women in flight

You might remember from my last video, that I was bemoaning the dearth of female travel writers.
Well, I did some homework, made up a list for my Seattle Public Library account, and started reading. Today I review 2 books by women travelers in Yemen and in the Congo, both in the 1930's:
Freya Stark's A Winter in Arabia, and Emily Hahn's Congo Solo.
At a time when the world was gearing up for war and women had only recently gotten the vote in the US and were still viewed as inferior beings, these women traveled far, oftentimes alone, and stayed for months, learning a culture and shedding some of their assumptions and biases. Hahn in particular is a vivacious writer (and indeed wrote for the New Yorker for many years).
Bon voyage!

the look back

I was looking around on an old device and came across a couple of years' worth of photos.
What a trip down the memory hole! So many good times and sad times and meh times.
Vacations and odd sightings around town, family and dogs and my fella and friend gatherings.
Every few months there's a photo like this one -- probably at a club, probably watching a band, probably after a couple of whisky drinnks. Who knows when or where this was, but I do know I was likely having a great time.

puppers

It was a weekend of family. Our matriarch turned 97 and her health is failing.
She is a magnificent lady and despite her physical ailments, retains a sharp wit and keen memory.
While my sisters paid her a visit, I hung out with younger fam and 2 delightful pups.
One has my heart completely. She is the alpha, a worrier, a champ, and an absolute sweetheart.
She too is getting creaky in her elder years but still has a way of laying her chin on your knee, or flashing you a look, and you feel dog love.

fifi a wah wah

via GIPHY

the view from the 785

Been thinking about my Kansas fam the past few weeks. This is a shot taken shortly after landing in Wichita last fall. The pilot barely managed to set us down on the edge of a thunderstorm and I feared it was the end of busysmartypants. Instead, we rented a sedan and sped through the dusk to an outdoor country music show, complete with fires in oil drums and one dollar Coors Light.
I've never lived in this part of the world but something about it feels so familiar.
And lovely.