The Rose Parade

nears the end of season.

My Sunday Walk...

 It has been a while since I walked and explored. The morning was cool and perfect for just recentering and remembering what's important. Strolling to reconnect with nature, leaving all the stress behind and having nothing but enjoyment on my mind

I headed down the creek,

and saw this debris from the last flood, long ago.

The beauty in the small things was total pleasure.

The water is low from the drought.

The remains from the tornado, beginning to decay,

were an obstacle course for the dogs.

I continued to my favorite place,

Rock Hollow.

Saw poison oak and ferns, growly abundantly.

After a nice climb with only one stumble,

 a few briar scratches and seed ticks,

I am centered, relaxed and sweating.

We climb Turtle Ridge

and head back down the mountain.

Arriving at the crossing, we enjoy the water as the dogs cooled and relaxed.  It was just me and the dogs but I didn't feel alone in my adventure.  I felt Dad was there every step of the way.

Equines Shine...

in the morning's sun.

Perception by D. Jean Quarles

Perception is a book I won from D Jean Quarles' blog.  I was thrilled about winning but after reading her book, I am beyond thrilled...excited and validated!

Ms Quarles weaves a tale of life with no coincidences, that life is guided by a force other than ourselves.  I enjoyed her style and quickly finished the book.  It is mainly a tale of two people (with many other interesting characters) who have experienced personal losses in their lives.  How, not by coincidence, they are placed in each other's path, again and again, for a reason.  Guided by what?  You must read the book!!!

Growing up with a mother who had the "gift", this book simply reenforced what I have grown to believe.  Love is eternal and what we experience in life depends on our perception.

Thank you, D. Jean Quarles.

The Death of The Postal Service...opinion

Salcha, Alaska 99714...post office

The Times They Are Achangin',  Bob Dylan so wisely sang years ago.  In the postal service, these have become drastic.

What many people do not know, there are no tax dollars supporting the postal service, yet many business solutions must be approved by Congress.  Up until the general population turned to electronic communication, it was no problem.  The USPS was able to support itself.  Now, many people pay bills on line and instead of writing letters, quickly email friends and family.  This has caused a severe drop in the volume of mail and developed a dire need to restructure the postal system.

People retire and they do not fill the positions.  Nation wide, the postal service is working short-handed as they scramble to realign this national system.  Presently, 3700 offices are being "looked at" for possible closure...and this is just the first round. Talk of a five day delivery week is in the works and will result in the loss of many jobs.

The closure of small offices is the next solution.  Just this week in my area, a post office received one call and that evening, the office was closed.

I have worked thirty-seven years for the postal service.  I have witnessed many improvements and severe decline.

I can only hope the job lasts and when I do retire, if I have a job to retire from, there are retirement benefits left.

Yes, Mr Dylan, the times they are achangin'.  Letter writing is a lost art...and with that loss, so may the postal service be lost, too.