The Blank Book Chronicles

Site Under Construction

2009-04-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, Everyone! As I am transitioning from the year of travel (please feel free to look at past posts from that period), I am in the process of building a new website/blog that is more in alignment with the Life Coaching work that I do.

Will keep you posted on the progress of the new site. Many Blessings and Good Wishes, Emily

Settling In

2009-02-17T10:22:00.001-08:00

Over the last couple months something startling happened! I settled in to life in Mancos!

Settling In

2009-02-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple months something startling happened! I settled in to life in Mancos! It kind of crept up on me after the year of traveling hither and yon. Taken by surprise, I find the pacing of life is so different when settled than when "on the road".

The immediacy of the moment confronts my soul when I travel; there is no past or future, just NOW. I don't think of what's ahead other than the yet to be seen sights around the next corner. I have reveled in the unexpected and the sparkle of fresh vistas this past year and the meeting of many truly wonderful people from all over the world. The beauty of the many places, from the high desert of eastern Arizona to the breath taking magnificence of Yellowstone has filled me with awe and wonder in this incredible gift of just being alive.

And now, I “settle in” to a new tempo, still with the wonderment intact, just a less rigorous pacing, a more gentle timing; less raw nature and more soul nurture of the “sit by the fire with a hot cup of tea and read a book” kind.

The need for swift reliance on strangers out of the necessity of the moment, has changed to gentle build up of quiet rapport with the people living on this street and those I meet while volunteering at the library. People here are open and friendly and pace themselves with their investments of time and energy output. It is a delicate steadiness that allows for time to breathe while moving into deeper levels of intimacy.

Which brings me to my sister, Robin’s blog at www.nakedineden.com . She has written a book about her time and life in the Australian Rainforest. It is a love story—love of Life itself. This week she has a contest going on what intimacy means to each of us, intimacy other than spousal/relational intimacy. What we are all really seeking, in our own little neck of the woods, is an intimacy with Life and with the Divine, found in those sweet, quiet moments of solitude and rushing laughter shared with a friend over our quirky human foibles. Maybe you have words to add to her discussion. Check it out.

Now that I am “settled”, I see myself moving in new directions of endeavor. FYI--To admit that I am “settling”, is almost more than a Sagittarian, the traveler of the zodiac, can consciously admit to, let alone acknowledge that it suits very nicely for right now. :)

Building a website for various enterprises I am engaged in and all that it entails, is calling to me, as is taking time to work on some writing other than for this blog. Spending quiet time appreciating this new place, both figuratively and literally, that I find myself in, is a top priority. Acquainting myself with the people here and with the town itself, is a new joy. Settling in.

All that said, it has been a delgiht keeping you posted on the journey taken and now, it has come clear that this blog is going to take a sabbatical for a couple months at the very least. Keep in touch and as things progress, I will let you know what new adventures unfold from this more subdued moment by moment unfoldment. Sending love and blessings in waves of quiet joy! Emily PS There is a new "photo show" below--"Mancos Moments". Enjoy!

EmilyAEaston ©2009

Little Waves of Love

2009-01-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

This morning as I sat smiling back at Jeremy and Heather’s beautiful and smiling faces shining from the desktop of my computer, I was fully aware, yet again, of how a smile translates into all these wonderful sensations in the body.
The head feels happy, the eyes rejoice in contentment and delight, the nose breathes easy, the mouth relaxes into warmth, the neck settles into its proper place atop the shoulders that are now enjoying a sense of true alignment in the whole scheme of the body. The ears are smiling their own little ear smile in anticipation of the melody of laughter that they are sure is yet to come.

The arms rest with hands on lap, an expectant tingle of imminent embrace running their length into fingers that rest in keen awareness of their essential purpose in a hug’s enfoldment.

Then, of course the heart, held by gently inhaling lungs, sits at ease in the gratitude of this smile radiating down and through it into all the organs of the body. The liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the intestines, the upper and lower energy centers, the male and female organs, the organs of elimination, every cell in the body, ALL breathe a huge sigh of contentment, of well being, and a renewed consciousness that all is right with the world and their place in it.

The hips, the thighs, the knees, the calves, the ankles, the feet and the toes, feeling the warmth of this smile, simply rest in its radiance, grateful for the sense of rightness of place that shines upon them.

The skin breathing in the wonder of its essential nature, relaxes onto the muscles held strong in the acknowledgement of their life long purpose, as they gracefully embrace the bones that rejoice with satisfaction in the wisdom of their crucial function.

In that one simple action of upturned lips, a myriad of possibilities awaken. And, that is only the beginning. As that smile, now an entity unto itself, moves from the face, it sends waves of warmth, love, delight, joy, preciousness and connection rippling out into the world to be received with known and unknown effects.

Do Jeremy and Heather feel me smiling at them from afar each morning and every time I open my computer? Do Bonnie, Kelly and Jessica in Taiwan feel the warmth of my smile as I think of them and all the adventures we have had? Does Uday’s little daughter, Tara, in India, catch the ray of delight I send her way each time I gaze at a new photo of her? I sit here smiling at you now. Can you feel it? I send you love in those little waves that come from the heart and my upturning lips.

May Life smile warmly on you today, Emily
Emily A. Easton © 2009

What is Courage?

2009-01-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the snow lands!!!

Several people recently have said I have courage. As I sit here looking out the window at snow, blue sky and my shoveled out little red car, I am curious as to what it really means to have courage. Awhile back, when talking with a friend the topic came up as she said how courageous it was for me to head off to a place I didn’t know (Mancos) and people I didn’t know (it takes about ten minutes to find as many new friends here). I did not feel courageous; it is “just the next step in my life”.

Then I began to wonder why I felt this way and also what it really is “to have courage”.

In the context of my life, what takes courage, is to make a change when what I have been living is no longer supporting what I have become. It takes courage to listen to inner promptings and then follow through with them. I will tell you honestly that to drive across country or to head to Yellowstone for a five-month stay, is very do-able for me, actually a fun and exciting adventure.

Each of us has our own natural inclinations and our own ways of being that to others may seem powerful, outrageous, glorious and very brave in living them. The actual doing of them is who we are. It is NOT difficult for me to drive hither and yon; it is easy for me to live in mountain cabins, to move to strange and new places with new people and ways of being. Traveling for me is just something done with a little forethought and commitment to the journey. (kind of like our stay on Earth!)

We each have gifts and abilities that are just what we “came in with”. I have ALWAYS been an adventurer, a lover of all things foreign and one who thoroughly enjoys meeting new people from all walks of life, nations and backgrounds. I was brought up with a close connection to Nature and the Earth as something to respect and definitely not to be afraid of, just a part of the Life around me. It does not occur to me to be afraid of the deep woods of Yellowstone or the quiet back roads of New England. To have respect for these places, yes. Fear, no.

What takes courage for me is to know that even though I may “rock the boat”, even though I am filled with “what ifs”, even though I may have a pang of “guilt” for not being responsible to supposed tasks that have been prescribed as to what a “mother does”, “what a community member does”, what a “NORMAL person does” (that’s always been a zinger for me). “Oh, dear, God, what is NORMAL?!?” (For what it is worth, I now don’t believe there is such a thing as “normal”). :)

True courage is to be enough attuned to my inner workings and connection with Life that when something needs to change, when something is no longer appropriate, when I feel so drawn to do or be something new that all I can do is move into that, to take a stand when needed regardless of how many others “are with me”, to tell my truth, to be patient with my learning and growing, to be kind to myself and others when my upbringing would tell me to be otherwise, to “get out of my own way” and to let Life move through me—these are what to me, take courage and bravery in Life.

I am curious as to what courage means to you and would love to read your comments. Happiest of New Years from alternately sunny and snowy Mancos! Blessings, Emily
Emily A. Easton(c)2009

May You Dance This Holiday Season

2008-12-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings to Everyone from snowy Mancos, Co!!!

After two months of living from my car (and people wonder why I am so organized—that will do it to you very quickly), I have settled into the little community of Mancos, Colorado that lies between Durango and Mesa Verde National Monument. In my travels south from Yellowstone, the town welcomed me with open arms and I fell in love with it.

Soooo, while in Albuquerque visiting Jeremy, Heather and wonderful friends, I packed a few more things into my already full Toyota, turned around and came back up here. This morning with its nearly two feet of fresh snow, I walked over (EVERYTHING is within walking distance—that is how big the town is!) to Zuma, the health food store. On the way, two cars (the only two cars on the street) both stopped to let me safely cross! Next to my footprints were deer tracks that gave evidence of its slipping and sliding along with the rest of us.

It snowed for three days and then a hint of red decorating the evening cloud cover gave a promise of sunnier days to come.

While snowbound in the little cabin home that I am renting, I turned on NPR and someone was singing a CW song about Rudolph The Reindeer calling in sick and his cousin Leroy having to sub for him. It was a very catchy tune and I started to dance as there was nothing else for me to do at that point—I had made a fire, washed the dishes, made phone calls, done chi gong and some writing. It was a blizzard outside!!! So I danced! For Three Days!!!

In the process, it came clear that dancing is in that category of things to be done when there is nothing else to do, like smiling, laughing, praying. Dancing is really a form of all of those!

Yesterday the sun arrived again. With it, came views of snow covered peaks and mesas and an appreciation for the light after three days without. Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice. As I listen to Mozart and Amazing Grace sung by Jessye Norman, I am so thankful for this quiet reprieve and the chance to truly appreciate the magnificence of this holiday season in this place somewhere between the Rockies and the Four Corners.

Here is my Christmas card to you all:

The other morning I had an image of each of you, all the people who love me and whom I love. There was a golden thread connecting each of us. As many of you are all over the world, I saw these threads going around the globe. It was a beautiful sight. Then I saw all the threads connecting you to all the people you love. This added more and more threads of light until the entire Earth was glowing like a great big, golden Christmas ornament! Thank you for your love! May we always know our interconnectedness! And more than anything this holiday season, may you dance!

Much Love and Many Blessings to You and All Whom You Love, Emily

©Emily A. Easton 2008
.

Collective PMS with a Hope and a Prayer

2008-11-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

10/31/08
I woke up this morning to beauty, quiet and solitude. I went for a walk through chamisa, pinion and prairie grass with a friend. So what was the matter with me?!? I felt weepy, fragile, and then more of the same. Have for days now. By noon, even after mundane chores, work accomplishments and flute playing, I was a MESS. I just wanted to WAAAIL. “What on Earth is going on?!” My heart just ached!

I must admit that on a personal level, I am in a lot of transition (mind you, just about everyone I know is). After 5 months in Yellowstone, a land of vast and impressive wildness, I am nearly back to Albuquerque, having visited friends and family along the way. Lots of unknowns lie in front of me.

Just the immersion into raw nature and expansive beauty of the Park was enough to make me wail on occasion. The fact that inner guidance has only given me a day-to-day game plan for weeks now, hasn’t helped…to say nothing of the lack of long- range indicators for covering the basics of life is concerned.

Then this afternoon feeling desperately fragile and vulnerable, I wailed for 4 minutes and 32 seconds into my sister’s answering machine. A blessed relief came over me and it got me thinking. “OHHHH, MMMYYYY GOD…this is not JUST me! This is collective pre-November 4, 2008 PMS!!!!”

I got it. What is “going on, on Earth”, right now is a case of massive collective breath holding and psychic suspension. THE WORLD IS HOLDING ITS BREATH UNTIL TUESDAY night!!!!!!! And, WHY??!!? No matter what happens we all know at some level that we are being asked to grow, to shift, to change, for Heaven’s sake, as well as our own! And we know it may not be easy and we are not sure we are ready whatever the electoral outcome. And, HERE WE ARE.

So as we move through the next few days, may we treat ourselves, and those around us, with the deep love and consideration that one would give the dearest, most cherished friend in the world, one that just might not be feeling quite up to snuff.

My Hope and Prayer

My hope and prayer is that…

As we remember that we are more than our cars, our finances, our homes, our jobs, and even our governments, we also, to paraphrase Clarissa Pinkola-Estes, remember Who we are; we remember Where we came from…and we remember, we “were made for these times”.

We appreciate that each of us is a human being who may have the opportunity today to hold someone while they laugh, or cry, and, that we will express Love first.

We honor that each of us is a human being who has reserves of strength, courage and humility to be and do what is needed Now.

We recognize in the depths of our beings that each of us is a human being who knows innately in the heart that Love really IS the answer no matter what.

We know in this moment that each of us is a human being who is guided and blessed every step of the way, regardless.

We respect and cherish that each of us is a human being connected with other human beings all over the world who are praying for the highest good of all, RIGHT NOW, that we make decisions based on integrity and compassion with the good of the WHOLE in mind and heart.

We bring self-responsibility and an awareness of the interdependence of all of Life into all our dealings.

We bless and hold with deepest prayer that dignity and respect for each and every human being are the cornerstones of all our interactions.

We give thanks that even in the most fragile, vulnerable moments, we can know in our core that we are loved, ALWAYS.

We glow with wisdom, courage and reverence for all Life.

We bless every human being casting a vote, every electoral official, every machine and person counting votes, every aspect of this electoral process with integrity, honesty and respect.

We hold deep faith and trust that only that which is for the Highest Good manifests itself now.

And so it is. Amen.

11/01/08
PS Standing with the soles of my feet bare to the Earth as I watched the sunrise this morning, I felt a rush of primal life force energy flow through the ground and up into my body. A voice, rich and vibrant said, “And, you thought I was only in Yellowstone!” May the Divine bless and grace you today and always, Emily

©Emily A. Easton 2008

Sisters...and Brothers

2008-10-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Now that the "new" (for me) world of blogging is becoming more familiar, I want to offer a couple other sites that are worthy of note! Many of us grew up with siblings and many of us have various and assorted relations with said siblings. What is a true and heartfelt blessing for me at this point in my life is to have good relations with relations. : )

Lives can parrallel, diverge, come together, retrace, cycle around and as they do, the beauty of th dance

Two of these amazing people are old pros in the web and blog world and I highly recommend their sites. www.nakedineden.com and markeastonart.com

Departure from Yellowstone After the Last "Kid" Left

2008-10-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hello, Everyone! It has been ten days since I left the Park. Having landed at Mark and Cat's on the edge of Spokane, WA, I slept for a couple days, picked apples, put plastic on windows in preparation for winter (thanks Bonnie and Kelly for leaving the little hairdrier behind!), walked miles through gentle, rolling countryside AND, Heather, I caught up on ALL my bookkeeping left unattended over the last five months!

One of the biggest adjustments in leaving the Park, is getting over the shock of how fast the internet is "out here in the world"! After nearly 5 months of having to wait several minutes if it happened at all, just to send an email I am stunned! Technologically speaking Fishing Bridge General Store (and being in the Park in general) is like being in an exquisitely beautiful 3rd world country (Which I might add has its major plusses). For a few days since I left, I watched uTube videos to get up to speed on what is "happening in the world"! Kind of Fun. One I particularly liked is:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=PScUdYTO0UM

And now I am finally ready and able to "get creative"!
It was truly strange being at Fishing Bridge as other people began to leave--every week in September a few more of the students headed home. It was sad and getting sadder by the week. My life has been immeasureably blessed by everyone of you whom I have had the delightful pleasure of working and playing with these last many months. Many times throughout my stay at FB, I would keep going by saying "I will leave once the last 'Kid' leaves". It was a very powerful and intensive experience living and working in that little world that was life at FB. I will need many more months to integrate it all!

Young People who were with me at Fishing Bridge: There are not words to express how much love I felt from and for you all. So, please enjoy the photos below (finally) and if you have ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me", please play it while watching. That song and each of you are indelibly imprinted in my heart. There's also a shot of my son, Jeremy and his girlfriend, Heather, (with Purple Rhino, of course!) because they were my eyes, ears and mail managers in "the outside world" while I was in the Park. And, though you didn't meet them, they played a big role in my being able to stay in the Park for as long as I did. Thank you, "guys"! Much love and Many Blessings, Emily

PS-- Here is something I wrote in early September and was unable to post at the time. Enjoy!

Baby Bison and the Present Moment
9/12/08

This morning someone’s alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. even though we have moved to “short hours” and do not need to be up until at least an hour later. Generally, due to the paper-thin walls, I use earplugs. Given that much of the staff has left, I chose last night to sleep without them. Big Mistake! Except that as with most mistakes, a lot can be gleaned from the experience. So at 5:45 a.m. unable to get back to sleep, I was up, dressed and heading out to catch the rising of the sun in a world, at 8000 feet, already preparing for deep winter.

It was 27 degrees, frost on everything and mists clinging to the river and low lying areas. I drove to Mary Bay on impulse, watched the blues and pinks of dawn on the water of Great Yellowstone Lake and, again on impulse, headed back toward FB to catch the sun coaxing life awake once more along the riverbanks.

Just passed Indian Pond near Storm Point, a small herd of bison stood on the edge of the road. Their backs were covered with frost, these 3-4 adult females, a couple yearlings, an enormous bull AND a mother with a newborn calf clinging to her side!

It is Autumn here and this hours old baby looked so fragile against the backdrop of rapidly approaching winter, an infant bison, born late in the season, facing a very rough winter, delicate in every respect, except for it’s dogged instinct to stay close to it’s mom.

The mother came toward my car, the little one right next to her, the bull, from the sideline, extending it’s neck and mouth to snort a warning in my direction (something they do intensively during this autumn mating season). I watched, awed, knowing that if I had been another 5 minutes in getting there they would have been gone, vanished into the lodgepole pines where they wander unseen.

Relatively new to the world of digital photography (which I love by the way!) many times I am so engrossed in what is before me that that there is a delay in being "camara ready"! (I am getting better, though not yet fully comfortable with having this techno "third eye" accompanying me in my wanderings).

I HURRIEDLY aimed the camara as TWO other cars came up behind me (WHERE DID THEY COME FROM AT THIS EARLY HOUR!?!!), got a shot of my side mirror, took another and got the pair as they walked off the road, frost and all on the mom's back.

Driving away, I gave a prayer for the little one, that it would be strong and healthy throughout the long winter with those minus sixty degree days. I was struck that the Gift of the morning, was NOT whether I got photos of the misty/sunny river, my "project" du jour, that sometimes, heading out intending to do one thing, the Universe says, "Oh, I'd like you to catch a glimpse of this over here!" And, when I listen, Voila!!!

It's being with what is and in this case, it was being with a baby bison so close, if I had been foolish enough to ignore the big guy, I could have reached out and touched baby soft fur.

PS A couple days later, out at Mary Bay, a large gathering of bison enjoyed the grasses, the sun and the warmth of the thermal activity there. AND, in amongst them was ONE little orange calf, two days older, surer and growing fast, jumping about full of life and delight in the beauty of the day. Aho!
Emily A. Easton (c)2008

Brad Pitt, Small Things and Raging Fires

2008-08-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

This morning, finally getting a good internet connection, I am stunned to see that it is two months since I wrote anything here. It has been two months filled with friends leaving and new ones coming, smoke, flames, limbo, more fire, more limbo, delightful hikes by the light of the full moon with wonderful young people, camping trips with more of the same, wolves, bald eagles, impressive encouragements of mediocrity in the work place, phone conversations down at Mary Bay with Family and Friends in which Transitions, Surrender and Heart Openings have been prmary themes. So, how have you been?

Walking out onto the loading dock one morning when the smoke hung inside and out (the fire raged a mile away), I said to the head waitstaff, "Wow, do I feel in limbo!" (Everyone was on the alert to be evacuated at any hour).She, in her wraspy, "lived through a lot more than I remember" voice, replied with conviction,"Well, you ARE in limbo!"

"oh, good. That validates my feelings."

The fire, seemingly like everything else here, became one more color on the landscape of life at Fishing Bridge General Store. The second time the fires flared and filled the area with smoke it was hardly even mentioned, not worthy of comment.
Jane from Maine says "this place is a microcosm of the bigger world". There is the best in humanity coming forth everyday and also the worst, dumbest and sometimes cruelest all crammed into this one little place called Fishing Bridge General Store. I often feel I am having some crash course on truly staying present, being conscious of what is and not jumping the gun (emotionally speaking, in particular) and most suredly taking NOTHING personally. I call it boot camp for the human being wishing to BEcome Human.

The homestretch of this stay is in sight with six weeks left before the winter snows become so heavy and cold that only the wilderness remains here. The Bison are on the move with mating on their minds, the elk are beginning their mating dance with bugle calls filling the air and Autumn came weeks ago to this place of pristine beauty and raw natural wonder. What is next is still a mystery other than visits with Family and dental work to be completed. Life is good.

Oh, yes, two more things--The slide show (Soon to be shown below), "Small Things of Yellowstone" came into being due to the nearly overwhelming immensity of beauty that is contained here. I had to bring my focus down into a more intimate relationship with what is around me. Please enjoy it when you have time to just sit and watch.

The other slide show will be(I won't even begin to go into why I can not put it on at this time!) of a camping trip with Kelly, Jessica and Bonnie from Taiwan (obviously not their Taiwanese names--we Americans it seems need to be accomodated) where we were on the Shashone River.
Early in the a.m., I walked down to the shore and turning left recognized the familiar. After a moment's contemplation, I realized that the view was right out of the movie, "A River Runs Through It". The store sells the DVD with a shot of that exact spot on the cover.

A few moments later, I heard the girls behind me, talking excitedly in Chinese, "Chi haung, cha..."A River Runs Through It"...Cha, ching,ho!!!" (my sad interpretation of what Chinese sounds like to me). We stood there in delighted awe for not only was this the spot where the movie was filmed, it was also a spot where "Chi, cha...BRAD PITT!!!!!...HO!" stood!!!

Oh, my goodness, as you can imagine after a few moments set aside for individual thought on the subject, :) we each gathered a special rock that twenty years ago HE may have stepped on what now seemed to be hallowed ground.(I brought two rocks back for Jane from Maine who immediately put BP on their undersides, "Not many in Maine have a BP rock!")

I am going to go take a walk on the beach. Love and Blessings, Emily
Emily A. Easton (c)2008

The Other Flute

2008-06-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Last Week of April 2008

The “other flute” rolled off the trunk of the car in the windy campground of pine filled Bandelier National Monument in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. That day I wasn’t paying attention and it fell off the trunk while I was having a delightful conversation with a fellow hiker and only hours and miles later did I realize it was gone.

I retraced every mile, every stop to find it, to no avail.
After weeks, phone calls, and searches later, back in Albuquerque, while learning to breathe with the pollen and smoke, I visited Ingrid, the Flute Maker, to see if any other flute called to me. I was tired, wheezy and really not up to decisions regarding new flutes (or much of anything else for that matter). AND, I missed the delight of playing the lost one. In her post event inventory, Ingrid had one flute that would do though it did not call to me the way the last one had. The need to play was greater than recreating the prior sound so I bought it. I was leaving in a few days for Yellowstone…

June 13, 2008

I sit at the river, watching the sunlight on greens, blues, browns and white—water, sky, forest, bird and snow. The flute softly sings of warm days to come, of disappearing snow, of goslings and Mother Beaver with her young. It talks of the impermanence of time, the changing of seasons, and the variance in life stages. It tells of quiet and of windswept places hit by roaring storms, the ever-changing symphonies of Life.

With the “other flute” that now sings (or so I am told) in ancient Anasazi caves, I might in all this beauty, have just floated away on the heart notes that it sang. Instead, the little replacement keeps me here feeling the water breezes mixed with melted snow. It carries me midstream to Goose Haven on One Pine Island. It adds humility, surprise in small things, a fresh look at the startling Life mix of this place with its diminutive, wisp of a sound. We are getting to know one another at this spot by the Yellowstone River…and being with what is.

The Hong Kong Mystic
June 18, 2008

A sudden short-lived downpour brought crisp clarity to the early evening sky. From the second story window in the store’s dorm, I saw Tommy, standing out in the middle of the field in a t-shirt that says, “How can I think outside the box, if you don’t let me out?” Tommy is from Hong Kong. Unlike most of the Chinese students here, Tommy was born and raised in Hong Kong not the mainland. He is very tall and thin and every move he makes is an all out event of arms, legs, smile and teeth. Facing west, he was standing as still as if his long body had been planted there.

I went down and stood watching the sky with him. After a bit, he said that he was waiting for purple to come to the rosy sunset. We stood and watched in silence until the last of the color faded and then he turned to me with a big smile on his face and said with open arms, “ Here, every day is a new surprise!”

What a description that is, for this forest and lake filled wonder of a place!

When huge cumulous began to appear on the darkening horizon, he offered, “At home I watched the news; here the sky tells me everything I need to know about the world.” With the lack of technology combined with the ever present intimacy of the living/working conditions here at Fishing Bridge General Store, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, one does begin to lose the sense of time and the outer world and to feel the deeper rhythms of this planet Earth.

We stood taking it in, until even Tommy became conscious that the temperature was rapidly dropping. Then saying good night, we walked back to our respective dorms.

June 21, 2008

Today is the last day of a five-day work shift. I run up and down a flight of stairs 20 or 30 times a day stocking clothing of the t-shirt and sweatshirt variety alternating with days on the cash register. Initially, I was to be a “food server” and then after two ten and a half hour days of that, I justifiably concluded that Life is way too short and way too precious for anything of that nature at this juncture. My legs tell me that they will be happy for the two-day reprieve, as does my psyche. The river calls me and the possibility of just “doing nothing” is delighting the corners of my awareness. This really IS “another world” here, as much due to the distance from anything else and the very communal living and working conditions, as it is to the astonishing presence of Nature. The students from Russia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China are a joy to be with and the opportunity to practice Spanish or on occasion use my rather rusty French is very gratifiying. More later….There's a new slide show below--“YNP Three Weeks in June 2008”. Enjoy and Much Love to You All, Emily
Emily A. Easton©2008

To Catch Up, Did You Know...

2008-06-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

...that in the blink of an eye it is June 3rd!?!...that the flowers of Spring began blooming in Albuquerque at least six weeks ago...that two months can go by much faster than the ice leaves Lake Yellowstone...that there are many more beautiful ways to travel South to North than MapQuest will tell you...that a straight line on the map means NOTHING! (In particular Route 139 from Fruita, Co to Rangeley, Co, not only is NOT a straight shot, going over the pass, one is given--in my experience--very little road to work with)?

Did you know that what one hears/reads over the phone, via email, or even "in writing", is NOT necessarily what IS once one "get's there"...that a panic reducing necessity is distinguishing between not being able to breathe--"I CAN'T BREATHE!!!!!" (due to smoke and pollen sweeping into Albuquerque faster than two lungs can manage) and being able to breathe, "I CAN breathe, it is just very, very, very difficult"...that dogs really do consider taking walks a necessity, regardless of the weather, pollen, fire, or any other natural disaster?

And now I am awed...that everything works out in the end, regardless of how it may appear in the moment...that family is everyone carried in the heart, regardless of the details...that there is so much beauty to just "take in" on this Earth...that I am getting very clear where and how I spend my time...that the one joke I learned 30 years ago will finally come in handy in the Park!...that the best part of a Bon Voyage is the gathering of family and friends that happens before departure--makes one want to "voyage" more often...

With the passing of two beautiful,young people I knew, I am even more poignantly reminded that life is very precious. I am so thankful that you have crossed my path.

Many Blessings, Emily
Emily A. Easton(C)2008

Two Days in Wild Places

Great Spirit, Father Mother God,
All that Is, Ever Was and Ever Will Be in The Wholeness,
I give thanks this Day,

For black wolf wandering a trail of mice and fallen buffalo,
For loon arriving early before the storm,
And mountain goat revealing from high and craggy precipice,

For snow field and snow melt,
For sun glimmering through pine bough bent and wet and green,
And wild goose yearnings reverberating off lakes reflecting heaven’s gold,

For mountain peaks splendid in wraps of low-lying cloud,
For winter worn bison and fresh born calf,
And bald eagle claiming early morning sky,

For breaking ice floating on croak of frog,
For flute echoing the melody of mating ducks,
And beaver gnaw and raven song dancing with the rain,

For heady forest scent in cooling air,
For deep breath taken full and slow in time with beating heart,
And Silence. Aho!
©Emily A. Easton 2008

Breathing

2008-05-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Breathing is SO something most of us take for granted. Last week, a fire in the Manzano Mountains brought a poignent awareness of the complete importance of one's ability to breathe in relation to being ALIVE on this planet.

The Spring winds rolled the heavy, brown smoke into the Albuquerque valley where it has alternately settled and churned with the wind currents so prevalent at this time of year. Spring here in New Mexico is a time of pollen, pollen and more pollen--Life passionately bursting forth in all Its glory!

With the added smoke, my "already dealing with hay fever" lungs, went into shock. Every breath became a meditation on staying present and not allowing my mind to wander into the realm of fear. Having never had asthma or other debilitating breathing experience, at first, I went with, "this too shall pass". Initially, it was "mangaeable".

Then, it progressed. Synchronistically, I have been listening to the Eckart Tolle/Oprah presentations on the web (www.oprah.com) on Monday nights. One of Tolle's exercises for staying present is to "follow the breath", a classic meditation. This last week, I had an extraordinary opportunity to practice this as never before! Two days ago, my entire focus WAS on following my breath AND the dawning awareness that, "NO, this isn't going to "go away"". Period.

Thankfully I have always been a very healthy person. Yesterday, it took every part of my focus to stay present, to NOT PANIC!

One of the key things I learned from the Tolle lessons, is to be clear about the present moment. In other words (my interpretation!), do not aggagerate as in, "I CAN'T BREATHE!". The fact of the matter was, I COULD breathe, it was just VERY, VERY difficult!!! Amazingly, (I am still in awe) that deliniation made ALL the difference in the two hours of 7.9 mile drive, city traffic, the being given the wrong address, the walking in, walking out, the waiting in lines, the sitting ALONE in sterile rooms to help at the Urgent Care Unit on Harper.

At each stage, like when I was left in a consultation room, ALONE, for 10 minutes and ALL I could do was sit and watch what little breath I had, go in and go out and look around the room. As Panic tried to creep in from behind, I would breath that little breath again, notice that "yes, in fact, I am still breathing. I do NOT need to panic yet (I can wait awhile before I do that). Yes,it is, in fact, true that I have NOT STOPPED breathing. The breath IS still there".

Growing up in New England has it's advvantages. The task of conserving BTU's during the long, cold winters causes one at a very early age to also rid one's self of unnecessary mental, emotional and physical motions. Very calmly, I explained to the intake nurse when asked on a level of 1 to 10 what was the pain, that it was not a question of pain, rather, it was more primary, on a scale of one to ten breathability, I was a 1 so please would you be most kind and do something to help me directly. Thank you ever so much." ("Officially",on the breath scale used by the hospital, 450-500 is where one is supposed to be breathing,and on the third try I got up to about 75!!!)

Once I had had a "breath treatment", and could clearly FEEL in my lungs that I would live, I was stunned at the beauty of being SO present that everyone and everything was in clear, precious focus. I was treated with such incredible kindness and respect for the situation I was in.

The blessing in retrospect is that very "up close and personal" I now know what truly being in the moment means.

2008-04-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

Spring Break

2008-04-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring, Everyone!

After more than a few days’ worth of attempts to write “Post #2”, I am sitting here in Albuquerque enjoying the leaves budding forth, the flowers blooming and the springtime birds rejoicing with lively morning serenades. Try as It might during this time, Writing refused to leave its special place at the bottom of the “Important Things to Do” list.

Enjoying friends, spending time with Heather and Jeremy (who turned 21 recently!), working with clients, taking walks with the adorable, four-legged, Tucker, being still and allowing for life to unfold in its astounding wonder have been the main occupations of late.

That said, the “much anticipated” Photo Shows are up and running!!! (See Below under the titles “Winter Travel” and “Hints of Spring at 9000 Feet”. Thanks again, Henry, for the wonderful camera!). Please accept my apologies for the immensely tiny yet otherwise rather lovely photos. At this point there seems to be no way around the size issue. Even so, thankfully, technology and I apparently are on more agreeable terms.

To cut the long story of this winter’s travel short, I thought I would touch upon some of the noteworthy highlights with the following captions:

“The Thirty-Four Miles to Heber Ride of a Lifetime”
(Please note that no mention of the word “road” is in this title),

“Now What?”
(As in having absolutely NO clue whatsoever as to what is next when NOTHING is going “as planned”)

“How Many Mechanics Does It Take to Diagnose a Tire Situation Correctly?”
(I will categorically state here that 3 is not enough)

“Well, That’s NOT What the Map Said!”
(Merciless in its persistence, if not particularly original)

"Why Worry About Anything?"
(I give the following case in point: While going to Big Lots to buy super glue, I instead found 4, I repeat, 4 pairs of jeans THAT FIT!!!! for $6 a pair! Enough said.)

Stay tuned for more on these and other noteworthy matters. (Now that “Tech” and I are so cozy, who knows what is yet to come!)

May each moment be blessed with your full attention! : ) Emily

Emily A. Easton © 2008

Getting Started

2008-04-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

When I first began telling people that I was going to sell my house and dreamed of living and traveling in an RV, many would get a wistful, far off look on their faces and say with disbelief and a hint of awe, something to the effect that they would like to do that, too.

What struck me is not that everyone wants to become a gypsy, rather that there is something about radically changing the paradigms of one’s life that brings the truly important things into sharp, clear focus. People resonated at a soul yearning level with the potentially heart pounding experience of stepping off a cliff and flying into their own destiny, whatever that might be.

The title for this blog, “The Blank Book Chronicles” came to me while I was living in a one-room cabin in the high desert of Arizona back in January. Life, after raising a son, selling a home and completing long term employment commitments was a blank book of unwritten possibilities.

Everywhere I turn, there are reminders to stay present (an ongoing process), to acknowledge what is (and find the peace in that), to enjoy the kinship with all whom I meet and to listen to that “still, small voice” within.

This blog is dedicated to the sharing of moments when what is experienced on the inside is the same as what is on the outside, whether it be through travel, the immense and powerful Oneness experienced in Nature, or the dropping away of appearances that allow for heartfelt connections with fellow human beings.

I am so thankful for this technological opportunity to share the journey and look forward to hearing from you. As a friend said recently, "May the forest be with you!" Emily

©Emily A. Easton 2008