Day 8- Keep it Real!

The written story is more interesting when you can bring personality to the page.  What is it that makes people human?  Dare to be vulnerable, dare to tell the truth.  The following entry was posted to my travel journal, but the story would work equally well in a personal journal.

I admit, I am not the most observant person.  My husband often kindly smiles at me, as I notice a building for the first time, while he gently explains that it has been there for several years.  Every day, whether traveling or not, is a new adventure in my own head.  I am an auditory learner and as such, I am continuously discovering visual things for the first time.  While traveling through Wales, we were on the lookout for signs directing us to a scenic overview, of a specific waterfall we wanted to visit.

the-speeding-camera-sign-dtj4b5I noticed this sign.  Thinking it looked like a camera, I suggested that perhaps the turnout was nearby.  My poor husband nearly wet himself with laughter.   Had I been more observant, I would have noticed that these symbols exist all around the country.  They are often at intersections and usually bare the words “traffic signal cameras”.  We call these moments in my life, “Debbie isms”. These are the memories that will bring smiles to peoples faces for years after I am gone.  I am quite sure these are the stories that will be recalled in my eulogy some day!  I will bet, that the next time you travel to England, Scotland or Wales, at least one of you will have a laugh when you see this symbol, as you recollect my adventures to your travel partners!  I can also assure you that I have just educated a number of people about how to interpret this sign!  Happy travels.

Day 7-Use The Words of Others

Quotes, song lyrics, great titles, all can evoke strong feelings and memories.  Try mixing up your journal entries by including a few of these along with your favorite photos.

The following image was taken on an ordinary day.  Alan and I were working on “flipping” a house for profit.  The home is an hour away from our residence.  I was meeting contractors at the house extremely early in this day.  This was my view along the way.  I was running a few minutes behind and could have chosen to bypass the opportunity to capture this beauty, instead I pulled into a parking lot.  For one moment I just breathed and enjoyed the view.  I might have journalled about the beautiful sunrise that morning, perhaps even discussed the wildfires that were raging on the West coast as being the cause for such extreme beauty. I might have given extensive detail about the pressure we were under and the deadlines still to meet.  Instead, I have chosen to pair this image with a simple quote of inspiration, giving it as a gift to others who may see it.  Our interpretations of this image then become vastly different, by limiting the things I say.  When I choose to do this in my journals,  you may not know the background story of this image, but it may just leave you imagining your own beautiful, peaceful day which is still full of opportunity!  Creating images and words  like this might make a great cover page to a travel album. Perhaps it will lead you to want to discover what else took place along my journey!

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Day 6- Eat Your Words

There are times when traveling, that there really doesn’t seem to be anything very exciting to write about. This can create a lull in my travel journals.  Once this happens, my journal may as well serve as ballast in the bottom of my suitcase.

On less than adventurous travel days, I must occasionally create a purpose to write.   What better way to do this than to “eat my words”!  Every country has some food that is unique to the locale.  Many of these, I am just too chicken to try, like Blood Pudding from Scotland, Century Eggs from China or Fried Spiders from Cambodia.  Even the American foods such as Rocky Mountain Oysters, otherwise known as bull testicles, would make a great story for someone visiting the U.S.A.  Just the thought of any of these foods turns my sensitive stomach.  I might be willing to photograph them, but I can promise. that I will probably never taste any of them!  So what is a girl to do when she knows that food can make a great topic for writing?  Grab dessert of course!  One such dessert, I sampled for the first time, while visiting Wales.  Below is the daily entry that went into my journal:

Bara Brith

Bara Brith

Sept 22, 2015.                                                                                                          I must have appeared confused as I stood outside the bakery window, trying to recollect the name of the Welsh bread, recommended by our hotel staff.  A local woman asked if she could help.  She explained that recipes for Bara Brith, also known as “speckled bread”, are handed down from generation to generation.  Some use honey to sweeten the simple bread, while others use brown sugar.  Some use yeast but more commonly, self rising flour is used, making the bread last much longer.  My loaf indicates that it will be good for nearly a full month!  All recipes include currents or other dried fruits that have been soaked overnight in brewed tea. As I taste Bara Brith for the first time, I am struck by its cake like consistency. Using a variety of spices, like all spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to flavor the bread, images of cold autumn days immediately spring to mind.   I thank the lady for sharing this information.  I will never know her name, but I will think of her often, as I create this treat during the autumn months. Perhaps, many years from now, as my children read my journals, they will discover the day that I first sampled Bara Brith, turning it into a new autumn holiday tradition for them.

Day 5-Try A List of 10

Sometimes we make things too hard…okay, most of the time we do this, or at least I do!  Journals may be intimidating for many, simply because of the fears of correct grammar or spelling.  Journal entries often look something like:

“Sept 18, 2015-Today I went to Niagara Falls, Ontario.  It is a beautiful place.”

Yawn!  This would hardly inspire me to open the journal again in one year, let alone 5, 10 or 50 years from now.  The only helpful bit of information that you might glean from this entry is the date that you were in a particular place.  Think of all the information that is missing here.  We spoke in yesterdays exercise, about engaging all of the senses.  Today, I want to speak about getting down the details.

Sometimes it just isn’t appropriate to whip out the journal and make an entry, like when I was being deluged  while sailing under the falls!  While on vacation, my mind is always thinking about what I want to say about the place.  If I work towards learning 10 things about each place I visit, I usually have a pretty good list of places to begin.  So the minute that we dragged our water laden butts off of the boat, we sat down for an ice cream.  This was the perfect time to make a list of 10 things I wanted to remember about this special place.  Here they are in no particular order:

1.  The unusual heat of a Sept day

2. Getting drenched by taking a boat under the falls

3. The spectacular waterfalls

4. Crowds of people and numerous cultures

5. Casino, hotels and tourist traps

6. My camera lens fogging up with the spray from the falls

7. Getting up to see the sunrise over the falls

8. Amazing gardens, landscaping

9. Color everywhere

10. Crazy cost of everything

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I have nearly 75 photos from our day long trip to this area.  There are many approaches I could make to my entry.  I could probably find an image, to correspond to each of the 10 items above.  I could single out each of the above topics and write on them individually, or I could summarize our day and add one or two pictures and some memorabilia.  By creating this list of 10, my writing is non-restrictive.  It doesn’t require me to make any decisions at the time, it is just 10 things I want to remember about this place.  In fact, if I chose to stop here, I could actually enter just these 10 items under a date and heading and call it good.  There would still be more information available in these 10 items than in the original post example which I had listed.

 

In the end, this is how the entry for this photo looked:

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We began our day at 6:30 am, when we woke specifically to witness the sunrise over the waterfall.   We were able to stay in our hotel room to do this.

After an extremely overpriced breakfast at IHop, the cost of which was 50 U.S.  dollars for pancakes and coffee, we walked for miles in the unusually hot, September sun.  Some things never change in this beautiful place. Most notably, we have always remembered the gardens.  Thankfully, they remain everywhere on the Canadian side of the waterfalls.  They are meticulously planted and maintained, unspoiled and unchanged since our last visit, nearly 20 years ago.

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Casinos and hotels have sprung up since we were last here, one skyscraper, trying to outdo the other by going higher and higher, trying to achieve the best view of the falls.  In fact, all that seems to have happened is the creation of numerous visual obstacles.  I am sure they are beneficial to accommodate the over 22 million visitors that journey here each year, but they take something away from the natural beauty of this area. Last night when we walked down to view the falls in the dark, we passed numerous bars with outside entertainment.  The air was electric with music. I remember the first time we saw these falls at night.  Our son’s were little.  They were awestruck by the variety of colors being painted across the thundering spray.  There was no competition for their attention.

 

Now, as I stroll along the walkway bordering the falls, I turn my back to these distractions.   The only obstacles preventing the thousands of daily visitors, from tumbling over the edge are a fence and low wall.  In this regard, not much has changed.  Just like the 150,000 gallons of water, which spill over the cliff every second, the faces lining up along the fence, shift constantly.  Technology has changed the way we view the falls.  People no longer observe them in quiet serenity.  Instead Ipads are waved in the air trying to capture the beauty and power of the falls as they tumble hundreds of feet below.  Selfie sticks poke in an out of images, as people utilize their cell phones, to document their lives.  I have come equipped with my camera.  The spray from the falls requires me to continuously wipe the lens, to maintain a clear view.  Maybe it is not so different from my observations of the day.

I am intrigued at the eclectic mix of cultures.  I am fading quickly in this heat.  Within minutes of beginning our walk, we are already seeking a shady refuge. I wonder what it must be like under the black burqas of the Muslim women. Many of the Asian women seem to have anticipated the warm sun, as they stroll through the crowds with their umbrellas.  Dressed in beautifully adorned Saris, there is a riot of color as a group of Indian women walk past us.  I realize we are but one couple, in a vast mixture of people enjoying this great space.  As Alan and I take our place along the fence, ready to capture our own memories, we are reminded once again of how very small we are in this great world of ours.

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Day 4 Journaling Through Your Senses

My camera clicks as I take yet another picture, a feeble attempt to capture some of the details and beauty of this place I am currently visiting.  I note that I have already taken 359 images and we are only on day 5 of our vacation!  What is it that I am trying to preserve?  Is it a memory, a smell, the details of architecture?  Is it the people that are sharing this journey with me?  Is it perhaps the amazing tastes that I am experiencing for the first time?  Are there other memories that this place is evoking?  Is it perhaps all of these things at the same time? What is it that is important for me to remember?

I look up from my camera, considering these questions.  Knowing these photos will not stand on their own, I also pick up my pen.

In days past, my journal entry for this photo might have looked something like this:

“Day 5-Sept 21, 2015. We traveled by train, up Mt. Snowden in Wales.”  Pretty boring indeed!

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If I utilize my 5 senses; touch, taste, sound, smell and hearing,  I am able to document this image much differently.  Here is the journal entry as it was actually made.

“Day 5-Sept 21, 2015. My camera clicks incessantly, as I sit with my nose pressed against the glass window of the train.  The window drips heavy with condensation, permanently fogged by the warm breath of the 69 passengers who have joined me on this journey. There is a quiet peace among us, as each person strains to see the beautiful views.  We are stacked 6 people to a bench, with 2 benches facing each other. Knowing I will be taking the pictures,  Alan has kindly given me the window seat and my mother in law sits across from me. How different are our views, as I look uphill and she looks down?  I am pleased that we have chosen the right side of the train to sit on.  Our experience might have felt differently, had we chosen the opposite side and only been able to view the mountain wall. But then, I think this limited view is often how people go through their lives.  Slowly we climb the 3,000 feet to the peak of Mt. Snowden.  The conductor must maintain a good visual of the ascending tracks, never sure if there will be rocks or sheep blocking our path.  This gives the one hour, uphill journey, a sense of adventure.  The sun is playing with me, as it peeks in and out of the low lying clouds.  Earlier in the day, as we were getting drenched by the rain, we feared that this “must do” trip would not be possible during our time in Wales.  What would be the point of having our heads in a permanent cloud?  Hoping for a brief break, we took a chance that the clouds would clear and booked our tickets anyway. As the scenery now unfolds, we are told these are the best views of the day.   Finally I give up clearing the window, with the single tissue I had in my purse. It is now too burdened by the water to be of much value.  I lower the top pane of glass on the window and point my camera toward the valley floor. In doing so, I sense myself opening fully to this experience. I’m sure people think I am crazy, as I seem to be snapping the same image, only seconds apart.  The sun is playing with me, highlighting first a lake, then a  craggy cliff, or a lone sheep grazing in the field beside the tracks.   I do not want to miss any of it! The brisk, fall air is cold and refreshing.  This seems to awaken many of the passengers.  Conversations and laughter now also fill the air.  People begin interacting, asking “where are you from” and listening with interest as stories and shared.  The smell of the diesel engine mixes with the damp, earthy fragrance emanating from this unspoiled land.  Memories of my father-in-law quickly ignite.  In his younger years,  he had been a fireman on the trains.  I linger on the edge of these memories, imagining how much he would have enjoyed this trip we are taking.  He so loved his trains.  I share this thought with a fellow passenger as I reach for my mother-in-laws hand.  It is in this way, that he journeys everywhere with us.  Will the other passenger remember this conversation days from now?  I am not sure.  Perhaps if they are a journaller like myself, this trip will have triggered a deeper emotion or personal memory for them.  Perhaps they will just recall me in their own notes as an outgoing, friendly, American girl, who shared a glimpse of her past and seemed to be taking pictures of everything.  Perhaps, like me, they will simply be grateful for this place, this time and these new memories that we are all making.  These are all the true gifts of this day. “

Day 3 Show Me Your Sign!

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When Alan and I began using the alphabet to set the course for our adventures, I wanted a way to keep track of which letters we had already used.  We decided to begin each date by photographing ourselves while holding the current letter.  I made a set of signs by attaching vinyl stencils to colorful poster board.  We keep the full set of letters in a large zip lock baggie, in my car.   This way, they are ready to detour at all times, to any place that we decide to discover.  Eventually I will decorate these signs a little more, but I wanted something simple to get started.  I am thinking as we complete an adventure, we will sign them with the location and/or activity that we did and the date.

The fun part about using the letters is that people often ask us why we are holding them up.  By nature, Alan is an introvert and fairly quiet.  As he shares his passion for our travels and our relationship with others,  I have watched him change.  I am always surprised by peoples interest.  Both young and older people approach us, married or single.  Once people catch on to our antics, they often offer additional ideas for the area that we are exploring!  In turn, if we find other traveler’s along the way, we have been able to offer suggestions for great places to explore.

What other ways could you think of to document the letter you are currently working on?

 

 

Day 2 Journaler’s Journey-10 Reasons to Journal

 

Document the Journey

 

Writers Workshop-The Journaler’s Journey-Part II

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Reasons to Journal

1)      You are the keeper of your own life story.

Have you ever heard the same story told from two different people? Most of the time, it is never told exactly the way that you remember it. A journal allows you to keep a record of the details. Often, we think we will remember those details but here is a great lesson to try. Write the events of today, now try to do the same for yesterday or the day before. How far back can you go before the memories begin to get fuzzy? Daily journaling keeps the truth in the details preserved so that when you are ready to share your life story, you only have to take a walk through the pages of your journal.

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DAY 1 The Journaler’s Journey-Just Start

Document the Journey

The Journalers Journey includes 30 lessons, which allow you to grow your writing skills.  When you are stuck for a way to find words, look for the above symbol for prompts. Writing tools may also be found by filtering under the “ABC Documents” category, the “Journaler’s Journey” category or by clicking on the tag “writing”.

What is Journaling?

A journal is simply a record, that includes reflections, emotions, and musings of your daily activities. It is a way to share the stories which exist in your everyday life.  It does not need to be a written document.

It is different from a diary in that it does not need to be chronological.  It is also  different from the writing done in school,  there are no rules, no right or wrong.  A journal is simply a collection of personal thoughts and observations. Sharing the contents or keeping them completely private, is up to you.

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J is for the Journalers Journey

Why blog?

Truth be told I needed a place to practice writing.  Travel, writing, photography and scrapbooking have always been my passions.  These passions led me to open a scrapbook store in 2002.  My mission there was to give people their voice. Unfortunately I had to close the store shortly after the recession hit.  I had learned a great many things.   I love encouraging others to trump their own horns and to celebrate themselves and I needed a way to continue to be able to do that.  I also realized I had a great passion for story telling and adventure.

I truly believe that every day presents an opportunity to design your own life, living “on purpose” if you will.  But only you can tell your story.  Your perspective is completely unique.

We can use our creativity to take great pictures, but after years of teaching I often find that most people don’t take the time to really think about the “why”.  Why did you take this picture?  Aren’t photos a way to freeze time?

Have you ever looked at a photo and asked, “Who are these people”?  Have you questioned what they were doing or why they had gathered?  Have you seen great pictures of interesting places and wondered where the photo was taken?

Photos are a representation of the lives we have lived.  They are tiny snapshots of memories.  Each time a picture is viewed it should answer who, what, when, where and why.  It should never be left open to interpretation.

The same is somewhat true of writing.  Words on a paper will form a visual image, but it will be based on the readers experiences and interpretations, not necessarily on what actually happened.

I regularly taught my students the value of journalling.  I would begin my class by asking the students to view a photo of my sons playing in a cornfield.  I asked people to write a short note about what they thought the picture represented.  Most said kids having fun in the fall.  A few guessed a family reunion.  How far off the answer always was!  In actual fact, it was a funeral.

It was indeed one of my favorite pictures of my sons but without including this information, the photo was very difficult to connect with the event.

I began this blog as a way to push myself.  I want to lead a more purposeful life.  I am forever writing my own legacy, which means I have to constantly examine who I am, the values I am trying to teach and the ways I spend my days.

I am a perfectly imperfect human being.  I may not be a master at writing or photography but I can only improve with constant effort at learning better skills.   I love encouraging others to do the same.  So the blog has been born.

I hope you will join me on this adventure.  Life is a journey meant to be shared.

Let’s start at the beginning by getting to know each other.

 

 

“A” is for “Anniversary at Aonach Mor”!-Harbor Springs, Michigan

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Thirty years is a long time to be married.  We wanted to do something different for this special anniversary.  Since our wedding date falls on January 8th, we are often at a loss for how to celebrate during the peak of Michigan’s winter weather.  We had booked a beautiful room in Harbor Springs, Michigan for the weekend.  As part of our Anniversary package, we were given $150 resort credit, to be used at any of the nearby Boyne Resorts.  I scanned the opportunities.  There was skiing, tubing, dog sled pulls, horse drawn sleigh rides and something called the Aonach Mor Moonlight Dinner.  Since we were on an “A” themed adventure, this caught my eye.

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A is for Amazing Alden

P7047772 It was a hot summer day, as we set off to explore our first Michigan city. Barely a pinprick on a map, Alden is tiny.   Alan and I had often passed right through on our way to somewhere seemingly more exciting. With a population of just 125 people, it is easy to believe that there is not much there.  Opening the atlas we decided this was the nearest “A” themed location, to our home. Determined to find something of interest in this sleepy little town we traveled for nearly an hour, specifically to see it. Entering the four block long town, colorful signs announce that you have arrived, but blink and you will have traveled beyond the few stores and restaurants that reside in the restored buildings, dating from the 1800’s.

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A is for Alcohol

 

Would you be surprised to learn we rarely drink alcohol?

Would you be surprised to learn we rarely drink alcohol?

 

If you like alcohol you could center your next adventure around a drink.  Perhaps order an aperitif, absinth or Amaretto Sour before you eat.  Or, you might choose to wash your meal down with an ale.   If you don’t like to indulge, there is always apple juice or apple cider.  Wherever your “A” theme takes you, it is sure to be a journey.  How will you tell your story?

A is for Animals

 

"A" is for Ape

“A” is for Ape

Animals make it easy to create and A themed adventure.  How about going to a zoo to locate alligators, alpacas, anacondas, antelope, amphibians and apes?   Or perhaps a visit to an aquarium or aviary would be more unique.   An adventure can be as simple as observing ants.  Wherever you choose, there are many animals to discover on this great journey into the letter A.

A is for our Amazing Earth

Acadia, Maine and the mighty Atlantic ocean!

Acadia, Maine and the mighty Atlantic ocean!

 

Perhaps you desire to stand in awe of our amazing earth.  National Parks are great for this.  In Maine, you could visit Acadia to view the Atlantic ocean.  Across the country, in the state of Montana, you might choose to discover an alpine meadow in Glacier National Park.

If it is high “adventure” you seek,  you might want to add Australia to your ABC bucket list, with a goal to see the Aurora Australis.  You’ll have to go  further north to view the Aurora borealis.  I hear the Alps, Alaska, Argentina and Africa are awesome too.   Where will you take your next “A” themed adventure?

 

A is for Appetite

Everyone needs to eat.  What about creating an adventure around food?  Here are a few ideas to whet your appetite:

If apples are your thing there are many adventures  you could create around this fruit.  Visit an orchard, then bake them in a pie and then serve it “a la mode”.  You could teach someone how to make applesauce.  If you don’t like apples, there are also “apricots”.   If vegetables are more appealing, try asparagus and/or avocados. For the seed eaters among us, how about almonds and/or acorns?

You could have an adventure by eating a la cart off a menu, or by trying  different appetizers at several restaurants.  Adventures could also center around Asian or Australian cuisine.  Food is always a great reason to explore.  Where will your journey take you?

 

Document the JourneyWRITING TIP:

Food brings people together, so why not let it be the subject of one of your next entries.  Consider the traditions that form around the food.  Who are the characters?  Is there a recipe that has been handed down? What stories get told around the food?  Does food trigger a memory from childhood?  These are all great things to include in your journal.  The next time you dig into your favorite food, try writing a bit about it.

A is for Art

Art Prize!

Art Prize!

Within each city, there are many ways to create an “A” themed adventure.  In almost any location,  you could explore art.  There are many ways to do this.  You could make art, or go to an art gallery, or an art museum.  You could further specialize this activity, by viewing abstract art exclusively.  Perhaps an art & craft show is more your speed. There are a lot of ways to focus on art.   One of our personal favorites is Art Prize.

If you are ever in Grand Rapids, MIchigan during  September and October, we highly recommend this free event.  This is a contest, which draws artists from around the world.  For nearly 3 weeks, entries remain on display throughout parks, streets, restaurants, laundromats, theaters ect.  The entire city seems to participate.  This event covers miles of area, so wear your walking shoes!  Artists compete for your vote in an attempt to win the $200,000 cash prize. Visit for an hour, or stay for a week, there is plenty to explore.

A is for Airplanes

Air Show!

 

There is always something going on in a city A community calendar will show a list of events.  If you are lucky, you might discover an air show.  You could pass the time by watching  acrobatic planes, performing aerial maneuvers.    If you can’t find an air show, how about heading to a nearby airport and dreaming about your next adventure.

 

G is for the Gorgeous Grass River Natural Area

 

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On our way home from Bellaire, we decided to hike in the “Grass River Natural Area”.  This “great” place is a little off the beaten path, but it isn’t hard to find.  We had heard from others about the amazing “gem” that this protected location is.  With our long, cold winters, there are few things more wonderful than being outside on a warm summer day.  We learned a long time ago to enjoy the sun when it shines!   

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt was already late afternoon by the time we got started.  Without a plan, we had come unprepared. It was 90 degrees when we set out from the parking lot. We knew we would soon be succumbing to the heat, since we had arrived without our water bottles.  It might have been easy to talk ourselves out of this date since we were also wearing the wrong shoes and hadn’t brought bug spray.   Instead, we chose to live in the moment.  As we set off, we were immediately “greeted” by a friendly Docent on her way home for the day.  She directed us to one of the easier trails.  There are six of them which all interconnect via a looped system, none of them are really difficult, some are just longer than others.

 

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We hoped to cover about 2 miles of the available 7. Wooden boardwalks led us over the wetlands and swampy areas, they also served to guide us through the delicate Fern Trails.  Nature reminds us to reflect on this simplicity and take a moment to just breath. We paused often along our walk, sometimes just to observe a dragonfly lighting upon a cat tail, or a frog jumping into one of the many rivulets.  My date wasn’t bad to look at either!

 

 

 

 

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Eventually, we arrived at a wooden dock where we sat quietly for a bit to enjoy the view of the Grass River. The heat seemed to be keeping people away.   Except for the sound of bugs and birds, there was only silence and solitude.  it was a “great” mini “getaway” to end our day.

I for one am “grateful” that communities choose to protect areas such as this.  The respite these places provide is priceless.  Best of all, this had been a completely free date!

E is for Empty Bowls

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Our “E” date was really “easygoing”.  Our mission was to attend the “Empty Bowls” Fundraiser.  This nationwide “event” is generally held on World Hunger Day, and is meant to bring attention to the many who go without food.  This is symbolized by the “empty” bowl.   As we “enjoyed” our simple meal of soup and bread, we were “entertained” by local musicians.    Everyone here is a volunteer. There is also a silent auction. After “eating”,  attendees are invited to choose an empty bowl home,  a reminder to be conscientious of world hunger.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABowls are made throughout the year.  Most of these are ceramic, but some are created from a variety of mediums, such as wood or glass. Most are only symbolic, such as those which are woven.  Each bowl has been made by an area artist, student or community member.   With few restrictions, the sizes and designs vary from year to year and become quite the collectors item.  Viewing the 800-1000  bowls displayed in mass, which is also about how many people attend this event, sends a pretty powerful message.     Alan chose a bowl which looked like a pie crust.  He said it reminded him of his mom’s Lemon Meringue Pie (you can see that story here).

 

 

 

D is for the Dollar Store and Dessert Date

This is what happens when you have no “direction” for a “date”!  We figured the “Dollar Store” was as good as anywhere to begin our adventures.

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We like to “donate” at this store, by sticking “dollar bills” to the toy shelves, leaving them for children to “discover”.  This random act of kindness brings such “delight”.

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“Determined” to have fun, we walked around the store, I “dared” my husband to “don a dinosaur” mask , he obliged.  We are such “dorks”!  We were laughing so hard, we “drew” attention to ourselves and people began to question what we were up to, so we  “decided” it was time to move on.

 

 

We couldn’t make up our mind what to eat for “dinner”, so we settled on “dessert”.   We had forgotten to bring our letters into the restaurant, so we used the “doily” to make the letter “d”.

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After telling our waitress what we were “doing”, she kept running to the kitchen to tell the staff what we were up to.  They ended up “donating” our treats to us, because they thought we were “darling”.

 

 

 

Our marital secret is to “delight” in the little things.

C is For A Collection of Curiosities

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We arrived at the third if our twenty six themed dates feeling a little more confidant about our creativity.  Even though it was March, it remained very cold.  We knew this would be another inside date.  Our first stop was as a consignment store.  This particular store carries high quality items and is always a joy to look around.  We found many nice things but didn’t find much that we felt that we needed.

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B Is For Burgers and Baskets

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BURGERS AND BASKETS

Some nineteen years ago, around the time our youngest son turned two, we had committed to a weekly or bi-weekly date night.  When our children were young, I didn’t like to leave them.  Occasionally we hired a sitter but mostly we just made time for each other at home.  We learned from early on in our marriage, that time was the most precious thing we could give each other.   During those early years,  Alan worked 90-120 hours a week, trying to establish our new company.  Continue reading

A is for Agawa Train Tour-Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, Canada

Our mission for the first alphabet adventure was to begin working our way through the alphabet, from A-Z, in order.  Unintentionally, we seemed to be starting with the letter “B” for blizzard!  As our windshield wipers struggled to keep up with the storm, I was concerned that we would have to turn around and forfeit our tickets for the “Agawa Canyon Train Tour”.  We didn’t have this luxury though, because during the winter, there is only a single trip each week, which takes place on Saturdays.  Since it was Friday, we decided to press on, hoping to make our pre-arranged departure time, scheduled for the following day.  Alan is an excellent driver and conditions like this are not unusual for those of us that reside in Michigan.  Thankfully, it was a brief and localized storm which “abated” about an hour out-of-town.   Finally we began utilizing our “A” themed words!

A challenging start to our adventure.

A challenging start to our adventure.

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A List of ABC Date Ideas

Do you ever tire of the same old dinner and a movie date?  Sometimes you have to put a little adventure into your relationship.

We started using the alphabet to set the theme for our dates.  We are dedicating this month to sharing the various  dates we have created.

We are always building ABC lists so check back often.

Here is a list of the words we have used to generate our ideas for a super date night:

A-al fresco, art, ATV, Axe Throwing

B-, biking, bowling

C-coffee

DDollar Store, Drive In, Dine, Darts, dessert

E-Escape Room

F-Fall Color Tour

G

H

I-ice cream

J-java

K-kayak

L-lake, Lavender Farm

M-movie

N

O-orchard

P-picnic

Q

R-rent a car, river, raft

S-sledding, skiing, snowboarding

T-tea tasting, train, tubing

U-U Pick

V-vineyard, volunteer

W-wine tasting, work out

X

Y

Z-zipline

ABC Dating-10 Reasons to Plan an ABC Date With Your Partner

 

"Us"

“Us” after 35 years of marriage!

I remember skipping down the road, holding my husband’s hand.  As we were crossing the street, a woman  was coming toward us.  Obviously scorned by love she said,  “you won’t be doing that in a few years”.  I stopped and asked her how long she thought we had been married.  “You must be newlyweds”, she replied.  In fact, we had already been married for 12 years!  After 35+ years of marriage, we still skip and act silly.  This man is still my best friend.

Dating is what has kept our marriage fresh.  Here are a few benefits to “dating” your partner.

  1. Dating prioritizes your partner.  Even if you only spend an hour a week “together”, this tells your partner that they are cherished and worthy of your time.
  2. Dating is attractive.  As we look at and listen to our partner, it gives us the opportunity to admire the physical and mental attributes which draw us to them.
  3. Dating is intentional.  It says to your partner that they matter enough to you, to create special moments.  It shows that you are continuing to invest in your relationship.
  4. Dating around a theme is unique. By thoughtfully designing a date, you will soon find yourselves sharing experiences unlike anyone else.   The memories you create together become stories to be revisited as you age.
  5. Dating around a theme can be revealing.   It may bring out a playful, creative and/or funny side. It may show you what makes their eyes sparkle, or what gives them passion and purpose in life.  This may allow you a window into your partners personality.  It may allow you to admire them all over again.  It may remind you why you fell in love with them to begin with.
  6. Dating allows us to be role models.  Our children will develop a framework of standards for their own marriages.  People who see us having fun, may aspire to create the same with their partner.
  7. Dating encourages teamwork.  When you date with purpose, you are trying to accomplish something specific together.   This partnership mentality transfers to all aspects of your life.
  8.  Dating gives us a sense of security.   The more loved and nurtured we feel, the more trust we place in each other, the more trust, the more secure we become.
  9. Dating gives us time. It is easy to put a relationship on the back burner. Responsibilities can quickly get the better of most of us.  Without attention, passion dies.  There is an old saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”.  To which I would respond, “then water your side”.
  10. Dating creates a lasting bond.  Kids grow up and leave home.  Eventually you may retire.  As life moves through its stages, your partner is the only thing which remains constant.  Nurturing your relationship allows a bond, meant to withstand all stages of  life.

Document the Journey

 

WRITING TIP

Bored of writing the same way?   Try a list of 10.