Dance!

Some things just stick with you.  Matt and his round the world dancing has stuck with me.  I think he is beautiful and inspirational.  I find kinship in his adventurous sprit, and I find hope and love in his dancing across the world.  He made his first video, dancing his own dance. His second dance streak is years later, and he goes beyond doing his own dance and starts learning dances of the people.  These videos give me a goose-bumpy feeling of connection with the wod.  They make me smile, bring tears to my eyes, and give me hope.  I can't quite explain it.  I wonder, how do they make you feel?  They make me want to dance!  And explore and share the world.  I shared this with my aunt tonight, and it inspired me all over again.  

This is Matt's original video. . .



And this is Matt's newest dance-ploration. . . .

Entourage

The past two nights I have been with my Aunt Debra and her husband Chuck in Virginia.  I don't think I've had much time with Debra all to myself, and its been great getting to talk all day.  Debra is someone whose passion I have always admired.  She is an animal activist to her core, and her home has become refuge for 6 dogs.  Today, as they all followed me around the house, I said, "It's kind of fun to have your own entourage everywhere you go."  And Debra said, "You always feel completely loved and adored."  Dogs are so good for that. 

I have never watched a zombie movie before, and in the last 3 days I've managed 2!  Last night we watched Sean of the Dead. And that isn't scary at all.  At least with those Zombies I think I stand good odds at living.  With World War Z's breed I'd be a goner.  

Today Debra and I went to Harper's Ferry in West Virginia - a beautiful, quaint town sitting between the Shanendoah and Potomac Rivers.  We got our fill of history, then headed on a 20 mile bike ride starting in Brunswick, Maryland, down through West Virginia.  One day - 3 states!  

I have adored hanging out with Debra - her poetic words (she is a brilliant writer and beautiful with language) and good company are good for my soul, and her delicious vegan food is good for my belly! I am off to bed, followed by my entourage of 6 adoring fans.

Thanks Zach and Kim!

I have had such a great stay with Kim and Zach!  The thing that I always love about my family, is that no matter ho long its been since we've seen each other - we always jump right in like we've been hanging out every day.  It's so easy with my family - and I feel pretty blessed in that respect.

It's been lovely catching up with these two - hearing about the amazing things they've done this year, seeing the way they've grown with each other, catching up on life, playing games, and eating candy (there were a few sugar highs involved).

Today we went to a bird sanctuary, I got to see the school where Kim works, I got a tour of the neighborhood and local creatures on a walk through their golf-course-backyard, and we played in the pool.

Since I hadn't had a phone for a week, and no internet access, I did spent a lot of time borrowing computers and phones to catch up on travel details and communication . . . .but Kim and Zach are super easy going, and we still had lots of time for hanging out, and playing.

I am super proud of my cousins for taking this adventure opportunity, rocking it, and for all the people they are helping in their community.  Happy Early 1 year anniversary Kim and Zach!  Thanks for taking care of me.

Tomorrow, I'm of to Virginia to spend some time with my Aunt Debra.

Wearing 70 year old, cob webby fire hats, probably illegally, next to the old fire truck from 1870. 

                                                       

The adorable couple

                       Kim petting a baby duck.  She wants one bad, and her birthday is coming up. . . .

                                  This was my favorite bird.  Some crazy thing from Africa.

                                               The world's most dangerous animals!

 This picture doesn't do justice to the swarm of birds that were on our heads, shoulders, and feet most times.  There were usually an average of 6 birds per person at any time.

                                                     Getting our swim face on

Rocky Mount

My days have been so full of travelling!  After flying to DC from Seattle, I had to catch a train to North Carolina.  My train was delayed, and delayed and delayed!  I spent some quality time in Union Station befriending a police officer - and a crazy pigeon that was either trying to attack me or mate with me. I finally got to my cousins Kim and Zach in Rocky Mount, NC by 3:30 am.

After some much needed recovery sleep, I woke up at 2 the next afternoon.  We have been playing games, talking, eating NC style BBQ (everyone's BBQ is so different!), visiting a fire station museum (where the old school fire engine's blew my mind!) and going on a walk in the park to chase ducks and turtles.  Tonight we saw the movie World War Z, and it has me feeling like I should go to a zombie survival boot camp. . . .just to be safe.

Kim and Zach are doing so well here!  It's been awesome to hear how amazing Kim has done with her job in Teach for America.  Kimberly is someone who I have always said I could use a crash course in gumption and grit from - so it is no surprise that she easily garnered the respect from all her students and staff.  And Zack graduated top of his class at his training course for Basic Law Enforcement Training (which he got full sponsorship for!).  Now he is just going through the interview process.

Super proud of both these people, and am glad I can spend time in their new home!

And since I still don't have a phone, and can't take pictures. . . . . .

Here we are playing cards.  Zach put on a smile just for this picture.  Really. . . .he was crying because I whooped him.



Here is the old Fire Truck we saw at the museum.


Here are the turtles we were chasing around the pond


And here are the zombies we saw tonight

The Smell of Memories

Two days ago, when I was back in Washington for my 2 day layover, I got some much needed family time.  I got to spend the 4th of July with my Cline Family - playing volleyball, watching fireworks, and getting pelted with candy from parents on the deck (a very dangerous activity for those - like me!- without insurance).  I spent the evening around the fire, catching up with family.

On Friday, I had a beautiful, surprise evening.  As my Grandma Karen came over, and I was learning a bit about my family history from Zwingle, Iowa - my last stop on this trip.  I wanted to know more!! So my mom and I headed over to my grandma's house to unearth some memories - we pulled out a box of letters and old pictures, photo albums, and old family documents.  I love the smell of memories!  It was so wonderful to sit there, 3 generations of women, enjoying the evening connecting with our history.

I love learning about where I come from - this is the second time this trip I have had this experience.  There is something so connecting and grounding in it for me.  And I loved that evening with 2 of my favorite women.  We laughed, read letters from my great, great grandma, and reminisced.  I love hearing stories about my ancestors.  My Grandma Karen is one of my favorite people, and I love being around her.  She is so fun to be around - I always feel like I can be my silly, true self around her - no pretenses.  And I love the memory of that night, listening to her read letters from her mother.  And watching her delicately hold pictures from her past.

I am so excited to explore this part of my family in Zwingle!!
                                                                   
Me and Grandma, looking through the family Bible               A list of marriages in our family

               

 My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents             A dance card and poem from my Great Grandma

                   


My Great Grandma Ethel Estella                      Ethel Estella's H.S. Diploma, she graduated at 14!

   





3 generations of amazing women!                                      The awesome old books

 

                                                     Me and my Beautiful Grandma

Grace

Yesterday on my flight from Hawaii to Seatlle, I was sitting in a row with 1 woman - and we had an empty space between us.  I was going to say hello, but she dove straight into a movie, and I dove straight into a book.  We didn't speak for 5 hours of the flight - it's amazing how easy it is not to speak to people, even when you are right next to each other for such a long period of time!  As she was returning her Digi Player, I had just written in my journal that I wanted to learn more about the art of meditation. The woman leaned over and said, "I like your hair cut."  She was so quiet, I didn't realize she was talking to me.  I looked around and back again, jumped a little and said, "Thanks!"  We had finally started talking. . . .just as we were descending.  I found out that she was actually on her way to Idaho for a meditation conference.  I was so excited!  I told her I had just written minutes before that I felt the need for meditation in my life.  It was absolute serendipity.

The woman, in her very calm and quiet way, smiled big and told me she would love to share some resources with me.  She started to name off some meditation masters I could study and learn from.  I asked her how long meditation had been in her life. She closed her eyes, remembering, "Since I was three.  My dad used to sit us down for 5 minutes each day, and we had to sit in a quiet space, focusing on ourselves, and our inner beauty."  Can you imagine? Thinking about your inner beauty at age 3?  How amazing.

I was furiously writing as this woman kept talking, because everything she said was so graceful.  She talked about "this experience of life" as being beautiful, and we are meant to shine our inner lights.
"We are all masters of our own being.  No one can tell you your own path, you are your own master."

She talked about the purpose of life being to acknowledge the beauty that is within all of us, which she called the eye of our being.  Our inner beauty is what we see with, what can guide us and help us shine.

The plane taxied into the tarmac, and the seat belt light went off.  As everyone was grabbing their luggage, this woman said "Everything that you are seeking in life is already inside you."  She tapped her heart, and pointed to mine, and nodded.  Staring at her, I felt this incredible warmth through my body.  I smiled my biggest smile in days and nodded.  I thought 'this is why I am on this journey.  For moments like this.'  And her words, with her beautiful, quiet, soft demeanor were so powerful for me.  I think I was smiling, and gawking at her for quite a while, and she just kept nodding and tapping her heart.  She had an amazing glow about her - her hair was a blond gray, and the way the light from the airplane window was hitting behind her - I thought she looked like an angel.

I asked her "What's your name?"  And she replied, "Grace."  How perfect!  I told her I had recently been doing some self-growth work and had found out that Grace is a powerful thing that runs in the women in my family, and I had recently decided that I was also full of grace.  She smiled her smile and said, "Yes you are Courtney."  Then she got off the plane.  I followed her.  Right at the end of the walkway, I looked up for 1 second to find the baggage claim sign, then looked back to where Grace was walking and she was gone.  I couldn't see her down any hallway.  I was pretty blown away by that interaction, and I'm pretty sure she was some sort of angel.  My Angel, Grace.

Gratitude

So - the past 2 days have been a pretty good test of the reason I'm on this journey!! Yesterday, my phone got water damage in the ocean - and the salt water corroded my poor little (new) i-phone.  In the process of trying to save my phone from the water, my favorite ring came off and was lost in the ocean.  It was a ring my mom bought me 11 years ago when she was in Hawaii - my sisters, my mom and I had matching rings.  

I don't care about the phone - but. . . .all the pictures and video from my trip were lost.  That has been a big bummer to get over.  And of course!!!  I didn't back up my stuff like every person this century knows you should.  "Tsk, Tsk."  

As I've been pretty emotional about losing these sentimental things for me, I had to laugh a bit.  I came on this journey with the intention to find love, hope, and positivity every day.  Even when people around me might be stressed, or going through hard times, or even if I was feeling wonky - "Don't worry, be happy!"  Alright Courtney, here's your test!

So, my silver linings.  I didn't lose my left pinky toe to a shark in the water - just my data to that wiley salt.  If I had to lose my favorite ring, it's fitting that it should be lost in the same place my Mom bought it for me.  And even though I had to pay a HUGE deductible for a new phone, and even though I'm phone-less for the next 3 days while in transit (not having a phone makes you realize how much you depend on it). . ..I came home to my amazing temporary family and they made me feel better.  The kids had no idea what I had been through, and they just jumped right in to playing with me the moment I walked through the door.  I really think there's nothing like a mob of kids lightening up and getting so excited to see you.  

Here is a little video that I love.  My aunt once shared it with me, and it's such a good reminder to spend time in Gratitude, rather than frustration and regret.  So, as I go to bed, I am choosing to breathe into gratitude!!

What are you grateful for today?