Loneliness Thwarted!

It is Sunday here in beautiful Portimao, Portugal, and Douglas and I have found a church to attend! It is the International Christian Fellowship Church, and it is about a 4-minute ride by car to services. We arrived and were greeted by some wonderful people, all speaking English, for the most part, British English. As... Continue Reading →

Inchoatibility

When my children were very young, they tried to learn humor. My oldest, Heather, started on the Knock Knock joke where the answer was orange several times until the final one where they said, “banana” and when you said, “banana who,” they responded, “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana again?” The third child, Brandon,... Continue Reading →

When the Shoe is on the Other Foot

It is hard to really understand the lives of other people, unless you can walk in their shoes. For years, the lives of immigrants to America have not really interested me, mainly because I assumed that moving to an unfamiliar place is no big deal, with basically every place the same. I never thought about... Continue Reading →

The Grand Canyon Haul

I perched at the rim, soaking up the magnificent vistas that seemed to march into infinity. There were vertical cliffs interspersed with sloping plateaus. Colors of red, orange, and yellow splashed across the rocky scenery, confusing the mind. Well, it was going to be a long haul to hike from the South Rim down the... Continue Reading →

A Frigid Lesson: Wish More Carefully

As we walked along the beach, the waves crashed against the rocks, and occasionally the spray would reach to the people's faces as they walked along the quay in front of us. For some reason, I thought that was something good to have happen to me. So, once I managed the courage to step out... Continue Reading →

Like a Churning Ocean

Regina and I went for a long walk, all the way down to the breakwater and out it half-way. There, we watched the sailboarders cruising like seagulls across the harbor’s placid water. One intrepid soul even inflated his board. He had to be tired even before embarking on his flight. On the other side, the... Continue Reading →

But This is an Adventure

Their plane had been canceled and the young boy was crying his frustrations. The mom was overheard saying, “But George, this is what is called an adventure.” She was creating an explorer’s heart in her son. When we set out to explore, unfortunate events can happen, but what is our attitude? A person who refuses... Continue Reading →

The Amazing Human Race

Walking along the boardwalk listening to people talk, I am amazed at the numbers of languages spoken here in Portugal. I am just nosy enough to want to know what everyone is saying, and whether they are words of joy, love, fear, or anger. What is comforting for me is that until people start to... Continue Reading →

The Radiant Beauty of the Light on the Ocean

We arrived in Portugal in the early afternoon on Sunday. I was so apprehensive about coming for two months, leaving my home and family, especially our children and grandchildren. I kept thinking about what if there is a problem and we are so far from home? This trip is really a compromise between Douglas and... Continue Reading →

The Toxicity of Travel Tiredness

Traveling is a great adventure, but like all adventures, the stress levels increase. Some people forget that not only do bad things increase stress, but so do good things. If enough good things occur, then some small bad thing, that you normally sail right through, can leave you foundering. Enough stress can go beyond the... Continue Reading →

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑