One of the happiest parts of my childhood was spent in Santa Monica, California. My father was sent there for some training, so we went with him. We lived in a magical place, the Embassy Hotel and Apartments. It is now called the Palihouse. This complex is Spanish colonial revival style with stucco walls and a red tile roof.
My sis and me in front of the Embassy.
The courtyard was full of exotic plants. We loved walking through this space that felt like a jungle. Our apartment was on the second floor with a balcony facing the ocean.
Our balcony is just above the wishing well.
My son went back there today. He stood on the steps where my sister and I stood over fifty years ago. He and his friend walked along that same path to the front door.
Time circle.Same steps, different generation
I always dreamed of returning there, but having my son there seems even more thrilling. My heart is full of gratitude that both he and I got to be in this same magical space at different times. That is what time does. It circles back to what was loved most.
I spotted these ghostly wildflowers during my wanderings in the mountains. They are tiny white parasites. They look like fungi, but are really non-photosynthetic plants. Indian Pipes do not contain chlorophyll, so they must mooch off fungi that mooch off of tree roots. They are waxy white and do look ghostly.
Monotropa uniflora
There were many groups of Monotropa uniflora in the shade under some trees. They grow where the fungus and tree roots grow that supporr them. I am glad I spotted these unusual wildflowers.
If we believe we know something “like the back of our hand.” We stop looking at it. We assume it is the same old- same old, so we stop paying attention to it. When was the last time you looked at the back of your hand?
While cleaning the kitchen this morning , I re-arranged trays of produce. I consolidated the fruits onto one tray and then wiped the other clean to return it to the pantry.
This tray has been here for years. I barely glance at it. Today I paused. I sat down with the tray and read the inscription on the back.
Statue of Liberty history.
The Statue of Liberty was given by France in 1886 as a symbol of friendship between two nations dedicated to liberty.
Liberty has a torch in her right hand and a book in her left. The book is inscribed with the date July 4, 1776 which is the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Liberty is a symbol for freedom and opportunity. Her light in her right hand is for enlightening the world.
She still stands for that. I still stand for that. If you think otherwise…maybe you need to look at the back of your hand, then look in the mirror, then look at your neighbors.
Looking for liberty.
It’s time to really look your country in the eye. Is what is happening about freedom and opportunity? Or is it about greed and racism?
Enlightening the world?
Stand in the real truth instead of sitting in front of the medias slanted view.
If all are not free, then no one is free. There is no US and Them, only We.
I rode the twisting and turning back roads in the mountains this afternoon. I jumped out of the car to capture the photo. Then I looked behind me to see this chair. It is tucked in the shrubs peeking out at this glorious view.
A kindred spirit placed this chair here. This person sits here in this secluded spot looking across the same gorge that I look across.
Only I am looking back at them from the swing on my porch. Life is funny like that. I am capturing their view with my camera and they are marveling at the ridge I live on from this secluded seat.
floweralley 