Burned by the beach. Humiliated by reality. Gasping for air. Rescued by a friend. Lake Minnewaska in all it’s splendor. My journey took me here. My expenses: $15.00 gas money. My harvest: Three nights sleep on a real bed. A full body tan. (lol) Lots of pure and healthy vitamin E. Much needed spiritual meditation, peace, reunited with Golden Bear, a wonderful woman who lives in a cabin here. Her life is Mother Earth, hiking, nature classes, rock climbing, discovering new friends and her AMAZING love for animals. She is an onion with endless layers.
Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”
A peek into a town, New Paltz, New York, off Interstate 87. A small college town, smothered with antiques shops, art, crafts, colorful shops and amazing food. At the foot of the Catskill mountains, crisscrossed by streams and rivers. Anytime they name the shops after Grateful Dead songs, you know that you are in a peace-loving space.
I have extended my streak of NO TV to almost SEVEN WEEKS. My mind is seeing things differently. Less complicated. Feeling textures, tasting food smelling life. Real life.
Golden Bear’s generosity extended to wonderful dinners. Most notably “Mexicali Blue” had the TASTIEST Fish Burritos. She bought Tuna and Salmon and one was better than the other.
Our last night was an adventure in Thai Food that almost outdid Mexicali Blue. Lemongrass is the only spot in the area serving Thai. If you like Thai, you will LOVE the Lemongrass.The spices, table by the street, sauces, and conversation were a meal that I would never forget.
Another place worth mentioning was “The Muddy Cup” coffee shop. Not your typical free wifi, college student, hippy loving hangout. Filled with pillows and old couches, the front stage was empty the days we were there but looking the bookings looked awesome.
Golden Bear glowed by the firepit at night. Unfortunately we were scared inside by a screeching sound, half animal, half human perhaps but one of the scariest things I have EVER heard in the woods. It echoed against the mountains and the next day when I tried to describe it to the natives of the land…..they were puzzled.
In the Movie It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey finds himself alone on a bridge, thinking that; “I am worth more dead, then alive.” The rest of the movie is history.
It’s only freakin’ MONEY people. There are far better things in life. If you are on an honest trail, God will provide.
New Paltz New York. Only 500 K to Gananogue. 712 K to Toronto !!
