Desert Messenger

October 7, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 17 Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) If life gives you lemons, make lemonade Alamosa, Colorado I knew I was in trouble when I woke up to find ice on the INSIDE of my camper windows. Even though I don't have heat in my camper, I never get cold for some strange reason I don't understand. If it's really cold, I wear a stocking cap to bed and socks, along with my flannel night gown, and I may double the comforter I pull over me. Sometimes, I turn on my pro- pane stove for about five minutes before getting into bed. (Yes, I know about the danger; so I make sure I stand up as long as it's on.) That seems to take the chill off. Another bad sign was my bike. Locked to the clothesline in my friend's yard, it had ice cycles on it. Then I slipped on some ice and fell down. Was it any surprise to find my car wouldn't start? Nope. Okay, what to do? I sure didn't want to wait for AAA to come. I was freezing, and sometimes AAA takes an hour or so to arrive. So, I decided to put on my backpack and my walking shoes and walk to the college where I could write for a while. Why not walk along the river? I thought. I could call AAA later in the day when it's much warmer. This is where the "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade" part comes in. Even though bitterly cold at 7:00 a.m., it was a sunny, blue-sky kind of day. I bundled up with stocking cap, muffler, and gloves and started out along the river -- from Cole Park to the college. I'd walked it many times, usually at sunset. It was less than two miles one way. I LOVED IT! I realized just how special it was when I saw a blue heron standing in the shallow Rio Grande River. I watched it for a while, both of us motionless. As I continued walking, I decided to take the parallel path about 15 feet away from the river. This is the dirt path that, after a ways, is cov- ered by a canopy of trees. The trees that were lush with golden leaves just a few days ago were now bare or had just a few leaves hanging on for dear life, after the strong winds of yesterday. Still, it was glorious because no matter what the season, there is the quiet, the serenity, and the beauty of nature. As I approached the college, there were patches of ice on the sidewalk which I carefully avoided because of this morning's fall. Step- ping on the grass, I noticed it had a definite crunch -- frozen! The walk back was just as re- warding. First, I picked up some lunch to eat on the way. I mean- dered through neighborhoods until I came to a path through the woods which led to the trail along the river. Right at the beginning of the path were five dear. (No, that's not a misspelling! It's just how I think of them: dear deer.) I made a men- tal note of where they were; so I can leave my table scraps for them on my nightly walk. I continued along the path, enjoying this new route immensely. I soon reached the river trail. Amazingly, in the distance, I caught sight of the blue heron I saw earlier in the day, tak- ing off. Its graceful flight and wing span something to behold. So what was different about this morning? Well, because of the cold, I usually drive to the college and run errands on the way. This morning was much more satis- factory. Walking along the Rio Grande made my spirit soar! So what if I spent the rest of the day with AAA and getting a new bat- tery installed? The two-way walk along the river more than made up for it. When something happens like a car not starting, I always think three things: 1) it's all rela- tive -- just a small blip in the big scheme of things, 2) I have such a good life my number is bound to come up sooner or later, and 3) it can always be worse. As I get older, I don't let things like cars not starting bother me. I just deal with them -- another beauty of age. And you know, nothing is EVER as bad if I can get a story out of it! ~*~*~*~*~*~ "Rule Number 1 is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule Number 2 is, it's all small stuff. And if you can't fight and you can't flee, flow." ~Dr. Robert S. Eliot, Professor of Cardiology, University of Nebraska ~*~*~*~*~*~ Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordi- narily (Stories from the Road). For an update on Jane's travels and writing, visit her website (janefin- ley.com) and/or read "Traveling with Gypsy Jane" and "Poems from the Road" in The Desert Messenger (desertmessenger.com) beginning March 5, 2014. Desert Messenger offers FREE Classified Ads! Here's the small print: Items for sale under $1000. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found, etc. (non-commercial) For more information, contact Rain at 928-916-4235 or Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com T��� ����� ������� �� D����� M�������� We have great lunch menus, serving at 12 noon sharp! Suggested donation is only $3.50. There's cards, books, games, puzzles, pool table, Wi-Fi available. Community Services, Volunteers Needed! Come join the fun at Quartzsite SENIOR Center 40 Moon Mountain Ave. For more information call 928-927-6496 Senior Center open all year! Monday - Friday, 9am – 3pm DesertMessengerNews

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