The Journey Inward

It was a beautiful day of wandering and wondering in the wild. I found myself so grateful to mother earth for the trees, sun, sea, animals, and all that she shared with us today.

Yesterday I had seen a museum of whimsy and I immediately challenged some of my friends to list five things they would put there. Here is what I came up with…

From childhood, which is where my mind immediately went…

1. A matching necklace and bracelet set made by picking Clover stalks and tying them bloom to stem.

2. A homemade popsicle raft that has seen many runs down local streams and creeks. Or, alternatively, a store bought parachute man to toss from my porch roof, the fort in the high pine trees in my backyard and the top of my bi-level house’s stairs.

3. My homemade quilted full length skirt with a colorful pencil pattern a la 1976 that was both fashion (?) and warm blanket.

4. That stiff dog walking leash with no dog at the end so it makes it look like you’re walking an invisible dog.

5. 28 oz tomato cans, empty and punctured with a can opener, then threaded with rope to hold while your feet clomp about noisily.

It concerned me I thought of no adult whimsy, so I doubled down…

1. Art made from driftwood, sea glass, broken pieces of pottery and dried flowers, especially if animals.

2. My daughter’s crochet critters.

3. The mushroom yard statues on my front porch.

4. Pony tails or braids (wore my hair in pony tails for this morning’s hike).

5. Painted knobs on cabinets.

6. AI pictures of pets doing human things.

I also thought about how much import we put on a day or a trip or an event when it’s really the little moments within those that we remember.

Today I wore my hair in ponytails. As we hiked down a certain part of the path, the wind kicked up and blew them behind me. I told my daughter the story of third grade me walking behind Sandy K out to recess. I always chose to walk behind her because I loved to watch her fine, light blonde ponytails flow behind her in the breeze. My hair was heavy and thicker and didn’t budge, but hers floated and I thought it was so dreamy. I can’t imagine there was a breeze every day, so maybe she just walked quickly. I couldn’t say if it happened one time or 100 times, but that memory is seared into me and I asked my daughter if my hair (much finer these days) was lifting off behind me. She said it was bouncing as I stepped, and I told her not to bother telling me because I was just imagining that I was eight year-old Sandy walking out to recess like she owned that playground!

Another beautiful day in a beautiful state!

Photos: 8.20.25 by LA