"I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a ferris wheel" E.B White
I'm pretty sure the world would be a happier place if we all spent more time riding the ferris wheel. The feeling of weightlessness as it whisks you higher & higher into the air & then the sudden head rush when you take that first look down. Ooooo and then, just as you get accustomed to the new view? You free fall back down into the wheel spin & sudden stomach butterflies take your very breath away! And then.. It blissfully begins all over again. Yeh, the metaphors for life as it resembles the ferris wheel are never ending, so I won't bore you with all that here,
but I will talk about
COTTON CANDY & the way the gritty first bite makes you wonder why you ever liked the stuff in the first place & then as the sugary goodness begins to melt in your mouth, you remember.
And how it always reminds me of being 8 years old at the circus with my dad & watching 25 clowns squish into a toy car.
AND how the smell of Popcorn out of a paper bag evokes memories of junior high summer vacations with best friends, matching over sized roller coaster t-shirts, sunburns, laughing entirely too loud in order to get the attention of boys, strawberry lip gloss & flower painted faces.
When was the last time you asked someone to ride the ferris wheel with you?
Ruth Elder
Movie actress of the 1920's & fearless aviation adventurer, Aviatrix.
Five months after Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, Ruth decided she wanted to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic in her yellow Stinson Detroiter named "The American Girl". A very apropos name for a flight vessel to carry an American girl who grew up in a small town in Alabama with a dream & a determination to prove that a woman is equal to a man.
"On October 11, 1927 in spite of bad weather, we took off. The American Girl carried 520 gallons of fuel, enough for 48 hours of flying time." Ruth Elder
Lindbergh made the flight in 21 hours, 40 minutes, and Elder felt the American Girl would make it ,even in worse weather conditions, in better time. The press at first did not take her seriously. Elder, they were sure, was just an attractive actress and liberated woman looking for publicity. They downplayed it until they realized that on October 13, the American Girl was overdue. Then they splashed the front pages with headlines voicing concern and wishes for her safe arrival.
Planning routes, she made sure to avoid the worst of the Atlantic storms. However, her approach to this goal ignored some very basic advice: avoid the North Atlantic in winter. Lindbergh had succeeded. Everyone before Lindbergh had tried and failed. All of Elder's supporters wanted her to wait until spring, but other women were preparing to attempt the flight by spring. Elder's competitive spirit & headstrong attitude kept her from waiting.
She was determined to achieve victory.
"Everybody in France is eager to see this audacious girl succeed in proving that she is not a weak woman. If she does succeed, that lovely American will have a triumph as great as Lindbergh's. The daring and self-confidence of that American girl has imbued public opinion with the conviction that she will succeed. There will be no pessimistic predictions that sought to discourage flights since the recent scenes of transatlantic disasters." The New York Times
Flying somewhere between 2,574 and 2,625 miles across the Atlantic in stormy weather ( 28-36 hours) .
They were forced to ditch in the water due to an oil leak about 300-360 miles short of the Azores.
Elder was rescued by the Dutch tanker Barendrecht"
Ruth's flight was not completed but it was not in vain. It remains a flight of historical importance because, up until that time, it was the longest flight ever made over water. It is also widely speculated that their distance was probably much longer than the measured one on the great circle route.. due to the maneuvers made to avoid storms & bad weather. It was also the longest flight made by a woman at that point in time.
Ruth Elder continued flying and in 1929, she came in fifth in the world's FIRST Women's Air Derby.
She later retired from aviation but went on to become a successful Hollywood actress.
A few short years later, in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across The Atlantic solo.
ADVENTURE: An undertaking usually involving danger & unknown hazards.
Also see: Spirit of Adventure & The Gamble A.K.A. The Encountering of Risks.
Thinking a lot this week about adventures & how the idea of planning an adventure is a beautiful thing, in theory. Sometimes it's such a beautiful style idea that I find myself shying away from it...as if it's too much of a planning ordeal for me to ever really be a true adventurer. Allowing myself to be intimidated by the very word Adventure is absolutely a non bueno situation. I mean, after all, I must admit I'm a bit perplexed as to how one can actually plan an adventure anyway. Isn't planning an adventure an oxymoron in terms? I understand of course the planning of journeys to far off lands & uncharted territories & I'm all too envious of those who can carry those plans to fruition with little or no fear of the unknown. Travel is indeed a thing of amazement & beauty. I think, however, it's easy to forget that true adventures are really just everyday, spontaneous (sometimes really stupid) ideas which we somehow turn into unforgettable moments.
Like the time I decided, along with my band mates, that it would be an ok idea to travel across The Mojave desert in mid August without an air conditioner in an overheating van. The desert always cools down after dark right? Ok..no NOT right. A few hours of dousing one another with super Oozy battery operated water guns later, we decided our calculations might have been a bit off. Ad in a few more hours of emptying an industrial sized ice chest over our bodies at every "oh my god we have to stop again the van is overheating" kinda stop & we somehow managed to get to the other side. Soaked bandanna wrapped heads all alive & intact, barely. A stupid idea indeed, I don't recommend trying this at home.
but luckily, in our case it became an adventure.
A lengthy one filled with ghost stories , ice cream dreams & seriously HOT card games.
I guess the point of my rambling is that
I plan to Go Ahead & GO Someplace where no one knows my name on every occasion possible (ooooooo it's my favorite) but I hope to never forget that my story is being written right here, right wherever I am.Right Now.
Turning spontaneous decisions into awesome adventures.
Roger Miller, One of the greatest songwriters & entertainers of the 20th century. Much more than just a performer, Roger Miller was an accomplished songwriter, singer, guitarist, fiddler, drummer, TV star, humorist, honky-tonk man, Broadway composer & a witty witty soul whose unique tongue in cheek zest for life can be summed up in many of his one-liner quips such as:
"Some Walk in The Rain, Others Just Get Wet."
Roger Miller
ENGINE NUMBER NINE
by Roger Miller
Engine, Engine No. 9, coming down the railroad line
How much farther back did she get off?
Old brown suitcase that she carried, I've looked for it everywhere
It just ain't here among the rest and I'm a little upset
Yes, tell me Engine, Engine No. 9, coming down the railroad line
I know she got on in Baltimore
A hundred and ten miles ain't much distance
But it sure do make a difference, I don't think she loves me anymore
I warned her of the dangers, don't speak to strangers
If by chance she find new romance, warmer lips to kiss her
Arms to hold her tighter, stirring new fires inside her
How I wish that it was me instead of he that stands beside her
Engine, Engine No. 9, coming down the railroad line
I know she got on in Baltimore
A hundred and ten miles ain't much distance
But it sure do make a difference, I don't think she loves me anymore
No, I don't think she loves me anymore
I don't think she loves me anymore
Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Broadway Musical music and lyrics
by Roger Miller Based on the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, featuring bluegrass & country styles. Winning 7 Tony Awards. Roger Miller is the only country artist to have won a Tony Award.
KING OF THE ROAD
Roger Miller
Trailers for sale or rent
Rooms to let...fifty cents.
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but..two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.
Third boxcar, midnight train
Destination...Bangor, Maine.
Old worn out suits and shoes,
I don't pay no union dues,
I smoke old stogies I have found
Short, but not too big around
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.
I know every engineer on every train
All of their children, and all of their names
And every handout in every town
And every lock that ain't locked
When no one's around.
I sing,
Trailers for sale or rent
Rooms to let, fifty cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.
Eleven Time Grammy Winner "I want my music to leave an indelible mark"
Roger Miller Rides his motorcycle for LIFE Magazine in 1965
& me beside that same motorcycle
at the Roger Miller Museum 2011 Stories, adventures, sincere talent & a bright pathway of inspiration Beautiful Moments of Music
they always carry on
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner
Whenever stress becomes more of the main feature in my life rather than just the occasional sideshow, I tend to want to spend more & more time with my furry little schnoodle friend Jackson. He has a way of reminding me of the most important things in life: laughter, giggles, treats, complete moments of silliness, long walks in the park & warm snuggles.
I propose a day of less serious & more fabulous please.
You In?
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams
"Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses."
~Elizabeth Taylor
The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler
My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.
~Edith Wharton
One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why. ~Author Unknown
My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown
A man may smile and bid you hail
Yet wish you to the devil;
But when a good dog wags his tail,
You know he's on the level.
~Author Unknown
Ever wonder where you'd end up if you took your dog for a walk and never once pulled back on the leash? ~Robert Brault
