Dreamcatcher

dreamcatcher Originally uploaded by musicmuse_ca

I took this along the side of Route 40 in New Mexico. The dream-catcher is said to change your dreams so that only good dreams filter through. Bad dreams are thought to be caught in the net, to disappear with the dawn. 

I would need one this big to erase my night terrors, which were especially severe as I re-visited this stretch of road. The last time I drove thru here was over 30 years ago.. I was severely ill, and had just miscarried. My then-husband was driving us back to the East Coast after our "honeymoon" in LA. I was feverish, depressed and desperate to escape the clutches of the man I married, but I had no where to turn for the help and support I needed. When I drove this road again, the feelings from that time came flooding back. The day was windy, rainy with thunderstorms and sandstorms. The weather was threatening, urging me on and not to dawdle in this part of my journey through my past. I stopped in Albuquerque to spend the night, but the terror found me there in my sleep as I dreamed. Alas, I had no dream-catcher over my bed to bring me peace, and I was haunted once more by the ghosts of my past.

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Originally uploaded by musicmuse_ca

My first visit to the Grand Canyon. We were lucky to have relatively moderate August weather and the sky was clear. I remember my mother telling me about her trips here....she went rafting the rapids in her fifties and took a helicopter ride over it as well. Nothing so adventuresome for me...just a view from the rim with my daughter and my doggie. Memories flood in about the last time I was near here over 30 years ago with my ex-husband. We were driving back from LA from our honeymoon, and even though I was physically not well, I still wanted to come north from Flagstaff to see the Grand Canyon. He refused and kept on driving back to Buffalo New York, where we were living at the time. Now I am making the long journey back to NYC, the place I fled from in my teens, retracing my steps and reliving all the mistakes I made along the way. It has been emotionally intense and draining, but I will be writing about some of this in future entries. For now, let's just enjoy the view!