’t change. Balanced Living advises regularly saying the following affirmation:

What I have, is enough.
What I am, is enough.
What I do, is enough.
What I’ve achieved, is enough.

This consciousness teaches you to value what you have and to enjoy the moment-which is the beginning of a satisfied and optimistic attitude toward life.

And the third is from The American business magazine Fast Company (April 2005)
that adds optimists understand that change is a given. History teaches us that unpleasant circumstances ultimately fade away. But change is a slow process. “One person at a time”. So there’s no point in getting depressed about any current situation. Optimists can enjoy a half-full glass in an imperfect world, according to the publication. In other words optimism is a choice.

I found comfort and my own sense of optimism in this article and I am making a poster using the affirmation above. I will share it with everyone, when it is finished.

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Back from our RV weekend and as I promised I posted some photos from our trip. Click on the “view more”. It will then open the others. You will need to scroll down to the end of this post and click on each if you wamt to see them a little larger.

It was a fun trip which would have been even better if we were not in the middle of a heat wave. It was about 105 degrees every day. This meant spending a lot of time in the rig or in the clubhouse. The pool would have been a great alternative, but it was packed with exuberant screaming children all bent on horseplay. I must say I enjoyed watching them from the comfort of the clubhouse. I just didn’t feel like being in the middle of their silly antics

Our group is mostly out of Bakersfield and this time there were only four other rigs. Our friends, Pat and Larry who recently sold their rig, came and camped at a nearby motel. It was wonderful seeing them. Pat has been undergoing chemotherapy for a returning bout of cancer. She looked tired, but ready for her next treatment. I wish her the best of luck and hold her in my prayers.

Boulder Creek Campgrounds is one that Bob and I will return to when the cooler fall weather begins.