Linn Cove Viaduct

This is my last post from the Blue Ridge Parkway a few weeks ago.

Fortunately the clouds didn't mean rain and didn't really dampen our enthusiasm of going on the Viaduct, which was the last piece of engineering of the whole Blue Ridge Parkway. 

It's going to be right around the corner...

Here it comes...

At times we could only see the railing, rather than the vistas of mountains.

But the side of Grandfather Mountain was pretty nice too!

See, down there the sun is still shining!!

This is where we turned around and went back to Hwy 221, which goes through the town of Linnville, pretty straight south to Marion...where we were able to turn onto Hwy 70 and go through Old Fort, then over the mountain pass on I-40 to Black Mountain, and we were home by 4:30!

Before we left the parkway, where most cars were going between 30 and 45 miles per hour...this was the car in front of us, going less than 30 mph.  And there was this young woman standing up out of the sun roof with her camera/phone recording what they passed by. We old ladies worried that she would get hurt if they stopped, but actually she sat down after a while, and we could breathe again!

Today's quote:

We need connection and stories and experiences that help us transcend our own lives to connect with others and ideas bigger than ourselves.

JULIA TAYLOR

Getting to Grandfather Mountain

 

Yes, this is the one I chose as my header last week. Mmm, may change it soon.

That beautiful cloud did come our way, making some of our photos on the viaduct less beautiful with grey skies. But first we had another couple of miles getting to it.

I admit I tried different angles to capture that rock, or that tree...and the cloud just kept on coming down!

Today's quote:

​Sholem Aleichem said, “Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.”

Sholem Aleichem,  “No matter how bad things get, you got to go on living, even if it kills you.”

Echo-cardiogram...or whatever it's called.

 
Getting an Echogram of my heart the other day...as I waited for the technician, I took this photo of her setup. I don't understand much, but I was positioned so I could see different parts of my heart on the screen as she did all her adjustments.

On the way to the cardiac center for my echo appointment, which had been cancelled twice before, I not only had 3 red lights, but a train at the one and only place tracks cross the road from my house into Asheville!  But I did still make it on time, and without going more than the speed limit's understandable 5 miles per hour faster than is posted.

Then:  

I have to find someone to tell me the results. I'd already had my appointment with the cardiologist, and am not eligible for another one apparently. He gave me tasks measuring my blood pressure to keep track of, but now I won't get to give him the results, nor get the drugs changed...ARGH!

Now: 

Fortunately, a week ago I had a new development which kept me off my feet. My heels started hurting terribly to walk, and there were cracks in them with dried blood. So I was able to get in to see my Primary Physician on Mon. It just meant staying home on a pretty weekend which I didn't like.

Anyway, I thought my swelling feet caused it, but the MD said no. However he recommended soaks in epsom salts. And then have soft heels in my shoes. I also bought some little gel heel inserts to try as well. And since the dry skin has caused the cracks, I got some good cream to moisturize them when I go to bed (and wear socks).

Really NOW: 

While with my MD, I asked if he'd received the results of the Echo and the blood tests that were done at the cardiologist's office. He didn't have the blood tests, but the Echo results were there. He read through them and said everything looked normal. I was thrilled. I'd had a reading of low-normal the last time. And my goal for the last year has been to get my heart back to normal. Yay me!

Strangely enough my steps were much lighter the rest of that day, and the next few. The heels are still a bother, and the feet look like plums...but I can approach each problem with the thought that my heart at least is now normal. It's been beating since before I was born, so it's a lovely 80 years and some old.

Thanks!

Going on up the Parkway and a ways in Mt. Mitchell State Park

 

We stopped for a while and ate our lunches while looking at this view from the parking lot for the closed Mt. Mitchell restaurant. We had brought our lawn chairs also, so it was very comfortable sitting in front of the car. A few other people parked and ate their lunches in their cars while we were there!

Mt. Mitchell is in a North Carolina State Park, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The contrast of the yellow leaved trees with the dark green firs or spruces were just wonderful to see.

We were fortunate to have nobody behind us while driving by this view, so Helen backed up so I could get this shot of Burnett Reservoir and Swannanoa

Today's quote:

​Do you think that you can clear your mind by sitting constantly in silent meditation? This makes your mind narrow, not clear.
Integral awareness is fluid and adaptable, present in all places and at all times.
That is true meditation… The Tao is clear and simple, and it doesn’t avoid the world.
—Laozi

Remembering my Dead, Dia de los Muertos

 I think our local Mexican restaurant will put up some deocrations, oh, they already have, for Halloween. There are skulls all over the place!!

This post will share some of my dear loved ones. So if it's kind of dull for you, I understand. 

For me, I have a personal altar, which celebrates my relationships with friends and family, whose spirits are close to me. I remember them with love, laughter, and the enjoyment of our lives when we were together...and think how in not too many days/months/years, I will be joining them.

My dear grandmother (seated in the middle here among her sisters) has been gone many years. I hope she can remember all the fun she gave me and my little sis "way back when"...just after my first date at 16.

No, none of these serious women in 1939 Mississippi who worked on the quilt at a quilting bee, are related to me.,,but I know my mother did make some quilts on her own, using a big circular quilting frame.

One person quilting by herself. Not my mother...

Here's my mother on the right and my grandmother Ada, my father's mother. I think they didn't get along that well later in life, but at one point were very close. I wonder if their spirit selves ever sit for a cuppa somewhere...

Much love to my father, here with all of his grandchildren - the little one on the right in the red shirt has also transitioned to the other side. I'm holding my youngest son, while older two sons stand by me. Little blond niece has disappeared from my life, living somewhere in Europe.

My dad's dad, George Rogers Sr. He left this life the year I graduated from high school.

Here I am on the right, with my little sister on left, and my other grandmother in her Sunday best to be a reader at the Christian Science church in Houston, TX. They are on the other side of the barrier of death, without the trouble of what they look like or what they wear any more.

Of course I also must include Panther and Muffin...

I had Panther from September, 2012 until June 23, 2018. I loved her free spirit, and her beautiful coat.

Panther and Felicia at Ramya's house...

Ramya at Flat Creek July 2011. She transitioned in Sept. 2012 and Panther came to live with me then.

Phil left this life on Oct. 19 2021...and I didn't say goodbye in person, but sent him lots of love and a few laughs on his FaceBook posts.

Muffin was born on my birthday on my front porch in St. Augustine FL, and I cared for her as we moved to Tampa then Black Mountain NC. I said goodbye to her in 2015.

One of her last visits to the vet before the final one.

My sister, Mary, as an adult...

And the two PrinSisters who shared emails with me as I moved through jobs and apartments from 2001 to 2018...Jinni and Rosemary. I'm sure they (spirits must be able to read)  read everything I post if it's at all interesting.

Here's Jinni on the left, Rosie on the right, at one of our after school meetups in one apartment or another...high school or maybe still middle school.

Jinni had MS for years, and rode around in her scooter, but still found ways to have rituals for the holy days of Pagans. She lived till she was 70.

Rosie after she had cancer, which she beat for 5 years, dying in 2018.

Rosie on left, her hubby George, then me, 2007 when they helped me move into apt. in Black Mountain NC.

Rosie and George, and at bottom I'm in a rocker next to Rosie, about 2010.

OK, that's all I'll post here, and I may be the only person who has tears in my eyes remembering all those good times. But I know whenever you think of those you've loved who've gone beyond this life, the same sense of sadness as well as joy can be experienced. That's 'cause we're human.

Today's quote:

THOUSANDS OF CANDLES CAN BE LIGHTED FROM A SINGLE CANDLE, AND THE LIFE OF THE CANDLE WILL NOT BE SHORTENED. HAPPINESS NEVER DECREASES BY BEING SHARED.

THE BUDDHA