European snippets

Munich - My first "wow" moment was landing at the Munich airport to see the Alps to the west.

My flight arrived at 7:30 a.m., I checked into the airport hotel and headed into town on the train. After a 45-minute ride, I made a quick stop in the subway restroom which was quite unpleasant and almost made me sick. Rushing up the stairs for fresh air, I turned and, "oh...WOW!" I don't know what I expected to see but right in front of me was the Glockenspiel, a very large, dark gothic (or baroque, I've already forgotten my art history terms) structure lined with stone sculpture and red flowers. Ahhh...this is what I love about Europe, such beauty in the old architecture. But the element that drew crowds, with cameras aimed high, were the little figurines that spun, as if to dance, to the whimsical music.  Oddly enough, the Glockenspiel was one of the attractions I didn't really "need" to see but so glad to have stumbled upon it.

Nuremberg - Perhaps I've watched too many episodes of Rick Steves but I simply must use the words "quaint little village". I suppose the City is really not that little but the old town was so charming. After viewing the named "Beautiful Fountain" in the square, I ventured to the castle up the hill. So many wonderful photo opportunities and found another "wow" moment when, arriving at the top of the castle to view out over the city with red rooftops just as I'd seen in travel photos.

Prague - Having checked in, my experiences have not yet been written. While waiting for the group dinner, I take advantage of the complimentary internet service to write this little snippet.

At the restaurant, we'll start with a welcome drink called 'Becherovka', the national drink once used solely for stomach ailments, and supposedly "tastes like Christmas". For the meal, 'Halusky' will be served, a traditional dish of ham, potatoes and cabbage, followed by roast chicken, a pork kabob and potatoes. For dessert, a glass of champagne and pancakes filled with fruit, ice cream and whipped cream will round off the meal. And if unlimited beer and wine was not enough entertainment, there will also be live folk music played with traditional instruments and costume dancing.

UPDATE: I've returned from dinner. May I just say that was one of the most fun evenings I've had, maybe, ever! On the bus ride over, the Tour Direction mentioned "you must do everything they ask whether it is singing or dancing the funky chicken. (This was an "oh, crap" moment. I do not do group interactives well.) Tip: Beware of the woman with the wooden spoon.

A special occasion

By today's end, I will have received a haircut, pedicure, manicure, lip wax, new clothes and exercise. Wedding? No. Graduation? No. Regular maintenance? No. Vacation! Granted, some of these things I do try to keep up with on a regular basis but there's something special about feeling your best while vacation.

Preparation for another world

International travel excites me like nothing I've found. I feel fortunate to have had opportunity to see a few amazing places. Each destination is its own adventure. And yet, with this upcoming trip, I feel nervous and unprepared.

Somehow Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary seem so much scarier than some of the places I've visited. Perhaps it's because I will be traveling by myself. Well, that is until I meet up with the tour group in Munich. I've not joined a tour group before so am not sure of what to expect. I'm hoping I will meet some great people to share the adventure.

However, as I prepare, my mind is stuck on the numerous things that could go wrong with luggage and currency. And, of course, I've heard all the stories about scammers and pick-pockets. Hopefully, safety in numbers will hold true.

I'm excited, don't get me wrong. And I'm also so grateful. I know I will see some beautiful things and enjoy the moments as they come.

For now, I'm just anxious to get there so I can relax.

My Grandma died today

I'm obsessing over the headline as it isn't feeling creative, emotional or gripping enough. I guess I'll stick with simple and to-the-point.

This morning, I was on my way to visit my ailing Grandma when I received the call that she just passed away an hour earlier. I kicked myself for sleeping in and enjoying that morning cup of coffee. In addition to that, I knew the Hospice workers predicted she would most likely be gone by yesterday. And yet, yesterday, I could not bring myself to go visit. I helped the Alzheimer's Association prepare for the upcoming Memories in the Making event and I even went for a hike. On the way home from that hike, I kept saying to myself "you should go", "you should go", "you should go". But I didn't.

And so today, when I got the call, my car was already headed in that direction so I kept on going. It wasn't that I wanted to see her in that state but I felt I needed to even though I couldn't explain why.

Arriving at the care facility, I knew my Aunt and Uncle were already there. I took a deep breath and I entered her room. Even though I had seen her two weeks earlier, I barely recognized her. She was so frail, so thin. She reminded me of an Auschwitz survivor.

Hospice workers were there, they wanted to know if any other family members would want to see her before they took her. It sounded like a cruel joke but I knew it wasn't. I called my brothers to ask the question. Neither wanted to view her, and I can't blame them.

But I sat there, with my Aunt and Uncle for over three hours while my Grandma lay on the bed at my knees.

But I feel so guilty. She's lived here for four years and I've only visited a handful of times. I've volunteered my time for strangers the past four years, but I wish I would have woven in more time for my own family. I know she must have been so lonely.

The past few months she was in a steady decline. The impact from smoking cigarettes for 50 years caught up to her. She had COPD which made it difficult to breath and she lost circulation in one of her legs which brought on gangrene. As a result, she was on a solid morphine diet the last couple of months.

Now, her suffering is over. She lived a long 96 1/2 years. And while I was never very close to her, she was my family. I love her and I will most definitely miss her.

I'm bringing sexy back

I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but yeah, I'm bringing sexy back. That is...my own sexy.

Last summer I made huge advancements in my fitness level. I looked better, I felt better. I was really proud of myself. And, while I'm nowhere near my unfit level of three years ago, I have a lot of work to do to get my sexy back.

As a nod to Brian Adams, 'since the summer of' 39, I have been pushing myself to go further and faster than my previous couch-potato years allowed, including my annual pride, the Bolder Boulder 10k race with my Dad. Wait! Let me set the record straight: I hate running. Or at least, I think I do. Running can be so boring, and yet there is something indescribable that happens when I run. I feel like I can accomplish anything, I feel strong, I feel healthy...and that, my friends, is addicting. But getting my shoes on and taking that first step out the door has been so hard lately. Working full time, going to school, volunteering and some other out-of-the-ordinary circumstances has led me to be tired and unmotivated.

It's crunch time. I have two weeks to whip my butt into shape before the 2011 Bolder Boulder. I've been running here and there but not consistently. Last year, my time for the 6.2 mile race was 1:07 which allowed me to automatically qualify for running with the big dogs this year. But, it ain't gonna happen and that just breaks my heart. But I tell you what will happen. I will train hard the next two weeks and I will run the Bolder Boulder and will do okay. And after that, I will continue to run, will do some mountain biking and will add in some swimming. My goal? A summer triathlon. Sounds sexy, doesn't it? I think so...and I'm bringin' it back!

Spring is here, friendship is in the air

It's amazing what magic the first bud and blossom of the season bring to my soul. After such colorless winters, finding color emerge is like finding my center, finding my balance.

So when the YPAAC: Young Professionals Alzheimer's Association of Colorado asked for volunteers on their annual 'Spring Spruce Up' at one of the local care facilities, I was excited for the opportunity. (Not to mention, I've been involved with the Association in other areas for the past four years and have found it to be a rewarding experience.)

The day arrived, it was cold and cloudy but full of vibrant color in the 40+ pallets of flowers. Toward the end of the day, I was headed back outside after washing my hands when an elderly woman, with kind eyes, said to me "it's getting cold out there, do you want a cup of coffee?". I politely declined and thanked her for the offer. Somehow, that brief introduction led to a much deeper discussion. There was an immediate connection.

I don't remember the sequence but Mary began to tell me of her faith, her husband who had passed away, her 60 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and of her battle with depression. In the sharing of her stories, she got choked up on numerous occasions which led me to do the same. She spoke of the three friends that passed away that week and the acknowledgment that she knew she was on the same path. She also shared some of the loving memories of her family. After probably 20 minutes, I was feeling a bit guilty in not being outside helping with the flowers, so reluctantly let Mary know I needed to get going. She asked for my phone number and shared where she lives in hopes I would come back to visit her. She also asked how old I was and why someone as "pretty as..." isn't married. I left her with such feeling of love, connection and appreciation of the experience.

Had I not planted a single flower that day, my time was not only well spent but unforgettable.

Unexpected vitality

After ordering my drink at a local coffee shop, I started to scan the patrons to find where my co-workers were sitting. Immediately, I was drawn to the lady in the corner, who appeared to be out of a scene from a movie, highlighting an angelic presence. All natural light beamed upon her and her bright yellow accents seemed to exaggerate her glow even more.

Adorably spunky, I had to take her picture. My only hesitation was to sneak the shot or ask her permission, as a bad experience in Spain came to mind. In that case, I saw an older woman, possibly homeless, with unique character sitting in front of a grand church which, at the time, seemed like a prized capture. Wanting to get in close and take my time, I asked permission by motioning with my camera while simultaneously handing her a Euro or two which she accepted. Getting the camera in position, the vieja started yelling angrily and pulled her arms up to shield her face which drew the attention of the nearby la policia. Needless to say, I didn't the get the shot and kicked myself for not just stealing it in the first place.

Taking the chance, I approached the woman in the corner of the coffee shop. "Excuse me, I think you are just gorgeous, and I would love to take your picture." She smiled approvingly and continued to look down at her laptop. Camera phone in hand, I took the shot then mouthed a "thank you", smiling back at her. With her index finger, she motioned for me to come over. I bent down eager to hear what she had to share. With such energy, "What's your name? I'm Nona Lee. You know, I started a blog awhile back but forgot about it and would like to bring it back to life. The name of it is...oh gosh, I forgot....oh yeah, VitalityMentality.com. My email address is..." I realized she wanted me to send her a copy of the photo so she could possibly add to her blog. I was honored. This lady had such warm, positive energy, I felt so drawn to her. I wanted to be able to later visit her and learn of her experiences.

When I returned home, I forwarded the photos to her. I never hear back. Either way, this woman greatly impacted me. Life is so full of meaningless noise, action and interaction. Every once in awhile, you come across people who add an emotional response, a feeling, a flavor. Connections are powerful.