Hurricane IKE!

I will never again be able to look at a natural disaster and not think of what my family has been through the last few weeks. September 13th brought "IKE" into Galveston where my daughter lives a few blocks from the beach. It not only destroyed the island, it left my daughter nothing to salvage but some of her clothes and pictures. She lost everything else in her apartment - but she is safe and that is what counts. My parents and sister in Houston went for 13 days without electricity. I spent a week and a half helping everyone out and the toughest part was when we were given clearance to get on Galveston Island - words will never describe what we saw when we entered Jessica's apartment. We are among so many that suffer during hurricanes, tornados, floods, fires, earthquakes and much more. Nothing is more important than family and friends - stuff is just stuff that can be replaced. Don't take for granted anything you hold dear - enjoy each day and reach out to your loved ones!

This has been a great summer! I just returned from Alaska touring the interior. I never met more incredible women. They homestead, they race in the Iditarod, fly small planes over the "mountain" and many of these women are single or widowed. They decided to move to Alaska for their love of land and animals and they amazed me. What really caught my attention was the simplicity in their lives and the lack of stress. They get up everyday ready to enjoy "hard work." What they don't have to endure is gossip, face time, office politics, and the game playing in business. But don't misunderstand me - they are in business. They run the restaurants, the shops, the tours, the boats, etc. What they have no time for is the "b.s." I took walks up mountains (not Denali - as they natives refer to it as) but smaller mountains, and actually had grizzles's within only a few feet from me. I soon learned how to stand still, ring my "bear bell" and learn to listen to the land and the land would give me the answers. For those of you who know me, you must think I have lost my mind. Not to worry - I am not giving up life on the road staying in fabulous hotels to move to Alaska. What I am doing is starting to take more time to pay attention to the little things in life, and yes, get outside and walk more! So today, the first of September I start my new goal of getting outside to enjoy the sun, rain, warmth or cold of the day - wherever I am I will go for a walk! Enjoy the season of Autumn - a great time to prepare for the end of the year..... Cindy