This is my first official blog since stepping across the threshold of retirement. This word, for me at times, has evoked some less than positive thoughts, so I decided to review its definition as provided by good old Webster’s. His definition of retirement is as follows: “withdrawal into privacy or seclusion”, with the lovely synonyms of “desolation”, “quarantine”, “separation”, and “solitude” thrown into the mix. Who wouldn’t want to sign up for that? Well, if you are not yet totally depressed, let me tell you that, although I enter this new phase of my life with a little trepidation, I do not intend to embrace Webster’s depiction of retirement, but choose instead to open my mind to discovering what is possible, both through the eyes of nature and exploring the inner dimension.
I am enjoying my first few weeks of “seclusion” in Sedona, Arizona, where my husband Terry and I resided before we ventured into the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park and all of its wonders. Since Terry and I will be doing some traveling and will spend a good portion of our time south of the border for the forseeable future, I could not leave before feeding my soul by visiting my friend Barbara for a few weeks.
I met Barb approximately 5 years ago at a company picnic where I spotted her across the lawn and our lives have remained entwined ever since. Barb is a gifted artist and musician whose life took a sharp turn when she was exposed to heavy metals in her studio back east. She is now confined to a wheelchair, and although she is entrapped in her physical body in many ways, her mind and soul still soar with the eagles! She is so in tune with nature (delighting in her plants and the birds in her garden) and expresses herself beautifully in her artwork and her writing, all perfected on the computer with the use of her big toe!
One of the simple joys for me when I am with Barb is our bedside chats, which actually is me crawling in bed with her to say good morning and sharing personal thoughts and reflections. At these times I feel we are standing before each other, stripped down, being true to ourselves, no pretenses, no judgments. Barb has a way of cutting through all that is irrelevant. Does she realize what lessons she is teaching to those of us who are blessed to know her in this way? I think not.
Barbara is my anam cara (soul friend), the one who reminds me not to be afraid to show the world the real me, the person who I am and the one I want to be. It is fitting that I should begin my retirement in a place of beauty like Sedona, alongside the beautiful spirit who is Barb. It is fitting that my initial blog honor Barb, the one who sees me as I am, loves me as I am, just as I love her.
Please enjoy the photos of Barb’s garden and those of Sedona and, for those who are venturing into retirement, already there, or on the path to getting to know and honoring their true self, “take your candle and go light your world”. ~Kathy Troccoli~
Paint Your Landscape 
This is beautiful, Lu. What a nice tribute to Barb. And the picture of Barb is great, too. I can hardly wait to get my notices of new information on here, especially when you get to Mexico. I am anxious to see what else you will do with your blog. I hope you will have lots of pictures. Congratulations.
Joan,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am not sure where my blog goes from here but have the second post in the works. Pictures will be Terry’s contribution so I think there will be many. See you next week.
Lu
Thank you so much for this wonderful spirit filled blog. Your friend is exactly as I expected. Live you life and share it with us. We love you very much.
Linda,
I have been blessed to know you and hope I will see you again. I will keep in touch and pray for good things for you and Adam.
Love,
Lu
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines,
sail away from the safe harbor, catch the tradewind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain
Hey Monkey Wench,
Love you bunches! Best to you and Bill!
Lu
Lu the pictures are beautiful and your friend is very lucky to have you as her friend. Gil and I will follow your writings and hope to see you sometime in your travels. Take care and follow your dreams whereever they may take you. God Bless, mary Jo
Mary Jo,
It has been great to get to know you and Gil and I wish you the very best, wherever life takes you. You never know, we may come back to YNP for a season. In the meantime, take care.
Many Blessings,
Lu
Just visited your webpage. If you are still in Sedona, Az give me a call, perhaps we can meet for lunch or coffee before you travel on. I am just 30 mi from Sedona here in Camp Verde and would love to see you again.
928 451 6201
460 S Dakota Dr
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Congratulations! Wishing you and Terry the best retirement ever. Your pics are awesome! Scenery and flowers are beautiful and so is Barb.
That was an amazing tribute and I am really touched that you shared this. I wish you all the best and all the happiness you deserve. I really do hope our paths meet again because you have been such an inspiration to me.
Corinne,
I feel blessed that we had the opportunity to get to know one another. I hope that you find your dream job and I know that will mean working with animals. Looking at your pictures of South Africa, it was evident by the expressions on your face that this is your calling. Until we meet again, take care.
Lu
Lu,
Beautiful words from a beautiful soul. All who know you are blessed. I may be here physically in Yellowstone, but I’ll be traveling with you in spirit!
Love you,
Sonya
Sonya,
I am the one who is blessed to have gotten to know you. You have left an imprint on my heart and I will carry you there with me always. You are always welcome to come travel with me physically as well! Let’s keep in touch.
I love you,
Lu
Hello!
I retired about 12 years ago. I don’t do any traveling.
It is not always easy to drop in on someone’s blog and know what is
going on. So I try to go back to the beginning to see what is what. I don’t know how you find the time to blog and travel, but then I have found if you really want to do something it can be done. I know I will enjoy seeing your pictures and reading about your experiences.
I sometimes stress myself out trying to travel, blog, read everyone else’s blogs that I enjoy and do everyday chores. Then I think, hey fool, you are retired, slow down! I hear great things about your blog so I am looking forward to following along.