Annnnd, I'm heading to Vegas

What fun, I've been in L.A. for two months and I'm taking a road trip already. I'll be escorting my new client to a Speaker's Boot Camp seminar in Las Vegas for the next three days. I love road trips. It's just so refreshing for the eyes to have a change of scenery. And hey, let's face it, Vegas is a pretty exciting place. The plan is to hit the outlet malls on the way up- hooray!- and then stay with some friends in Vegas. I'm super excited that this little excursion is free for me, annnd I'm going to be exposed to a whole new group of people, as well as new information in the field of public speaking!

Everything is Going to be Just Fine

There is a place for me to live! I've just made a six month commitment to live in a townhouse off Montana Avenue and 17th Street! For my Florida friends, think Las Olas. For my New Orleans folks, think the Garden District. And my Virginia people, think Rugby Road. This is the vicinity I'm focused on. My cottage has not manifested yet, but it occurs to me that first one must know what one wants- see it, feel it, know it- and then one must let it go. I am doing everything I can to make it happen and when the time is right, I'm confident that it will.

"The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real."
~Marge Piercy

According to my plans, I also began working this week. "Hit the ground running!" This is a major coup for which I am immensely grateful. My first client is an Intuitive Consultant (www.LinMorel.com and BeyondWordsGroup.com) is who ready to take-off. And just this afternoon I met with a second potential client, an Entrepreneur, ready to sky-rocket. I'm in the game.

So here I am

Sunday. I am emotional. I'm not worried, but I am feeling a tad scared or some sort of upset that I don't quite understand. The entire last month passed with such momentum in the process of untangling myself from Virginia and getting myself to California. "I'm here, now what?" is going through my mind.  But, even as I write, I know that I am being unreasonable with myself.  I just got here for Pete's sake!  There is a vague feeling of my body and my spirit not quite being united.... as though I am trying to catch up with myself. It is queer. This morning I went to the Pacific Pallisades Park flanking Ocean Avenue. As I looked towards the mountains of Malibu, disbelief filled me. I'm here, I'm really here. How did I manifest this all so quickly? I felt called to be here, I came, now what?! I know with certainty that I am where I need to be, but this is a bit disconcerting and scary. I only saw a vision of what it would take to get here and then I saw a vision of myself working in the Professional Growth realm and then becoming a wife and mother. But the in-between ground is a bit fuzzy. This has all been such a momentous event in my life, I suppose I should simply give thanks for my success and safe passage across the country, and continue to believe that it will all work itself out. And though I've had two nights of very restful sleep, my body and mind continues to feel a bit weary. What now? May I be led in the direction of prosperity.

Day Light Savings Time

It's Sunday. We've just changed time again- springing forward. I hate this. I want my hour back! I've had enough time change for the moment.

Hit the Ground Running, or at least try

It is Saturday morning, a clear blue-skied day in Southern California! As though I never left, I'm jumping right back into my life in Santa Monica. Today's endeavors: 9:30 yoga class at Shakti Yoga, a walk through the Santa Monica Farmer's Market, and an al fresco breakfast at Rocken Wagner Bakery on Wilshire. Then, my quest for a home! Here I go.

I'm driving around looking for "For Rent" signs and a place to live. My parameters are to be bewteen San Vicente, Wilshire, Ocean Ave. and 23rd. Following my new rule of life- Go directly to what you want, I drive by the cottage that I've been visualizing myself living in for well over a year. Just North of Montana Avenue, off of Ocean Avenue, there is a little wee community of cottages laid out in a "U" shape. They are small and quaint, and look as though Snow White lives there. That is where I want to live. I know the address of the unit in which I'd like to reside. I've thought about it, written about it, told my friends about it. Let's see if I can manifest it.

My dearest and most long-standing friend, Jessica, has just made her daily check-in call with me. Thank God for Jess. She encourages me and rallies me continually, always reminding me of my previous accomplishments lest I forget. So were were just chuckling about me driving around with all of my possessions in tow, when Jess offered that I'm like a camel, with belongings piled on. "We should just call you 'Camel Melanie', no wait! Just 'Cam-Mel', Camel!" Call me a camel, woman who travels with all of her most cherished possessions from here to there and everywhere.

3:00PM I am exhausted. I'm too tired to create. Too tired to drive around looking for a place to live. Sleep, I need sleep. I'm actually having a difficult time realizing that I'm really here. It's as though my body is here, but my consciousness is still on the journey.   It's so surreal. I just drove across America and now I'm here. I think I just felt my knees buckle. It is almost unbelievable that I am here.

With Each Beginning There is an Ending

Friday morning, 6:00 AM, I am departing, where am I? Oh, yes, I'm in Flagstaff, Arizona. I don't even know anymore, I've been so many places. No rushing this morning because my body woke-up at 4:30 AM, which coincidentally would be 6:30 East Coast time, and right on time. Strangely, I felt no need to rush this morning. I actually feel a little bit of trepidation because today is the day I drive on into L.A. and I don't know where I'm living. My friend Robert has graciously offered to let me stay with him, which is great. I have a place to land. But I'm not really excited about that because I would like to be in my own place, taking my stuff out of my car. There are so many unknown variables. I'm not quite sure now that I'm getting there, what my life actually going to look like on a day to day basis. So, um, I'm not real anxious to be rushing in that direction. The journey has been fun, and now I'll have to actually go and live it out, which I'm confident is going to be okay, but I'm still a little bit nervous.

In an effort to be proactive, I've reposted my posts on Craig's List to advertise myself for Housesitting and the other I've posted under seeking housing- "Visualizing a cottage in Santa Monica."

It's 9:15 am and I've just crossed over the California state line. How do I feel? I feel a little weak, a little bit frightened. There's no turning back, not that I want to turn back. I feel confident in my decision to move, but man, I wonder what's going to happen next?

How fascinating.... An inspection station to get into the state of California?! I've not encountered an Inspection Station to pass into any other state in the nation. I pull up, this is the exchange, "Good morning Maam. Where are you traveling from? Any fruits, vegetables or plants with you?" "No? Have a good day." And I'm ushered through. Whoopee! California, here I come.

10:30 AM. Wow, Premium gas is $3.19 per gallon, now that I've entered California.

I am driving towards snow-capped mountains. It is so beautiful and expansive and exciting. I love this land. I feel like I am home. It is 11:00 AM, I'm about thirty minutes East of San Bernandino, CA. I should be arriving in less than two hours into L.A. I had no idea that the mountains of San Bernadino were drop-dead gorgeous! It's killing me that I have to focus on the road and not look around. They are stunning and sculpturally appealing, and verdant green. These mountains are inspiring.

12:20 PM, Pacific Coast time. I did it! I'm back in Santa Monica, as though I never left. It has been less than a month since my visit back here to see if this felt like the right place for me. I'm blown away. I'm absolutely blown away! Just like that I'm right back in the fold. Amen. I am home. I give thanks for my safe passage.

Melanie, Warrior Princess. Conquering fear & worry every step of her journey, banishing the illusion of safety, being fully present and alive in each moment. I just drove across America and I feel like I can do ANYTHING!

Walnut Canyon Hike

I'm 110 miles East of Walnut Canyon Park, just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. It is 9:15 AM and I'm traveling I-40 West, flanked on both sides by endless desert. It is so vast, my eyes can see no end. It is as though I'm surrounded by an ocean. My spirit is soaring as the eagle and I feel exalted. I love this "in-between land" and this "in-between time." I'm in between my past and my future; it is exhilarating and exciting to step out of the procession of ants. Do you ever look around at humanity and think we all look like the industrious ants, coming and going and focused on our tasks? I do. But for now, I am one with the world. For the moment, I am not part of a community or a workforce; I've stepped out of the parameters of my tribe. I am a traveler with wanderlust in my heart, filled with possibility, wonder and potentiality. It is thrilling, refreshing and a welcome change for my mind's eye. It is so fantastic to step outside of your life for a moment and be filled with the feeling that anything can happen next. I'm out there, in the neutral, in-between zone. And I like it.

11:00 AM. I've arrived at Walnut Canyon for my field trip! A hike through the Canyon!

Well, there was a landslide in 2007, so the hike was not as substantial as I would have liked; part of the trail was impassible. But it was a grounding and inspiring hike. The Sinagua people lived in this Canyon prior to 1250. They built homes within the cliff over hangings, which ironically makes them look a bit like town homes. Archeologists believe it was the women who built the homes. To form wall around the hollowed spaces, the Sinagua gathered limestone rocks, then cemented them with the clay found in surrounding canyon areas. They used wooden beams to reinforce the doorways. Even more impressive was a hole in the exterior wall, three feet above the doorway, which allowed smoke from interior woods fires to be released. And this was all done almost 800 years ago. It was truly fascinating and inspiring.

It is 12:45 PM, Central time and I've just landed in Flagstaff, Arizona. Windy. It is incredibly windy here and 55 degrees, which feels colder on account of the wind. Unfortunately, I am finding that the further West I travel, the more gas costs. Because the White Knight gets Premium gas, I'm up to $2.44 per gallon now. I think Premium gas was $2.02 back East. Interesting. Right now I am on my way to Macy's Cafe, serving Vegetarian fare in Downtown, Historic Flag. The last time I was here was January 15, 2008, when I surely thought I would die; that was the beginning of my divorce and journey back East. It was the onset of MY journey back to myself. At the time I felt I was at death's door, my life force was dangerously dimmed. And now, here I am, back again, coming out victorious. Amen.

You know, this is my third trip across America in less than two years. The first two times I was escorted by men; first by a former husband, the second by a friend. And now for this third time, I'm going solo. And this third time has been the most enjoyable trip thus far! I haven't been fearful once. It's been pleasant and enjoyable. My body is not in pain because I drive what is manageable for me each day. It just goes to show you, when you pull upon your own resources, you really can take care of yourself!