Last month we took a road trip to Alpine and stayed at an AirBnb. We had some loose plans and really were looking forward to dinner at our favorite place, The White Buffalo Bar & Grill.

It had been in the hundreds for weeks, and dry for months here. We trusted it would be cooler, at least at night, in the west Texas mountains. As we turned off the interstate and headed south we were greeted by a rainstorm and the temps dropped 30 degrees!

Rather than drive out to dinner after we got settled, we went to the local grocery store. We had trouble finding it – it had moved since we were last there years ago, and not only that, it had been upgraded to something close to a Whole Foods! Everything we could want! Hog Heaven!

The next day we had lunch up in Marathon (where White Buffalo is) at a delicious new BBQ joint. Sat outside on the patio and people-watched as we ate. That evening, with the sky looking like rain again and the wind picking up, we went for a walk in the neighborhood before the rain came.

We saw a 3-story Spanish-style house with conifers almost twice as tall. There was a ranch that had been remodeled with Moroccan arches across the front and Ponderosa pines in their yard. The driveway and road were carpeted with pine needles. And another remodel with a big, furry brown pig in the yard.

On a corner lot was an enormous Victorian house with wrap-around porches, vegetable gardens and a spectacular multiple-lines clothesline with sheets and towels flapping and snapping in the breeze. Then I saw something I’d never seen – gigantic rosemary bushes, up near the porch, draped with children’s small t-shirts, dresses, underwear and pajamas drying in the sun. Can you imagine how good those are going to smell?

We ended up doing nothing that we’d planned and serendipity filled that empty space with beauty and joy!

I’ve been packing for a trip to St. Louis tomorrow, and I’ve observed myself being frustrated to the point of having a childish tantrum. I’m not used to such limited allowances for my clothing, shoes, toiletries. Unused to being bound by an airline’s itinerary: be here two hours early… and sit. I seem unable to pack for three events and do so around the weather. All in a small suitcase. I’m anxious about managing all of my dietary restrictions. About being in crowds again with Covid on the rise. (I did my booster shot and a flu shot last week.) And about people behaving badly on the airplane, too.

This morning I woke feeling more “on top of things.” My old self was back.

I’ve got my luggage sorted. Got some gluten-free snacks in my carry-on along with a good book. And I added a slim North Face puffy jacket to allow for the cold weather that’s arriving as I do.

I’m going for Elizabeth’s oldest son Ryan’s wedding to Rachel. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her that I can’t wait to meet her! My other two sisters are coming also. It’s been years since we’ve all been together. Andee is picking me up at the airport and then we are picking Lynn up at the train station. The same station I went to from New York annually with my Mom to see her older sister, Wilma. All I remember about Aunt Wilma is that she and my Mom loved each other and missed each other. And she was the best biscuit-maker in the world, making two batches every morning. The aroma!

Full circle. I remember Mom letting Terry and me explore on the train, as she sat holding Lynn, just a baby then, close to her. Will anything about it the train station seem familiar? It’s been 60 years. We’ll see. I am going to relax now, enjoy the flight tomorrow, and have fun with my sisters at a beautiful wedding. I’ll take lots of photos and leave lots of room for serendipity to show up.

XO Donna