#145 Nomad Diary. 29 July- 4 August 2023. Leigh's Gift to Me. Living at Eric and Erin's House Near Athens, Alabama.

I Got a Big Box of Gifts From Leigh! Our North Dakota Airbnb Host.

The Gifts From Leigh Reminded Me of My YouTube Channel of Affirmations!
(By the way, our son Eric helped me to complete this two year project (about 9 years ago). He recorded me, added music, the cover and got it all set up!)

Saturday. 29. Today we babysat Owen. His parents come back from their babymoon around dinner time. Darrell went to Valentina’s for a carryout pizza. It was great to get the parents back home and Owen agreed! It was so hot outside today! 96 degrees kept us inside and only out for 10-15 minute walks. 

Sunday. 30. Went to church at Harvest/Capshaw church of Christ. The two groups have combined at the Harvest building while working on remodeling the Capshaw building. Prices have skyrocketed and the current quote to remodel the Capshaw building has made this original option out of reach for now. The group is dealing with this turn of events and still trying to decide what to do now. One of our friends, Erin, at the congregation is an Athens city planner for her work. She loves to travel and she went to lunch with us at Tzatiki’s to talk about our travels since we left the area last year in April of 2022. We planned to get together in a year again and catch up with her life and ours! When we got to Tzatiki’s there were several of the parties of people who we knew from two churches. It was so nice to recognize people and be at one of our old favorite places! 

Darrell and I went shopping at Duluth Trading Company. We both got new jeans. I also got a pair of long shorts, keen hiking sandals and a couple of shirts. We stopped at a farmstand with one man who told Darrell he will soon be 80 and he grew everything he’s selling. We bought a very sweet seedless watermelon and a basket of large tomatoes.  

Beautiful Sunset Near Athens, Alabama in Eric and Erin's Neighborhood

Eric, Erin and Owen. Owen Is Wearing a Wrist Brace (for 3 weeks) Since a Fall.

Darrell Burning Tree Debris in Eric's Backyard

Eric and Erin's House with the Roses in Full Bloom

Darrell Reading to Owen

Our New Water Bottle Holders!! For Our 22ounce Brita Bottles.

Walking Swan Creek Nature Trail in Athens, Alabama. Super Hot and Sweaty Day!

Another Rose Picture at Eric and Erin's House. They Smell Amazing!

Monday. 31. Today I had a stretch session at Stretch Zone. I enjoy this therapy and it helps me with some comfort support in my own bodywork. I got a haircut, and also took paperwork to a new doctor’s office in Athens to get my Madison doctor switched over. I also have an appointment with mt colon doctor in Huntsville today. This is how a day looks for me as a ‘nomad’. This town is where I have my most recent connections and records and I know my way around. We were here in December and now again in July. Once we leave on Sept 5th, we don’t expect to return until May 2024.

Tuesday. 1.

Wednesday. 2.

Thursday. 3. We met up with Beverly today. She’s a friend of a friend who is interested in housesitting and traveling. We enjoyed sharing all kinds of info with her and answering whatever questions she has. Darrell carries our profile on trustedhousesitters.com and on another site just in New Zealand. We have two housesits lined up during our 4 months there. We also covered apps that have been helpful, and a lot about our experiences in England.

We got to get our truck back today from the body shop. Yay!

Friday. 4.

Nomad Notes.

I think about people a lot. People I meet and their stories. I love so many people. I enjoy meeting people and making friends. I like knowing people’s life events, their joy and their sorrow. A full life has the mix with the burden of grief and the joy of the exhilarating moments.

This week I have a happy story that stands out and made me giggle. Really! On July 7th Darrell and I stayed in Williston, North Dakota for one night at an airbnb. We were on our impromptu trip up to Canada to drive from Saskatchewan through Manitoba and Ontario. I found the “Cozy Bungalow” hosted by Leigh. We arrived and it was fabulous! Leigh’s little house was roomy for the two of us and comfortable, relaxing, well-supplied. It was everything we could enjoy for a much longer stay. I never met Leigh in person, but she was an excellent host! We checked out the next day and continued our journey. 

I wrote Leigh a thank-you note and left one of our “Retired Nomad” calling cards. She sent me a message through the airbnb system that she really loved my note and our card. Some time later Leigh texted me and asked if I had an address that I would share where she could send me a little gift for our travels. “Well sure!” I thought. I sent her our son’s address in Alabama where we are for the month of August now awaiting the birth of our third grandchild. 

I received the box from Leigh and that evening opened it with excitement and wonder. Darrell and son Eric were watching too and wondering what it could be.As I started unloading several wrapped gifts, I thought of this being like a little party that Leigh sent to me in this box. Each gift was wrapped in a bright and different color of crepe paper. As I looked at the pile of happily wrapped gifts, I thought of my mother who would totally do this kind of gifting! A happy surprise and shared excitement to commemorate the coming of a big journey to New Zealand and to acknowledge the journey to this point too. This was Leigh’s message to me: 

“Just a little something that made me think of you” and “After I saw your cute little picture and knowing that you guys were going on all these adventures, I wanted you to have just a little something!!!!!” and “I hope you guys are having a fantastic journey.”

I opened each gift and they were selected as if Leigh knew me very well. There were scripture cards for women to give loving daily reminders of care from God. Also another set of boxed cards with positive affirmations and two books: one with note paper and one full of beautiful beach artwork and pagelong devotionals for setting your mind on the goodness of God’s creation. Also in this box of gifts was a travel size pillow and pillowcase from “My Pillow”. The pillowcase has the scripture on it: “With God all things are possible…Matt 19:26”

Just WoW! Years ago, my closest grandmother who lived into her 90’s asked for a “My Pillow” because I wanted to get her a new pillow and she had seen the commercial for this one. This memory of getting this pillow for my grandma makes me laugh and smile and remember her then. I let Leigh know my brief thoughts for her gift about my grandma and my mother and my own positive affirmation channel on YouTube that I made back in 2014 with 100 episodes that took me over 2 years to complete! 

All of this joy and wonder and giggles that Leigh’s gift brought to me a spark that left me wanting to spark others. Spark others I meet in so many brief ways. To enjoy the sparks that I received from my memories of long relationships and very brief encounters. I am more sure knowing that smiling and looking for good and being a friend can be brief and have such power to connect and energize!  Just be and give love and smiles and let the spark ignite a greater love within.