Two gals on the road, - learning to 'see'

Two Gals on the road.

As we were traveling home today today we passed four 'older' ladies on their fancy motorcycles. The wrinkles were evident even under the fancy helmets and leather jackets.

One lady had had a highly decorated leather outfit and holes in her helmet for her pigtails to fly free. They had a sign, Motor maids 2016 convention. A quick visit to Mr Google and I found out that the organization had been running for the past 75 years with 3500 members and the convention was in Santa Fe.

It made me think.

Well not enough to want to take up motorcycle riding, but I liked their spunk, I mean,  I can imagine them out on their bikes on the weekend and I figure they would be the types to  stop and do a bit of quilting when they got to their destination. One lady had a little two wheel trailer behind her white Harley, I'm sure that would be big enough to even carry a machine.

Having just traveled some 2000 miles in 6 days, I'm waxing lyrical about the wonderful things that surround us. The amazing things we have done and seen. The time seems too short for all that we really wanted to do.

I know I'm lucky to be able to do this, but on the other hand I take time out to make it work. To experience the normal, like blue skies green grass and a  breathtaking range of mountains.

Then again, my work takes me to exotic places and my nature allows me to take notice of the smallest of details.  Roses in a bag on the street of Delhi. 

The man in the street i8n Kathmandu sewing on his treadle machine.

And even today the way the clouds form over the plains in the high desert

and tonight on our return the bird sits in the tree tonight at sunset.

I'm 69 and I've made a concerted effort over the past few years to 'observe'. I sort of feel that I probably have another 10-15 years left to really 'see' and I sure don't want to miss anything. That doesn't seem long enough for me but it's reality.  

I'm a tutor, a lecturer, writer and photographer and I  quietly take note of everything I see. Of course this week its been the things we've seen and experienced in a land far from home, and there is a lot more to come in the next few weeks, then I'm back home in the studio to work on my special project. But while I'm here I'm gathering creative ideas, and just enjoy the ambience of summer in New Mexico while my family shiver in mid winter in Australia.

There are so many things to be positive and creative about and it all starts with that tiny spark which comes from just plain 'seeing'

We all need to slow our mind down and focus to 'see' a good example is to look at the scene in front of you. You will inevitably look left to right, now go back the other way and look right to left. You observe more because your mind has slowed.

Any way, that's my theory and it sure works for me.