Every Day is a New Story

 Here I am in St. Louis watching basketball after having a good dinner and staying at the Drury Hotel.  Life is good.  Really....Life is good.

My day started finding the Grand Rover Falls in Joplin.  I have to say it was a great experience.  The damn that created the falls was in an area that was like the rock walls you see along the highway.  I sat down on a ledge and just relaxed and listened to the water sounds.  In some ways I wished I had a pillow so I could just lay on my side and spend hours there.  I used my "peace" oil this morning and I really did feel I was at peace.  

From there I headed to Springfield, Missouri.  It was on the way home and I had no idea what there was to do.  Luckily I saw on some website that there was a Japanese garden, and remembering how much I enjoyed the one in Oregon, it became my destination.  And yes.......it was a worthwhile destination.  It is part of the Springfield Botanic Gardens, which are free and expansive.  I got in a 2.5 mile walk and still was able to stop and enjoy the beauty around me.  I especially love the Japanese gardens.  The "lantern" sculptures were amazing, the water and trees, the rocks.  It was so peaceful and enjoyable.  I found a pagoda to sit and relax and chant for a bit.  I was so excited to find this treasure on my journey.  

From Springfield I headed to St. Louis and had even looked into a couple of things to do.  I've been here before and saw the arch, but it was a good place to stop based on how long I was driving.  The first challenge was finding a hotel.  I pulled over once I was about 10 miles from the city center and did the search.  I saw a Drury hotel when I got off the highway, and thought that was what I booked, but in typical Regina fashion, it was 11 miles back the way I came.   And the exit was just pass the one that went to Chicago.  Of course, I wondered if that was a message.  Just head home since you've been to St Louis in the past.  Got to the hotel and as I was trying to park in the ramp, I hit a garbage container.  Again, maybe a message that it is time.  I got my states....what more do I need.  

The one good thing was that the hotel was great, they had a "Free Drinks and Appetizer event that was great and I was able to have a vodka tonic and then go the room to watch b-ball.  

Since my plans did not go as I haphazardly put them in motion, I did remind myself that my mantra is "the right thing happens to me at the right time".  

Tomorrow will tell the story.

As usual, there are many observations and thoughts that come to me while I am driving.  How can you shut your brain down?  Listening to music does not seem to do it......nor does chanting.  

So, here are the random things I noted today.....

    -I was driving on the Purple eart Trail and this was not the first time I saw the sign.  I wonder where the trail goes.

    -At the River Damn today I met a couple who were living in their pickup truck with 2 dogs.  Supposedly out of work and by appearances may have had other concerns.  I also saw some people who looked homeless carrying stuff and wandering in the city, and then I saw a woman walking down the road that looked roughly dressed and holding herself in a hug.  I must say, that I have seen many people who are not in the best places.  DAMN - am I BLESSED.  I need to remind myself more often that I am in a good place.

    -If I was a motorcyclist, I would travel in MO.  And I did see many groups of cyclists.  There are signs every so many miles that say "Share the road with motorcycles",  

    -I need to discover a way that you can look at the road map and figure out where the hotels are along the way.  My method of identifying a location and checking Hotels.com has not always been the best. 

    -I saw lots of red dirt in Oklahoma and thought it was their trademark.  Nope, there is red dirt in Missouri too.   

    -I saw a pink Mercedes on the road.  Zoomed by me.  I do think I could have handled it if it was a convertible.