FANTASTIC VOYAGE

Sitting amidst a pile of pumpkins and all things Fallish and Autumn, trying to spread this undeniable forcefield of feeling around our Home that my Daughter and I relished and literally frolicked on the Mountain Tops; attesting of it's phenomenal power to revive the soul and senses recently on a trip to the Mountains. I felt as if I were among Charlie Brown and the gang. Assessing this messy patch, devising a plan and waiting on the Great Pumpkin to appear. Even though today it is humid and raining and feels like a sauna outside, I find much merriment in sipping on my long awaited pumpkin anything hot beverage as the air conditioner blows in my car on high and I close my eyes and allow the intoxicating aroma to take me to cooler places. You see, that is what Dreams are all about. I giggle often when frequently asked, what is it I Dream of. I simply say, "What is it I don't Dream of?" At fifty I feel like Linus even now, I am sitting in my car where outside these doors and windows I should be on a beach somewhere; instead, I am envisioning cool, crisp breezes blowing, jumping on the back of a hayfilled truck or trailer full of undeniable energy snuggled up to the ones around me, excitement taking the wheel of this ride to where ever my heart takes me and just like Linus when he wrote to the Great Pumpkin that Patty had told him that He, The Great Pumpkin was fake and that he was wasting his time. Linus was bold and a great dreamer when he continued to write, "Everyone tells me you are a fake, but I believe in you. P.S.: if you really are a fake, don't tell me. I don't want to know."

This trip my Daughter and I took recently was a game changer for us both. I have always relished in Labor Day as our last hoorah of Summer only this year, it was time for a cool change and to Celebrate the coming of Fall. The weather was picture perfect, the views were more than picturesque and the company well it was more than I had ever dreamed of between me and my Daughter. You see, my wee one is becoming her own force with her own gumptions and developing her own views. It was "that" trip you knew that just as the Seasons change, so has my little girl. We decided to hike and climb and venture everywhere our Hearts led us. Isn't that what Linus was really saying? One particular Waterfall we chose to climb will always be that one I will enjoy telling as in the Notebook Movie, it will make the cut. We had pushed ourselves and hiked with the altitude against us, when going down 600 plus feet we were smacked in the face coming back up. I made certain I emphasised to my Daughter as we could have stopped at various points in our desend and been satisfied with turning back but I with all the passion I could envoke, imparted; we want to go all the way because we will often times later look back and wonder what we might have experienced. As I always ask her after she comes home from any trip or somewhere off, what was the best memory and moment and what do you now look back on and wish you would have done? She ignitied a flame into an inferno watching her. She took every "shortcut" and off the beaten path sliding down portions while holding onto vines and branches to climbing up on boulders and having her Mother call her back at times as if an adventerous toddler. She was like Jane looking for Tarzan she was in her element and I never would have thought so before. She kept telling how cool it would be to get lost and have to spend the night out there. One of these falls she had me overflowing with laughter as she quickly alerted the already pooped travelers they should just turn around now. In fact, to one group; she said, "Really, it is NOT worth it. Here, I will show you all our pictures and videos from the bottom, it is the same thing." They eagerly gandered to take a peep and listen to her. We all giggled but it hit me then how parallel this is to us in our own Lives and Persuit of our Dreams. 

We saved the best for last in all of our mountain fun, it was our climb to the top of Whiteside Mountain. We had the best time even when it was tough, we would sing everything from rap, to country, to pop laughing and inspiring one another that we were taking hold of this moment. I had brought one of my favorite picnic baskets from home packed with delectables fitting for our views to savor all our senses and fuel our souls to Dream. This particular one I did not bring it just tucked one of her favorite snacks I had prepared from home in our backpacks with some other snacks and waters. When it got tough and I know we both were chasing the thoughts out with a broom in our minds of stopping and settling for this view; because neither of us whispered one time, for it was not an option for us both. She even remarked as she saw other hikers embarking back down that chose that elevated view was enough; they were going to miss out.  She started chanting her favorite snack and water that she was rewarding herself once we got to the peak. My eyes filled with tears for alas I knew she got it, even if the tippy top picture of us both on this rock 800 ft higher engraved in the stone 4,930ft wasn't that great; she wasn't going to believe it. We were already at the highest incorporated municipalities at 4,118ft, wasn't that enough? My Daughter and I will attest those seasoned goldfish and bottled water have never tasted better then they did that day, at that precise moment; sitting on that rock, with that engraved altitude basking at the beauty we beheld. This is The Wonderment Of Life...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWQ25O-Mcg

THE POWER OF THE UNEXPECTED

I read on Twitter a post that said, "Refuse to settle for "Good Enough." Good enough is the song of the mediocre. Excellence, going the second mile is the song of the highly successful." This could not possibly better sum up our recent trip to Atlanta I took my Daughter and her friend to Chickfila Headquarters to tour their amazing spellbounding facility. I have mentioned in past blogs of my facination and enthrallment with this never cease to amaze me Company, well; I was blown away. In every way at every turn it truly was like a spaceship landed and hijacked us and took us to a planet that we only dream of. This Company, this man, started this Empire off this concept that I started out with, his from a bible verse he believed that the first mile is expected it is when you go beyond the expectations you went the second mile for what they did not anticipate. Shazam!! The Monkees are playing in my mind, "Yeah I'm a believer." We were toured by a family friend who works there as the backstage tour is closed for renovations til the New Year and what an experience it truly was. I am forever changed and inspired beyond  mere words that fail to convey the depths of my core this experience. It awoken my soul in every part from the slumber I did not realize was asleep heeding the call to compel me to be a better person, to do more than required even when I feel I have done so, now; I am constrained to do more. I have never traveled anywhere abroad or to neighboring cities that the people and place impacted me in such a vital way as this visit. Generally when I travel I bring home experiences to implement within my home sharing with family and friends but this was such a Battle Star Gallactica phenomenon my mind has still yet to decifer that which resonnates the most it is like they swarm within my mind as if twirling and I become dizzy. 


As I sit here before my computer, chin resting in my hand elbow locked and set on the desk before me gazing out the window eyes dancing from here to there trying to focus in order to slow my bewildering thoughts, alas as if a little girl and I have fallen down after a bout of ring around the rosies my attention is now distracted to the song playing in the background, "feels" by Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean, it pretty much sums up all I want to say about this encounter of the best kind. From entering their front doors and being offered coffee as we waited for our friend to touring the mindblowing facility straight out of a place where Dreams only had been before. There in the lobby she told us of how all the levels of floors above us the people gather weekly for devotions and when they announced no suit and ties and a business casual dress code the men all tossed their ties over into the lower lobby instantly I could hear the cheers of the employees as if I had been transcended in time it was so real it penetrated all senses of feeling, my eyes caught glimpse under the stair case in which a beautiful statue of Jesus washing one of his disciples feet with the bible verse engraved, we were treated to lunch complements of them for they feed their employees full blown (not just Chickfila) breakfast, lunches and break snacks ALL day long, every day complete with cappacino coffee bars to a state of the art gym where classes are also held with locker room fit for a king where all of these their spouses are welcome to join. To the most marveled inspired areas in which the employees are encouraged to venture away from their desks to allow the inspiration to flow I believe smoke was literally erupting from my brain as if it could not compute. 


It was as if everyone had been cloned by the mind altering mad scientist of good; it was as if we were the Aliens.  On the shuttle all of the men remained seated allowing the women to exit before they would even flinch to move showing more respect since I can remember as if I went back in time to the days of old. Everyone should consider touring this facility I will be speaking of it for times to come because it was that impactful to us all. These people glowed as if exposed to radiation, as the neon sign I took pictures of the girls in front of that read "Our Pleasure" it was the most refreshing outpouring of sincerity that I have ever experienced. It was heartfelt and the words were fueled with fire as on an arrow that went straight to your own heart. In the days in which we live if we could funnel just even a portion of this golden rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you would undoubtably change our world for the better, I see so much room for improvement in my own life to master this coveted trait. The Dreams that burn within my soul lie dull and tarnished if my focused aim is on myself alone. I learned there that in all of their high energy, high tech world of improvement, bettering and mastering solutions, new tactics, fresh approaches and ways to surprise their customers by imparting a feeling of pleasure it leaves you with such ecstasy you undoubtably will long to come back. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to feel it you won't be able to stop yourself from passing it on. 


Stop and consider that which burns within you, that longing like the thirst that cannot seem to be quenched, wakes you up in the middle of the night sensation haunting you to chase after it might just be more powerful than you first imagined. Within the realms of your Dreams imbedded in your Heart just might bring that undeniable pleasure if you embrace the Soul of their roots. This man embraced his roots of the two mile rule and by implementing his heart and soul of who he was to his deepest core, the impact has been unfathonable. When we left this tour we were not discussing the original bat man car sitting in his automobile collection or how monitarily successful he became, moreover, how much we lacked and desired to strive to be a better person and give to those we come in contact with. The Wonderment of Life is to LIVE the Dream not settling for "good enough" but leaving that mark of Excellence in all that we do and most importantly in who we are. That my friends is what is truly sexy and needs to reminded in the days in which we live. I leave with you one of my favorite Entertainers who has been around my entire life and still going strong in his Seventies rocking our world. May we live in such a way as these two men, that our lives will be impacting others even just around us in their depth and length of their lives. I feel this song is as old as I am but it is a classic with a modern twist and I love the disco vibe so get lost in it as you watch it I haven't quit singing it since I saw it on the VMA's, I was utterly blown away how Sir Rod still has it. I have been to this rooftop bar many times and danced out under the stars, gazing at the City. May we heed the call tying on our tennis shoes and not settling at one mile but go for excellence and run two, revamping where needed and as we interact with people may we too from the depths impart it was truly My Pleasure. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDT_EZHiBaA