You're the Inspiraaaaaaaation!

The title of this blog comes form two things that happened last week that inspired me. Due to time constraints I can only divulge on one for now. And yes, in case you were wondering while I type this the infamous song by Chicago is running through my mind, and after I write this I will be having some Pandora fun finding that song.
My dear friend Charlene and I were at a place quickly grabbing a drinkie poo before listening to some great home grown music in Pacific Beach last week. I asked Charlene to come along to meet with Catheryne Beeks of KPRI to discuss her involvement with The Relay For Life event I am on a Committee on. At any rate, the story of Relay For life deserve an entire blog all its own which I am processing in my head as I go through the experience of it all, so please look forward to that soon.


So... Charlene and I are enjoying some beverages and we noticed this adorable woman who was trying to find her way to the Gaslamp from Pacific Beach ( for any non-sd residents, it is about a 20-minute ride or so). The man in the restaurant was diligently trying to find a cab company willing to come to Pacific Beach, equipped with the capacity to take lovely Alexandria and her Electric Mobility Scooter apparatus back to Gaslamp Village.


Apparently, this was a tall order to fill, even the company that brought her out that way simply stated they did not have any automobiles equipt to do that. ( Huh? then how did she get out there in the first place?)Instead of being frustrated with the cab companies and their blase (blah-say)efforts to accommodate, I quietly started a campaign of my own. We all got on our phones finding a way to find her a ride. After a couple calls, Charlene and I took a moment to talk with Alexandria.
Boy, was she an inspiration, a little light coming form nowhere but everywhere . Aleaxandria was visiting from Germany. When I asked who her travel companion was, she smiled warmly and said, "just me!" She told us how she loves The U.S., and just loves to travel. She had a fancy camera dangling from her neck, and spoke perfect English with a beautiful German accent.


The thing I connected with the most in what she was saying is this: Ive always wanted to take on the challenge of traveling alone to a foreign land and see whatever destiny would lay before me. I was always so nervous, primarily for safety issues. Ive traveled alone once on my way to San Diego from Michigan, just me and a car full of a lifetime of belongings on a four day cross country trek. I must say, I enjoyed the time alone, but when i did long to talk a little, I was afraid to talk to anyone for fear of the wrong person knowing I was alone in my travels with a car full of stuff ( not worth much but it was still all mine). I suppose I let fear get in the way of experiencing more. I think that is how my Mom raised me though, always to function of the error side of caution. Which is smart, do not get me wrong, but something about Alexandria that just inspired me to let go of fears a little more, to try it out, to have a little blind faith in the notion that it might be worth the risk. To trust myself more, using my instinct and judgement. I suppose when I have children i will teach them to be cautious too, but I'll also teach them that risks are worth it.


Alexandria was so happy, such a joy to talk to. And the next day she came out to visit Charlene who works at Balboa. Balboa Park was already on Alexandria's agenda and she knew of places I had never heard of in San Diego.
She finally got a ride to where she needed to go and the waiter even came over to our side of the venue to tell us she was safely picked up.
Im not sure if I'll be booking a trip alone anytime soon, but if lovely Alexandria can do it, then I maybe I can too.


Please refer to photo up top as I still am not photo uploading savvy....
Meet our friend Alexandria: She loves to travel, loves American food ( she especially likes all of our "creams" , or condiments), rarely brings technology with her on her travels, has an amazing joy and zest for life, and is my latest inspiration.

Who is your inspiration today? At this moment? Just a simple conversation sometimes is all it takes. Who could YOU inspire today?


And now I have a date with Pandora and Peter Ceterra....can I loop on Pandroa and out the song on repeat?