Our roots grow deep

     Again, it has been too long since my last post, but with vacations right around the corner, I am once again, looking forward to writing.

     My last post, "The Goddess of Debauchery," was an amusing little post, amusing to me at least. Day assures me I am not nearly as funny as I think I am, but, I crack myself up, and really, that is all that matters. Cotytto is the Thracian goddess of Debauchery, it is also the name of our friend's boat, which, we were about to spend a week on, cruising around Martha's Vineyard and the Cape. Using some poetic license, I went on about how our week would be full of debauchery and the great whore Cotytto, would suckle us until we were fat and happy, and we could suckle no more. Now I think that is funny, I amuse myself. I continued to write, we would overindulge in sensuous pleasures, I love that word, not to be confused with sensual. Sensual implies pleasures of a sexual nature, while sensuous has to do with the five senses. And, yes we did overindulge. Food and drink, the smells of the ocean breeze, and the sun warming nearly naked bodies, are all sensuous I believe, and we took every moment to enjoy it all. I also promised to write about our week, which never came to fruition, but, for the most part our week was just relaxing and not much to write about, so we will put that behind us and move on, move on to the Grand Canyon, Ireland and Prague.

     Day and I, along with our friends S&D are going to the Grand Canyon for Christmas, so, just days away. I cannot describe the excitement I am feeling, the anticipation of seeing the Grand Canyon. Understand, it is more than checking the Grand Canyon off my list, it's more than being able to say, I have been to the Grand Canyon.

     "Certainly, travel is more than the seeing   of sights; it is the chance that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."

Mary Ritter Beard.

     I would imagine, the beauty of the Grand Canyon stays with you, long after you leave, forever changed. With each new experience, I am reborn, a new person, and I like who I am becoming. Older, wiser, more tolerant and patient, and more loving. To my friend S, no I am not getting softer in my old age. It takes strength and courage to change and grow, it takes strength to be tolerant, patient, and to love. I am getting stronger, and it is a great thing.

     I have downloaded the appropriate apps on my phone though, like a good tourist, one of which, tells you where and when to go to get the best sunrise and sunset pictures. And, I just joined Instagram, so there are many more people I can bore with my pictures.

     Ireland is in April, with our friends K&J, who have never been. Day and I went years and years ago, 16 or 17 years ago. As I write that, I think, wow, we have been together for almost 20 years. These are pictures of me and her in Ireland, all those years ago...
 

Day, on the famous "Ha'Penny Bridge" in Dublin

I believe we are at the Blarney Castle

Just about to go on a horse ride through the Gap of Dunloe

     So I look forward to experiencing the beauty of Ireland once again with her, this time as my wife, years later. For those of you who like wine, and know a little bit about it, there are new vines and old vines. As a vine gets older, the roots grow deeper in the ground, taking in nutrients from different soil types, they weather good seasons, bad seasons, dry and wet seasons, the vine itself is aged, producing a more complex, full bodied wine.

     In almost 20 years, Day and I have been through a lot, our roots have grown deep, we have weathered good seasons and bad, and we are a better couple for it. And now years later, we get to go back to Ireland, and see it through new eyes, with friends, and I, am excited.

     Lastly, there is Prague, also in April. I was only 6 or 7 years old when Jaroslav came to visit our family from Prague. His grandfather and my great grandfather were brothers, what that makes him to me, I don't know, but 40 plus years later, Day and I will be going to see him. The other great thing about our trip to Prague, is it will be the first vacation in many years, that Day and I will be doing by ourselves. I hope she can tolerate me.

     Every experience, every trip, each new friend, I am reborn, becoming a new person, and I cannot wait to see, how great I become.