graffiti on a cyber wall

On November 1, 2012 I posted my first blog about this adventure, 500 Days to a New Life.  Now, several months past 500 days, my house is selling on October 31st.  Then I'll be purchasing an RV and transitioning into life as a full timer living on the road.
 
The Blended Path pulled this card for me.

She offered this interpretation. 

Ok, What I'm getting from this - forget the book...I know what this is about. The angels want you to be peaceful - to me this card, for you at this time, is about rebuilding your life. The angels want you to know that you're on the right path - things are falling into place. You are being active and faithful, and you are trusting as you should. The angels say you are easy - you are submissive to the will of fortune and loss in your life (not sure what they mean by that but you will understand at some level or they wouldn't have said it). They say you are a man of God, that you know how and do hear the voice of spirit, and that you should continue to listen in the ways that work for you. I am seeing from this card a death of an old life and beautiful rebirth of your life, complete with beautiful creativity and art, colors, and a lot of love and healing energy (in the background colors). I am also feeling like you should pay attention to the gray area at the bottom of the card - I think that there may be "road blocks" - no pun intended - in actually getting the RV you want, but the angels say to be picky. It's important that you not settle on the home you choose. And so that's what I'm seeing here. The book says, "to blossom and bloom, the work must be done, through fire and ash our fortune comes." It talks about flowers being born from seeds.

She was right on track for my life.  I love her and the reading. I will be picky. 

I think it is auspicious the house sells on Halloween.  How sweet is that? It also auspicious that I will be homeless on November 1, 2014, two years since I began working in earnest on this transition. 
It is a bit scary (perfect for Halloween too).  It's outside my comfort zone.  The timeline for getting the rest rid of the rest of my stuff is really short now.  That is a bit scary too.  
It seems like it is getting to be time to go.  My friends and family here are deeply involved in their own adventures.  They will miss me for a bit, but will quickly go back to doing what they do and loving who they love.  

See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

The letter, “be brief”.
In seventeen syllables
I think that's enough.

Background:
This is post for Writing 101.

The prompt:
Writing 101:  Be Brief

You stumble upon a random letter on the path. You read it. It affects you deeply, and you wish it could be returned to the person to which it’s addressed. Write a story about this encounter.

Today’s twist: Approach this post in as few words as possible.

Brevity is the goal of this task, although “brief” can mean five words or five-hundred words. You might write a fifty-word story, as writer Vincent Mars publishes on his blog, Boy in the Hat. Or you might tell your tale in precisely one-hundred words, like the folks at 100 Word Story — an approach that forces you to question every word.

See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

A decade ago I lost my marriage and farm and nuclear family. My wife at the time decided she wanted a divorce so she could go play.  It was overwhelming. I had no dream, no vision, no hope. My life was broken and appeared beyond repair.  It took years to rebuild.  I had a lot of help from my friends and children during that process.  I am not sure I would have made it without them. 
The silver lining to this dark cloud of loss is the new, better life it provided.  A day of darkness and mourning has become a day of celebration.  The children and I were set free to follow our dreams without a harpie at us every step of the way.  I should thank my ex for the great gift she has given each of us. 
Maybe I will?

Background:
This is for Writing 101.   I’m not keeping up very well.  I'm rapidly falling behind. 
 
The prompt:

Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more.
This doesn’t need to be a depressing exercise; you can write about that time you lost the three-legged race at a picnic. What’s important is reflecting on this experience and what it meant for you — how it felt, why it happened, and what changed because of it.
Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.
  
You only need to write the first post in the series today — we’ll let you know when it’s time to write parts two and three.
 
See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

Taken with an iPhone 4
Edited with Snapseed

See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

The prompt is three songs from my past that are important in my life.  So here we go.

Amazing Grace  is a song from my childhood that has melded with my life.  My earliest memories include this song.  My father was a Baptist minister and church at least three times a week was the norm.  This song was often on the lips of the choir and congregation.  Eventually Amazing Grace was an important song during my hippie years (which have yet to end).
Amazing Grace has become an emblematic African American spiritual and I find it ironic that it was written by John Newton, a slave trader.  

Share the Land by The Guess Who was almost my theme song in my 20s.  I lived in a commune and believed in the dream of peace and love.  I still believe in the dream and I still love the song.

Apostrophe by Frank Zappa (I cheated, this is an album) 
Somewhere along the way I was exposed to Frank Zappa and this album made me smile and still makes me smile.  It became my family theme song(s) when my children were young and is still one of my favorites to this day. It may still my theme song(s).  It has healing properties for me.When I'm down I can play this album and feel better. 

Background:
This is my third post for Writing 101.

The prompt:
Writing 101: Commit to a Writing Practice

Today, celebrate three songs that are significant to you. F\or your twist, write for fifteen minutes without stopping — and build a writing habit.

See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

If time and space didn’t matter and I could suddenly find myself somewhere else, where would it be?
 
Elsewhere

According to Merriam-Webster the adverb elsewhere means, “in or to another place”.  The Google search definition of the pronoun elsewhere says, “some other place”. 

Obviously elsewhere is not a particular geographic location.  It is just "some other" place.  For my purposes,  elsewhere is more a state of mind.  Of course, on some occasions, it is a place. My elsewhere is a quest.  It is being lost on purpose, exploring my own understandings, awarenesses, and feelings. It’s a journey into and through what I fear, confronting what holds me back.  It is also the documenting of that journey. 

How do I get there?  Jump!
I get there by spending time with loving, encouraging, positive, creative, intelligent people.  I get there through mindfulness and meditation.  I get there by being accountable for my words and actions.  I get there by valuing diversity, moving away from labels, letting go, and embracing what is before me.
Is there a map? How do I find the way there?  My edges show the way.  When I bump into my edge it is time to push past it into elsewhere.  

What does elsewhere look like?  It looks like running water.  It looks like the breeze.  It looks like growth.  It looks like change.  It looks like fear that is being challenged.
 
Life is growth and learning and change.  The cessation of growing, learning, and changing is death.  The body may still be alive, but the person inside has died. 

Background:
This is my second post for Writing 101. 

The prompt:
A Room with a View (or Just a View)

We’re all drawn to certain places. If you had the power to get somewhere — anywhere — where would you go right now? For your twist, focus on building a setting description.

See what else I’m doing
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile

  
Then there is religion and philosophy.  I’ve very interested in that.  I’ve studied it for years.  I was searching for ”the truth”.  That is something else I find odd.  Apparently “the truth” is found inside ourselves.  What do you think?  I’m still not sure what I think about “truth”. 
 
My house has been for sale for a while.  Someone is coming to look at it on Thursday.  The window is cracked.  The repairman was supposed to come today.  His company was supposed to call.  Neither happened.  I’m mad but ok with it.  If you tell me you are going to do something, just do it.  That isn’t too hard is it?    I will find someone else.  At least the grass is cut.  I’d like to think it is the last time this season but I’m pretty sure it isn’t. There is chopping, hacking, toting, stacking, and burning to do.  I’m planning on going to the circus on Thursday too.  What kind of circus is held inside a small town’s recreation center?  I guess I’ll find out.   
 
I do like New Orleans.  The Clover Grill has chicken and waffles.  That could be tasty.  I like the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium, Bourbon Street, The French Quarter, the Mississippi River, the architecture, the culture, the food, and myriad of other things I find there.
 
Fall is pleasant.  Winter sucks.  I don’t do well in the cold, I survive.  I thrive in warm weather. 
 
Posting this is optional according to the prompt.  I don’t know if I will.  It isn’t that I am ashamed of what I have written or shy about sharing what I do.  It’s more about typing it all up because I hand wrote the original.    Oh well, just takes time.  Life comes down to the choices we make in the present.  Each choice effects and creates the next.  
Chinese fried chicken and waffles will have to do. 
 
See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile