Diamonds! Where you Least Expected Them!

I was reading about Mount Edgecomb in the Sitka Alaska area, and found that there had been a Diamond rush back in the days of the Gold Rush! As early as 1895, folks were finding Diamonds as they panned for gold in the Mt Edgecomb area. There was an article in the Tacoma WA newspaper about prospectors waiting for snows to melt on Mt. Edgecomb so they could scour the lava fields in hopes of finding more of the brilliant stones. This image Copyright 2002 by Michael A. Kyte.

Mt Edgecomb is an inactive volcano near Sitka AK, and has not erupted in over 10,000 years. It and its sister volcano, Crater Ridge, are part of a complex of several volcanic vents in that part of southeastern Alaska. There are few volcanoes in that part of Alaska due to the lack of direct subduction of the ocean crust.
Finding this out made me consider how many other "Diamonds" we might have in our lives. Even in out of the way places where you might least expect to find a "Diamond", there might be one waiting to be discovered.
Look around you today and see if you find any "Diamonds" waiting for the snow to melt around them so they can be discovered and converted into prosperity and fulfillment.
These diamonds may be an opportunity to help a family in need, or to start a new business, or to start a mentoring group for your local high school students, or to teach English as a 2nd Language or whatever else might be out there. That "Diamond" might have the power to lead you on a new adventure in these new times! So as we are waiting for the snows to melt, start planning to find those "Diamonds"! Challenge yourself to new growth and activities that are new for your personal health as well as the betterment of the neighborhood.
Enjoy the Journey! The adventure is only just begun.

Caddies and Learning, Keeping Your Brain Healthy

At the end of summer we start thinking about going back to school and embracing learning again. Well, as I grow older, I realize that learning never stops! I try to learn something new each day. Keeping my brain active and curious is important for a healthy life.
Today I read Donald Trump's blog and learned something new! Mr. Trump was writing about how the game of golf got Caddies! I have been around the game of golf for over 35 years and never thought about the origin of caddies. Turns out the origin was from a visit of a young Mary, who later became Queen of Scots, to France and Louis, King of France. Seems Louis knew that Mary loved the game of golf and he wanted to make her visit memorable. So he had a golf course built especially for her visit. Now that is a nice touch.

However, Louis was concerned about her safety while she was on the course. To allay his concerns, he assigned Cadets from a military school to accompany Mary for protection as she played. Mary liked the idea and carried it back to the home of Golf, Scotland and the Caddies became a integral part of the game. Cool!

So now that you have learned something new too, continue the practice each day to help keep your brain healthy. The AARP website has many options for a healthy brain. Some suggestions include good nutrition with Omega 3's ( and you know I am into good nutrition!), participating in social activities, exercise and more.

Brain health. It is what keeps us going!

Benefits of Summer Travel

Summer travel is always a fun time for me. Memories of going to Florida, pre-Walt Disney World, staying in a 2 bedroom cottage on the beach near New Smyrna Beach, watching the waves crash on the sand after a rain storm, being stung by a jelly fish in several places, OUCH, and feeling the sand between my toes even now. Gritty.
We would pile all we could in the Chevy Station Wagon, light blue in color and no air conditioning, and head south. Mom and Dad would leave very early in the morning, putting blankets down in the back so my sister and I could sleep for a few more hours. Didn't really work, but the thought was there.

We picnicked along the route in a way-side park, with cement benches and cement tables under big pine trees for shade. Now you must remember that this was pre-Interstate travel! No I-75 or I-95 heading in the fast lane to the Magic Kingdom. No, this was small 2 lane highway, Hwy 441, heading through fields of corn, pastures with cattle and swamps.
Sandwiches were had from the big red metal Coca Cola Cooler filled with block ice and pimento cheese, cereal, milk and a jug of fresh brewed sweet tea. Not too sweet and no lemon.
With the windows rolled down, we headed into the late August heat to spend 2 weeks on the beach and celebrate my 8th birthday. A friend of Mom's made my cake, not as good as Mom's but good. For some reason she put white sugar birds on the cake. Have never known why, but there they were in all their sugary glory with 8 candles between them.

Good memories of a more relaxed time. No waiting in airports, no flying down the intestate at break-neck speeds, no hurrying through fast food places for hamburgers and cokes. So now when I head to Florida, I think of that trip in 1959 and smile as I remember the fun we had playing games in the car, sweating with no a/c and loving the taste of the pimento cheese sandwiches followed by homemade brownies and Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum as a special treat.
Create your own family memories today. It's the journey that counts not the destination. Have fun and roll the windows down on the back roads. Watch out for the mosquitoes!