Lost & Found: The Final Chapter

Sunset at Lake Powhatan

December 25, 2012

After much reflection over a long period of time, I have decided to end this blog.  I woke up at 4:30am yesterday to this realization and even started composing this, the final chapter.  I have thought about stopping several times, but then I would meet an unknown reader with some praise for it and would do another one.  Not this time. 

In the "About Me" section on the lower right is the explanation of why I started this in the first place and a lot has change since then.  Several times I tried to change the picture of my first rig and I just wasn't able to do it.  That was a sign that the end of this was near.

Today's rig - GMC, Burg and Eagle

Back then I had the Chevy Silverado, the dragon red Vespa and Howhee, my first home-on-wheels.  Now there is the big GMC 3500 dually, the Burgman 400 scooter and the Jayco Eagle travel trailer with a fireplace!  Then I wanted to travel all the time.  Now I am a snowbird spending the winters in Sarasota, Florida and the rest of my time in Asheville, NC.  Then I was disillusioned with Unity church and my perceived lack of sympathy from most of the people there.  Since then I've realized it was more my perception than their behavior.  Now I am part of the Jubilee! community in Asheville and get my soul fed consistently from Howard Hanger and the other Jubilants.  Then I was feeling very lost and there was no "normal" anymore.  Now I feel found and normal again, or as close to normal as I can get. Then I was traveling alone and hoping to find a loving travel companion.  Now I have two very fine, loving companions: Lynn and Tinkerbell. 

Lynn and Tinker at Jubilee!

This web log began on November 20, 2009, thirteen months after my wife LaVerne passed away from lung cancer.  Her death was one of the greatest losses I have ever endured.  With her I lost my best friend, my partner in life and my lover.  I also lost my desire to work, my ability to concentrate and therefore whatever mental agility I once had to work with groups.  So, I had lost my business.  A couple years prior I had lost Pancho, my beloved blue heeler-border collie pal. 

During a visit to daughter Barbara and her family, we went to see the movie "Up" for my birthday which struck some deep cords in me.  The story is about an elderly widower unhappy with his life when he decides to travel and pursue a lifelong dream.  The next day I rode the Vespa on the Blue Ridge Parkway and decided that I wanted to travel.  And so "Fred's Travels" and this adventure began. 

Travel stickers on Howhee I

Along the way I have found new friends, rediscovered old ones, seen many beautiful plants, birds, animals, forests and streams.  I have drank lots of delicious brews and eaten more good food than I'm able to recall.   So now I am found once again.  As the lyrics of Amazing Grace proclaims, "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." 

Thanks to all my blog followers over these years.  I hope you found something here to make your life just a little bit better.  Perhaps I'll do another blog at some point.  I'm open to the inspiration and will just have to wait and see. 

Until then, Bon Voyage!  Oh yeah!

The pony tail project continues...