Museum Visit

 We went to Woolaroc Museum and Nature Preserve last month.

Bird Lady

I didn't notice she was carrying a papoose on her back.

Jerry standing under huge elephant head

Steer trophy

We spent a nice Saturday afternoon in the Museum and looking at the wildlife.

I'm learning the history of my new home in Oklahoma.

Continuing On with Our Story

It was his beautiful smile and gentle energy that drew me like a moth to a flame. I couldn't understand why someone I didn't even know had this effect on me. 

The first time I saw him we were lining up to embark. His hair was long, too long in my opinion. But as he looked around our eyes met; I noticed a sweetness, a gentleness, an unassuming nature to this tall, dark stranger. 

It's amazing what you can read in a glance, a quick glimpse of someone's aura. 

I forgot all about him as my friend and I made our way through the embarkation process to finally board the ship. 

At last! Our ship had been delayed almost half a day and we were anxious to get to the Panama Canal.

This was a southern Caribbean cruise with ports of call: Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Aruba, Curaco, partial Panama transit, Costa Rica. 

And now here we were, I whirling around the dance floor with joyful abandon and he watching me from the sidelines. My heart gave a little jolt as our eyes met yet again. Strange. 

I ignored it and went on dancing.

It didn't take long for us to become acquainted. Wherever I was: at the pool, eating a meal, or relaxing on a beach chair in the sun, there he was, his beautiful smile and gentle aura pulling me in, filling me up with the most delicious feelings. I had no idea that one day we would be married.

Sunset at Riverside Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Continuing on with Our Story:

Oklahoma, the home of my Soulmate. And I living in Montreal, Canada at the time of the Cruise. Yes, I took the plunge, made the move and am now residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

How did that happen? Why would I sell my home, leave my family, change countries? 

Simple. I was following my heart.

I wasn't looking for a partner, a husband, a Soulmate. And that's when it happens. When you're not looking. I was simply enjoying a winter holiday. 

I had gone with a friend, someone who preferred cruising as her way of travelling. We spent time in the Spa, spoiling ourselves with aromatherapy massages and pedicures. I spent a fortune on skin care products with a flick of a credit card. So carefree and fun! 

Shore excursions had me exploring new territory with passion and zest. I melted into a beach day, my body loving the soft buoyancy of tropical water as I swam and floated, luxuriating in the freedom and warmth.  

Evening on the ship. I could hear Motown music pulsing through the air, beckoning, enticing me to come on into the nightclub and dance. Blue flickering lights gave the club an eerie yet exotic glow and without a second thought I dragged my friend onto the dance floor. 

I had to move, to sway to the incredible sound produced by these talented young musicians. Letting loose on the dance floor filled my heart with joy, with careless abandon; I was letting go, moving to the rhythm of the night and having more fun than I'd had in ages.

And that's when he first saw me. That "joie de vivre" aura surrounding me as I whirled around, sparked an attraction that grew stronger with each day on the Ship.

Our Story

"Oh What a Cruise! Late December back in '63, what a very special time for me...." 

Ok, it was mid-March, 2019. Spent 10 wonderful days on a Southern Caribbean cruise; drank in the softness of a warm ocean breeze, sweet trade winds caressing my skin and hair. Coconut oil and frangipani scenting the air. It was absolutely divine to sit out all day under a warm Caribbean sun, soaking up heat like a healing balm.

It was heaven! I felt alive! If only for a few days. Snow and ice and the harshness of winter left far behind.

I met some interesting people on this trip; some from far away, others closer to home. It was good to let loose and relax for awhile, to share stories and dance the night away.

One evening looking up at the stars from the ship's deck a fellow traveller nudges my elbow drawing my attention to the moon. Clear, bright and straight up above. Simply beautiful. 

The same moon just a little fuller, suddenly appears at the wing tip, as if guiding me safely home.

I met my Soulmate on this cruise - the fellow traveller who caught my attention and drew me in. And not just to look at the moon. 

My Website

I have an author website!

It took years for me to get going with this. I tried creating a site using various different free sites, build-your-own, etc. but really couldn't manage the techy stuff.

So I went with a designer.

Here it is: wendywillowauthor.com


Those of you who follow me on FB, have already seen it.

Have a great weekend. Will post from my website blog soon.

She Just Did It!

Granddaughter Kaitlin, my eldest grandchild,  climbed Mount Olympus in Greece. This was back in May when the school year was finished and before starting her summer job.

Kaitlin is 22 and following her dreams.

She didn't ask anyone's permission.
She didn't chat or post about it.
She didn't journal or meditate on it.
She didn't check her horoscope or even the weather report.

She let go of all fears, worries, or doubts swirling around in her mind.

She Just Did It.

Alone.

Left her travelling companions to lounge about the hostel, or swim or visit with others or whatever they had planned for the day.

I am so proud of this young lady and the woman she is becoming.

p.s. or disclaimer or whatever: yes I stole those words ("she didn't ask....."). I used a fragment of a larger poem that I'd seen on the net, only I changed it to suit me and added a few bits.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I stumbled across this photo shoot one morning as I was walking the beach (in Naples, Florida last month). From far away, all I could see was a Christmas tree growing out of the sand.

Eeks, Christmas already?  But it's summer! Hot, hot, hot. Bathing suit weather. Flip-flops and sunscreen. I had to remember that it was winter back home. And winter here in Florida - just different climates.

As I got closer I realized it was a photo shoot. Not a school play or party or something. I really didn't have a clue when I first spotted that tree so close to the water's edge.
Now it was clear that this family was making a personalized greeting card.  How sweet. Christmas on the beach.
I wasn't sure how they felt about me taking a pic so I waited a bit to see if anybody looked my way.
Nobody paid me any heed. The photographer was busy calling out instructions to the little boy and the mother was watching closely while jostling a toddler on her hip.

Fifth Avenue in downtown Naples. Everything was beautifully decorated. Here's Frosty waiting for snow (ha ha, that won't happen)

Santa must be hot in that outfit! It was about 85F or 29C that evening

Palm trees aglow all up and down the streets. They sure look strange to my eyes.  But oh so nice!