30 September 2010

Willow Ball 2010 -Part II


The weather was treacherous so we had to stop off at a neighboring airport and board a private jet for the rest of the trip.

We made it just as the party was beginning---Sting took one look at Willow Manor and started humming. Did I mention he brought his orchestra with him? After the proper introductions and some mingling, he took the microphone and proposed a toast to the hostess-Willow and began to sing---






Mr. Jackson, very pleased with himself, took my hand and we danced the night away.

This is just a hint of the happenings--waltz your way to Willow Manor and check it out!

Willow Ball 2010-Part I


Unbeknowst to me Mr. Jackson ended up backstage at Bethel Woods after a concert we went to this summer and got to talking with this gent...

Mr. Jackson complimented him on a wonderful concert and mentioned that we all should get together the next time he was in town. Then he remembered the invite to Willow's Ball and suggested that Sting and Trudi join us!

Sting chuckled, "The party where Johnny and Tony got into it last year?"

Mr. Jackson assured him that it was all a misunderstanding and besides Willow might like some musical entertainment. His response follows:





Mr. Jackson assured Sting that Willow Manor wasn't very far from New York City and he could be an Englishman anywhere.

Meanwhile I ordered my dress...
went to Tiffany's and picked out this lovely trinket...




...and this lovely purse
and had everything shipped to the house last week. I am still waiting ....evidently the delivery truck had a bit of a brake problem and ended up rolling into the Hudson River as its driver was having his lunch in Hoboken.
I had to improvise as we were meeting Sting (Trudi had a conflict) at the helipad downtown and was told not to be late.So with flowers in hand for lovely Willow, we made our way to the ferry hoping the rain would hold off.

All the while a feeling deja vu surrounding me as I thought "How lucky am I ?"

For up to the minute details of the gala---fox trot, quick step or just walk on by....here!

28 September 2010

Magpie Tales-Il Niente

The leaves of the olive trees glistened silver in the early morning sun as our group of made our way through the hills of Tuscany, the towers of San Gimignano in the distance like an apparition or an oasis in the midst of a desert. Today, we would walk fourteen miles to the medieval tower city. We were a colorful group, a term my grandmother would use in place of eccentric because she thought it polite; nine Americans, four couples, me and two guides.Thirty minutes ago, we stood outside our villa, where we had spent a lovely evening  walking around Siena, shuffling about wondering why we had to leave, slightly sleepy, the smell of wood burning in the hills below. Harry and Ida, in their late seventies and proud Texans, Sarah and Joel, mid-forties from Massachusetts away from their kids for the first time in ten years, Peg and Warren, newly retired, Eliza and Jessie, life partners and investment bankers from San Francisco and me, newly single, greeting 40 and Europe for the first time. Our guides, Maria, a transplant from Queens, New York and Alessandro from Milan, began as they had each morning, explaining the route, handing out snacks and water for our packs.

So we walked, Maria in the front and Alessandro following, the conversation moving through the breeze and the tinkling of olive leaves.

"We started late, got to make up time, Ida. Move it."
"Joel we need to think about the interview into the club, it's important we make the cut."
"Thanks for your help,Warren. Perhaps your wife would like some water too."
"Liz, you hang here with Maria and have your smoke. I'm gonna continue walking with the Jersey girl and the hottie from Milan."

I walked, never catching Harry and Ida, passing as Eliza threw down her pack and declared the smoking light on, insisting that Warren go bring his wife some water and snacks, navigating around Joel as he was unzipping his hiking pants to make them shorts yelling at Sarah, "It's all bullshit!"

As I started up another hill, wondering why I was doing this, I heard a voice, "Lean into the hill. Take slow steps and rest your arms behind you."

Alessandro illustrated as he passed me, tucking his hands behind and under his pack, just as Jessie motored up behind us.

"You have it all under control, don't you?", Jessie said as she reached up and tucked his long hair behind his ear.

He didn't flinch. I was appalled and impressed.

"Come on Jersey Girl! What do you have to say?" Jessie said dancing around the two of us, "Pretty good for having knee surgery a month ago, eh?"

I continued up the hill, leaving Jessie with Alessandro, seeing Harry and Ida ahead moving closer to the mystical towers of San Gimignano. The conversation lost as I put distance between me and the group, thinking only of finishing and the possibility of a shower.

In the quiet, I saw and felt a place that was nothing I had ever experienced except, perhaps northern Arizona, different trees but bright sunshine and great expanses of land and that's when I realized in my soul what I needed.

So I walked until I saw the gate and the towers before me, Harry and Ida were pacing waiting for the group and directions to our hotel. I took pictures as Harry and Ida talked to me about their grandkids. Tourists on day trips parted as the rest of our group climbed the hill, Maria and Alessandro gathering us and pointing us to Hotel L'Antico Pozzo in the midst of a plaza. 

Salty, sandy and tired, I heard my room number and bid the group 'adieu' and staggered into the hotel. I was greeted like majesty and led to a room that was nothing like I'd had ever seen ---a huge bed, curtains billowing in the breeze and a shower that was palatial.

After a blissful thirty minutes, I emerged onto the plaza, sans hiking gear dressed for dinner to meet my group who was already positioned in a prime spot  on the plaza and garnering the attention of the wait staff, laughing and toasting the day.

I joined the group in the midst of a toast and Alessandro handed me a glass of grappa, tucking my hair behind my ear as he whispered, "You did well."

I smiled and  said "Il Niente" the scents of verbena, rosemary, lavender and citrus enveloping me as I looked into his eyes for the first time.

C.M. Jackson 2010

This is just another Magpie Tale---travel here for more scents or sense...

24 September 2010

Flash 55-A New Day

A new reality
Nothing to do with
The economy
More about my
Psychology
Work for the man
Anything’s possible
But make a plan
Find a way
Dream
Amidst the day to day
Scheme
Take time to play
Let go of the past
For this much I know
Time moves fast
So many places to go

C.M. Jackson 2010

According to a recent study, the recession ended in June 2009....if you can say it 55 words--you know what to do, go talk to the g-man. Happy Friday and here's to the next upturn !

23 September 2010

Theme Thursday-Reveal


As a symphony of bees and crickets plays on,  golden beams of sunshine reach down into the garden and the hydrangea nod in the breeze.

He sits waiting for her as he has done each Sunday for the last ten years. A moment in time, his heart beating a bit faster as he notices the flowers seem to stand taller and the butterflies float in the air.














Never quite certain until the scent of lavender and lilacs envelop him and she turns to meet his gaze.
                                              
For more revelations--check out Theme Thursday!

17 September 2010

Flash 55-Snapshots

I hum
An unknown song
Lights of the big city
In my rearview mirror
Fading
I wind my way
Home
Through traffic
Horns blaring
New Mexico vistas
Still flashing like
A slide show
On the windshield
Of my mind
Smell of pinon
Wafts alongside
Falafel and pretzels
I exist between
Two worlds
For now
Smiling

C.M. Jackson 2010


If you can say it in 55 words --Well, what are you waiting for? Go tell the G-Man! It's Friday Flash 55!!

16 September 2010

Magpie Tales-Time Stands Still

tiny grains of sand
washing
from under toes
as the tide moves
in and out
warm  breezes
caressing
sunburnt shoulders
sea glass
sifting
through fingers
like confetti
red dust blowing
down a trail
hoodoos ahead
white magic
storm clouds billowing
high
in an azure sky.



C.M.Jackson 2010

13 September 2010

Monday Morning WakeUp Call--Altitude with Attitude



Tales from the Trails (TFTT)

Something about the climate and the geography in New Mexico makes my heart sing. Seriously, I have more energy and I can't get enough of the clean fresh air and sunshine. Being from the east coast, I haven't had too many bad experiences when it comes to the altitude (7,000 ft). Except if you count not being able to sleep, like at all--wide awake pacing all night ....happened this trip and it wasn't until I really thought about it and of course, 'googled', found out that what I was experiencing was altitude sickness.

Seems one has to drink 1 ounce of water for each pound one weighs each day to acclimate. Without getting into the details, let's just say for me, that is a whole lot of water--not coffee, tea or wine, but water. This trip we were blessed with great weather that was cool and sunny. So while we drank water and in case you wondering, no tequila and minimal wine, it wasn't as much as we should have given the exertion of hiking every other day or would have given the typical warmer temperatures.

Here's a lesson from the trail at altitude, drink and drink and drink water--not coffee, tea, tequila or wine and you'll be fine.

Now what about these two kids? This was an 8th grade graduation project---how cool are they?

No matter your altitude, remember it's about the attitude. Make it a great week!

11 September 2010

Never Forget

Hold On

Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.

A Pueblo Indian Prayer

No matter how many years go by and how far we travel--the memory of those lost on this day will live on.

To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.-Thomas Campbell

10 September 2010

Flash 55-"Re-Entry Ain't Easy"

Red dust covers my clothes
Pours out of my boots
I pound them on my back step
Thud!
Appointments
Thud!
Responsibilities
With each thud
I feel the moments fade
Throw a load in the washer
Closing the door
I watch as the water fills
Washing away
My heart
For now
Returning me
Home
To work

C.M. Jackson 2010
 
If you can say it in 55 words--go see the g-man--Happy Friday Folks!!

07 September 2010

There's gold in those hills...

After spending a day walking about Santa Fe acclimating to the altitude (7,000 feet), Mr. Jackson and I decided that we would try out our new gps gadget, take a hike and locate a geocache named "Lucky Coin." Geocaching is a treasure hunt using a gps device to locate a geocache based upon the gps' coordinates. The "Lucky Coin" geocache trail is in area that we had never had a chance to explore so we filled up our camels and got in the car.  Completed in 2005, the Dale Ball Trails include about 22 miles of hiking and biking trails within 10 minutes of the plaza. We started in a section that is adjacent to the Audubon Center and an area of town which is owned by the Nature Conservatory --truly beautiful. The hike started with a .8 mile walk to the trailhead and then climbed via switchbacks 1200 feet to the point where my internal hiking clock said we had gone as far as we should go, about 3 miles, given our 'lowlander' status and the fact that we hadn't taken a strenous hike in quite some time. Mr. Jackson looked at me as if I were commiting mutiny--" we are just .5 miles from the cache."



"Yes, that's true but it is based upon a straight line (a gps triangulates based upon three points) and we will need to continue on the trail for perhaps, another mile or so, " I said.

Mind you both of us felt fine and were enjoying the view, but the little voice I hear when hiking was saying "It is two in the afternoon you have been hiking for a hour and half at altitude and have to get back." I always listen to that voice and after a bit of grumbling, Mr. Jackson agreed and we made our descent.

So, yes there is gold in those hills still--I assured Mr. Jackson that our lucky coin would be there the next time we visited.

Here's some shots from the trail:





Always remember it is about the journey...

06 September 2010

Monday Monday Wake Up Call-The Big Bad Wolf?




Mr. Jackson came across this find on one of our hikes in Bandelier. He saw a white reflection and thinking that it was a plastic bag, he ventured off the trail to pick it up. When I finally caught up (more on that later), he could hardly contain his excitement!! Isn't this cool?, he said. Through gasps, I agreed and promptly began to take a few shots to memorialize the moment, reminding him that we needed to leave his new friend where he found him. Being an excellent hiker, he returned Wolfy back to the wilderness.

We stopped back at the ranger's station to advise them of our find. Amazingly, we were advised that there no wolves in Bandelier and that Wolfy was more likely Wiley, a coyote. Go figure. That was one big coyote! Happy trails and may your week be a great adventure!

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