Re-Group

I just recovered from a house full of sick people, myself included and man, it is GREAT to feel better. I needed to get out of the house, so last weekend we went to visit the Mystery Castle in Phoenix. It was a fun, educational trip.

The Mystery Castle

So Mr. Gulley moved to PHX from Seattle in the 1920’s, well actually – he was banished due to having TB and since there was no cure, they sent him to the Southwest dry climate in hopes it would fix him.  Mr. Gulley left his wife and daughter without a word and fled to Arizona. He found himself in the desert and started a life for himself with no contact with his people.  He was given 6 months to live and lived for another 15 years, but never reconnected!   Astonishingly, he made this amazing “Castle” out of recycled shit he found everywhere. And it is amazing. His family was contacted after his death and inherited and lived in the house years later, until his daughter dies in 2010.

Hiking

The next day, we drove up to Payson way and went on a side mountain hike. It was beautiful.  The terrain was rough, rocky and very steep. We were determined to find the waterfall, which seemed illusive but we kept climbing 2 miles up. On the way up, we had to dodge jumping cacti, prickly branches.  But the view as we climbed higher was incredible. The mountains covered with green trees and desert shrub as well as the side of the mountain cooling u down with the moss covered rocks emitting cold, air conditioned-like air.

After this hike, I realized that I needed more gear to get through, what to me, is the best season in Arizona.  I need to hike and climb and see it all. So, I went onto Amazon an ordered some hiking gear including new binoculars. I am READY!

I reached an Epiphany, a pinnacle of self awareness recently:

But that is a story I will tell another time... today I am reflecting on what I have done of use to this world and to myself in the last year.  I like to make a list, it keeps ME from feeling useless and unproductive:

Helped with some research on Drug Rehabilitation for the LA Dream Center. I turned in two papers after about 4 weeks of reading, research and talking to alot of people.

I finally shared my business idea with someone and got involved with an online Counseling Group as a Mentor. I have been helping and mentoring alot of young people who really just needed an ear and an open heart.

Alot of my philanthropy this year has been online. I did the food packing thing s few times, I have found very limited time to get out there with kids, schedules, trying to have fun, rest and all that jazz.

It seems very hard to save the world and my own household at the same time with a full-time job.  I just don't know how people do it. 

I also started helping screen and register students for International Exchange programs.

I have realized that it is very important for me to feel like I am giving back to the world. Right or wrong, it is just how I am wired.  Next Blog post will be my Epiphany, as I go back to working on my Memoir...