Bonsoir from France!

Well much has happened since I last updated this blog. Did some amazing hikes in the Tahoe National Forest with my cousin, Bill. Then trained across the country back to Chicago until January when I drove to Florida for the winter. It was wonderful catching up with all my old (and that means "have known a long time") friends. I took a 2-week trip to Costa Rica to visit a friend I met last summer at Omega. Funny how the journey keeps changing with each new adventure.

I returned to Chicago in time to celebrate my grandsons' birthdays (3 and 5). They are growing up so fast, which I'm sure we all realize watching our kids and grandkids.

On April 4, I flew to Paris and took the TGV train to Lyon for my first two days in France. Now I am settled in my little studio apartment in Annecy, France in the French Alps. It is a very beautiful town on Lac d'Annecy with the Alps all around. This is the realization of a dream for me to have the experience of living in France (even if only for two months). I have tried casually learning French for the past few years and now wish I had studied harder. But, that is the idea, to immerse myself in this culture & language and just figure it out.

My only TV stations are French and not many speak English here, so voila! it is up to me. My reading is getting much better. Speaking is still a big challenge for me. I will post some photos on this blog as soon as I figure out how. This is a place not to be missed! Bonne nuit!

Still traveling

After leaving New York, I spent 3-1/2 weeks in Chicago.  It was delightful to have lots of play time with my two grandsons.  They are such a joy and keep me young and age me all at the same time.

During that time I attended my 50th High School reunion, which far exceeded my expectations.  It took place in Birmingham, MI and was a weekend filled with fun activities.  The milestone year helped bring out some who had never attended a reunion before.  It really was a magical weekend and we were all having fun dancing to old music and laughing over old stories from high school. 

To continue my journey I hopped on a plane to San Francisco and continued on to northern California to visit family and friends. 

Two weeks after Omega

I left Omega 2 weeks ago on a train to NYC, which was a nice slow departure plus the view along the Hudson River is quite beautiful and still helped me feel connected to Omega.  My visit with Kim was way too short and then I was on the train again headed for Chicago.  Train travel is its own unique adventure.  Sometimes they announce dining hours and other pertinent information and sometimes they don't.  Go figure!

The most incredible thing happened when I arrived at Union Station.  I hadn't even left the train yet & someone was calling my name.  Turns out my Redcap from my outbound trip wrote down my name & arrival date & met me at the train with a cart for me & my luggage.  Talk about nice service.

It is so noisy here in Chicago and I am still a bit out of sorts.  However, the great hugs & kisses from my grandsons has made the transition much easier.  I am happy to spend as much time with Greg & family as I can while I plan my next travels.  Next is my big 50th high school reunion next weekend, so I'll plan to update my blog after that.

I feel the Omega effect in my life each day and try to stay present.  One of my favorite things is just to walk everywhere like I did at Omega.  Today I walked about 5 miles round trip to two grocery stores.  Lucky for me the weather is beautiful.  It is wonderful catching up with friends here, but I miss my Omega friends too.  Oh well, such is life!

Scenes from Omega

Reflections on my final week at Omega

The conversation heard many times, "how can 7 weeks go so fast, but how come I feel like I've known these people for years".

One of the many gifts received here is to slow down and listen to the many messages being sent our way.  It happens everywhere, I'm sure, but we are so busy filling our heads with the daily minutia that we can't hear the important messages.  There are so many examples of that happening at Omega that when it happens, we just smile and say, "that's Omega".

To give you an example - my friend, Maria, was going to visit Montreal for a few days and had never been there.  I met a guest, Annie, one night at work from Montreal and mentioned that Maria was going there & that I wished they could meet so she could tell Maria what to see & do there.  Several times during the week I tried to find Annie in the dining hall so they could meet, but couldn't find her.  Finally I just decided to let it go and that it would happen when it was supposed to.  A few days later it happened that they were both there so I could introduce them & Annie told Maria all the great things to do in Montreal.  Also, gave her email to get in touch while there.  When Maria returned to Omega she said the best part of her trip were the things Annie had told her about & that they even met for dinner one night.  Amazing!

I know you can all see by now that my Omega adventure turned out to be an incredible experience and has changed the way I may live the next couple of years.  Stay tuned . . .

Being still is not the same as "doing nothing"

and other things learned at Omega:

- How to love myself first, so I can love others unconditionally

- Patience - how to wait in line and remember that one person's time is not more important than anothers

- Judgment - this is the purest example of a non-judgmental community

- That one person CAN make a difference

Namaste

It's August and the time is flying by

The highlight of this week was that Kim came up for a 2-day visit to experience what my life at Omega is like.  She blended right into my life here starting with lunch in the dining hall.  Our first day ended with our uphill climb to my 3-hour yoga class, which she thoroughly enjoyed.  Followed by a stop at the Cafe for cookies & social time with friends.  By the time she left at noon on Wednesday, we had toured the campus, she slept in my tent and we canoed on the lake, did Reiki, etc.  The Omega effect took hold of her and she didn't want to leave.

We also attended a workshop sampler where we learned another powerful meditation, which I will share with you here:

May you be Content
May you be Safe
May you be Strong
May you live a life of Ease