Simplify, Simplify

In looking back over Gift from the Sea, one of the main focuses early on is about simplification of life.

(This actually reminds me of a line from one of my dad's favorite movies, in which they quote Thoreau: "Our lives are frittered away by detail; simplify, simplify" - but I digress.)

Based on experience, simplifying by getting rid of old things no longer needed, donating clothes no longer worn, shedding the excess, etc. is one of the greatest cathartic actions a person can do. But, for some reason, it is (usually) anything but simple to accomplish.

For example, when I moved from Arizona, I made a lot of trips to Goodwill and also some trips across town to give some stuff away - there was absolutely no possible way all my belongings were going to pack neatly (or not so neatly) into my little Honda Civic. And I wouldn't have wanted it all to. Because, you know what, it felt good to get rid of stuff. In fact, it felt so good that I vowed I'd never buy new things again.

(That worked out well. Um, or not...)

Somehow the collection of clothes, school-related materials, and other odds-and-ends keeps growing.

And it comes to the point where I wonder why I have so much junk.

And it makes me ask, Could I get by with less?

Anne Morrow Lindbergh begs that very question - Is it necessary?

It's times like this when I look around and realize just how much stuff I have, that I really consider doing what this following quote suggests:

No, really, I'm not even kidding.

Because it would be completely worth it.

However, I don't think that's likely to happen any time soon, so until then, I'll be looking to simplify my life in other ways - one Goodwill donation bag at a time...

Waiting to Hear...

My thoughts today have found their way back to a reflection from Henri Nouwen that I received in my inbox a couple of months ago. Having been a traveler for more or less the whole summer, I find it very appropriate:

Travelling With the Eyes of God 

Travelling - seeing new sights, hearing new music, and meeting new people - is exciting and exhilarating. But when we have no home to return to where someone will ask us, "How was your trip?" we might be less eager to go. Travelling is joyful when we travel with the eyes and ears of those who love us, who want to see our slides and hear our stories. 

This is what life is about. It is being sent on a trip by a loving God, who is waiting at home for our return and is eager to watch the slides we took and hear about the friends we made. When we travel with the eyes and ears of the God who sent us, we will see wonderful sights, hear wonderful sounds, meet wonderful people ... and be happy to return home.

I am so thankful to have family and friends who have both shared in my travels and/or eagerly anticipated pictures & stories from them. But this reflection stands out to me because it reminds me that, above all else, God is waiting to "hear about" our journeys too.

In truth, I saw many sights, celebrated many happy occasions, spent time with incredible friends and family, enjoyed much leisure/reading time, and took many pictures while traveling this summer. I've also posted about many of these travels on this very blog (links included on the bottom). So, thank you for being some of the "eyes and ears" waiting for me back home.

Previous (summer travel-related) blog links - in case you missed (or want to revisit) them:
ACE Parental Choice Symposium
If I Only Took a Trip Song/Poem
Road Trip Pictures
Weekend Trip to Seattle
Detroit Zoo Fun
Northern Michigan Family Excursion

Bring it back

If I could only use one word to describe my family's trip up north, what would it be? What word could sum it up so well that no other words would be necessary? Would that even be possible?

Relaxing? (For the most part, this is true...)

Peaceful? (Yes, but not always...)

Beautiful? (Absolutely, yet too simple/vague...)

Nostalgic? Hmm...I like the sound of that...so true, so true.

Ok, that's what I'm going with - Nostalgic. That's my one word. Reminiscent of summers past, favorite places & family traditions.

Oh, but there I go, breaking my own self-imposed rule, using more words to qualify my choice of one word. Oops.

Maybe I should just use some pictures to back myself up:

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes (overlooking Lake Michigan)

Sunset at Betsie Point

Petoskey

downtown Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

dinner on the island

ice cream & fudge at world-famous Ryba's - yum!

the ferry took us to and from Mackinac Island

Where a "kid" can be a kid

No, I'm not talking about Chuck-E-Cheese. (Good guess, though.) Nope, today my sister, mom, and I hit up...

Today's trip actually made me think of something I recently read in a book (The Geography of Bliss) - more people attend zoos each year than all sporting events combined. Now, I don't know if I actually believe that - how is the statement qualified? It could mean only pro sports or only college sports - I have no idea. But anyways, it was one of those statistics I read and was like, holy cow, that's a lot of people that go to a zoo.

And, let me tell you, there were a lot of people at the Detroit Zoo today.

Ok, enough of the tangent...to get back to the main point, we basically relived part of our childhood summer vacations - kid's meal (no joke) and all. (And I say this with love and in the very best sense - it was on my list of "must-do's" this summer.)

  

Beautiful butterflies...perky parrots...cute camels...running rhinos...(do you sense some alliteration here?)...gentle giraffes...

 

 

...hungry hippos - just kidding, there actually weren't any hippos, amazingly enough...

Today's visit definitely reminded me how fun it is to just be a kid - and, come the end of August, that's exactly what I'll be doing again for the next 10 months with the students at school. 

Better gear up pretty fast - not too much left of summer vacation...

If I Only Took a Trip...Oh wait, I did...

(Think "If I Only Had a Brain" as your tune, and keep repeating it over and over...and over and over...)

In a world that passes too fast,

Where the future soon is the past –

Why don’t we take our time?...

Use some days to just visit –

Not too much to ask, now is it?

Oh, it could be so sublime…

[(spoken) Well, that’s just what Marisa and I did. Allow me to elaborate…]

First in Cleveland, then to Philly

(A place loaded with history),

And then off to Delaware

For a wedding of some ACE friends

With some laughs, some beers, and dancin’

All-around good times to share.

Now that was not the end –

There’s so much more, my friend.

Baltimore was our next destination stop

Down by the bay, we sat and talked.

We almost didn’t make it

To D.C. for our next bit –

But our mom saved the day!

We parked at Union Station,

Learned some cool facts of our nation,

And again were on our way.

We had dinner with long-time friends,

Filled the night with conversations,

And then really hit the hay.

In the morning, it was “goodbyes”-

How true it is - the time flies

When you enjoy the day.

With my Phoenix housemate,

We explored caverns and ate.

There were stalagmites and stalactites galore –

Around each corner, there were more!

In Pittsburgh, there was no doubt that

We’d begun to feel a bit fat

After Primanti Bros. subs.

With the fries and slaw on ‘em

It was really hard to bite ‘em,

But we ate most of our grub.

Our friend was a great tour guide,

But she had class until 9,

So we were on our own.

We opted to walk around

Up the streets and later back down

Till too tired we had grown.

To Ohio we came last,

And there we had a blast

With a friend from school abroad in the UK.

We dined and chatted – what a day!

To Michigan we’ve made it

After our week full of visits.

(I’d take no other way.)

It was worth every minute

(Minus some frustrating tidbits) –

We deserve a big HOORAY!

[Well, I have thoroughly exhausted my creative juices for the evening. I hope this provides a brief glance into our week of travels – there really was no other way to share, unless I went into extreme detail – and, let’s face it, that was not about to happen, as it would have been painful for both you and me.

The internet is being rather slow and difficult, so I will add the pictures later.

Good night!]