2022 – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

2022, Memories, Travel

Riding to Monet’s Garden

Posted on June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 by nancyb422

My husband and I took a Viking cruise with my sister and her husband in October of 2022. We started in Paris, cruised the Seine to Normandy and returned. It was really magical! We both agreed our favorite day was the round trip by bicycle to Monet’s garden.

We started the day in La Roche-Guyon and visited the town for 2 hours before taking off to Vernon and Monet’s Garden. It was delightful and I’ll share that excursion at another time!

We met our guide on the pier and everyone taking the bike ride was fitted for their appropriate bike and helmet. I applauded all the people that rode but some would have been better suited for the bus trip there. Not being mean, just truthful. We had a bike crash before we even got over the river. On the green in front of the pier there were monuments in recognition of the Allied troops liberating Vernon.

The ride was about 3-1/2 miles both ways! Luckily there are bike paths that we rode on. We did have to cross some streets and that was a little hairy! We stayed up close to the guide so we could ride freely and not fear crashing into the back of someone.

Once there, we stopped at the Elise Saints-Radegonde de Giverny (church) and we visited the burial site of Claude Monet and his family.

Then it was on to the grounds of Monet’s home. What a breathtaking sight! I had no idea what to expect and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. The sun was shining and the flowers were all in bloom. The colors were so vivid, I don’t think it was possible to take a bad picture. I selected some of my favorites to share.

A sample of the flowers and boats in the water

I was just lost in the scenery. I wasn’t worried about losing my people, we were all doing the same thing!

We made our way to the house and the garden around it.

We had a half hour left before we needed to meet our group, so my husband and I sat and had a latte and a tart as a snack before our bike ride back! We took a different route back and we thankfully didn’t have to cross any streets.

We gathered at a park and our guide and her helper had cider and the absolutely most delicious macrons I’d ever tasted in my life. It was so difficult not to eat them all right there! After our treat, we rode back to the boat and said our goodbyes.

From there it was dinner and a walk around the top deck to take in the full moon and think about the bucket list day we enjoyed.

Full moon from the Viking Skaga, Vernon France

2022, Goals, life

In 2022, I …..

Posted on January 1, 2023 by nancyb422

“I say, the end of a year should be filled with congratulation, for all we survived.” – by Donna Ashworth

In 2022, Between August 1st and November 15th – I spend a week in Maine with family on the beach, I spent a week in California visiting my father in law dying of lung cancer, I spent a long weekend in Fort Collins, Colorado helping my niece select her wedding dress, I spent 10 days cruising down the Seine River from Paris to Normandy and back again, I spent another week in California after my father in law died cleaning out his house. I learned to go with the flow and enjoy the journey(ies).

In 2022, I did some form of workout for 262 days. It started out with Hasfit and morphed into a Schwinn spin bike which lasted about a month before I bought a Peloton Bike+. It has changed my game! I can bike, lift weights, follow month-long programs, meditate, do yoga, and stretching, and follow outdoor walking and running workouts. I’ve always enjoyed working out on my own but with Peloton, I feel really connected to other people.

In 2022, I learned to take care of myself. To put my oxygen mask on first in order to help others. I had spiritual reading in March and a Tarot card reading in June. Both have helped guide me in my work and personal life. I’m still a work in progress!

In 2022, I had some health issues. I had 2 tears (rips) in my left retina that needed to be lasered closed. If you ever see flashing silver and floaters, don’t wait – call your eye doctor! They are no joke. I had some heart palpitations that turned out to be nothing, but I did go on Crestor to help keep that plaque flowing and not sticking to my arteries. The important thing is – I took care of them.

In 2022, I worked in our office but managed to hand off some of my workload to the two people in our office who are going to keep moving us forward. It helped me focus more on the other two jobs I have there! This year I’m hoping to relinquish the client portion completely and tighten up the “behind the scenes” responsibilities.

In 2022, I felt myself laughing a little more and dancing around the room if I felt like it – with or without music.

Here’s to 2023!

2022, life

My Day

Posted on November 4, 2022 by nancyb422

If I breathe out kindness, will I inhale kindness?

If I speak kind words to others (do I?), I need to be sure I do the same for myself.

2022

My Outdoors

Posted on October 30, 2022October 30, 2022 by nancyb422

I have been part of this view for over 60 years. Since we bought it from my father, technically it’s only had two owners. This tree was a peanut to the queen that stood where the red building is now. I sit here now and wonder why I don’t spend more time out here.

My Outdoors

2022, life, Religion

Troubling Thoughts

Posted on June 29, 2022 by nancyb422

I’ve spent the last 2 years reading a daily bible verse or two accompanied by the author’s thoughts in “God’s Wisdom for Women” (or something similar). It usually sets me straight for my day.

Friday, June 24th, I read the verse from 1 Corinthians 14:33 that says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace – -as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.” This is the wording from the New International Version. Pretty simple, makes you feel good right?

Well, there are times I like to go to my bible and read more of the chapter and I was kind of shocked to read what followed in Verse 34-35: “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”

I think any type of good feeling disappeared at that moment! Such bullshit! This isn’t God’s word, these are words strung together by men to keep women then and now in their places. I believe in God, and I pray to God regularly, but that really shook me. I believe God wants all of us to have a voice and for those voices to be heard. But you know, people conveniently point to the bible when it suits them to say “see, right here in the bible” to their wives, children, friends, and congregations.

And then, ironically, Roe v. Wade was overturned that same afternoon. But that’s a story for another day.