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I Never Appreciated It As I Should Nature is the most beautiful and relaxing way to destress, and it is free! Too often we take life for granted. Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates it. I used to be one of those people. When my husband and I got married, we rented an apartment in a condo at the beach in Puerto Rico. Back then, I did not think it was a big deal. Puerto Rico is surrounded by beautiful beaches, which are easily accessible from anywhere on the island. But other than to dip our feet in the water every few months, we did nothing else at the beach and we lived there for a year.

Autumn is here – many of us have done our final Autumn lawn trim. This morning I looked next door and watched chemicals being sprayed over the brick weave drive paving to prevent the 'weeds' from coming up. Is our quest for pristine garden perfection good for the environment?

After the year I've survived, a solo road trip is just what I need to reinvent myself, for myself. 2021, it is ok to show me why it all had to happen. But first, we're heading to Nantahala National Forest in Bryson City, North Carolina to do some hiking, and spend some time listening to the sun.

The net snagged on a small shell as it washed up on the shoreline. As the tide pulled back into the black sea abyss, the net held a strong grip on the shell. One last wave moved the shifting sand all around the shell and forced the net to release its grip. The ocean was unrelenting and pulled the net away from the shoreline down to the depths. The net sunk deeper into the black and found its way towards an old pirate ship that was rotting since the day it sank.

They all thought I was nuts! A single woman driving across the country by herself in her little VW Bug. But I saw it as the adventure of a lifetime! I'm no dummy, I took precautions: visible NRA stickers on my windows; planning all my driving during daylight hours so I wouldn't arrive anywhere after dark; a dangerous pair of fencing pliers under my seat; and a prayer for safety on the road before I left each day.

When I was a kid, my family watched the movie ‘Balto’. ‘Balto’ is a children’s movie about the dog sled team that pushed through a blizzard to deliver antitoxin to diphtheria-stricken Nome, Alaska.