If I Could Be Anywhere …

Cabin fever usually hits Alaska some time in February. It looks like I’m diving in a few days early. ❄️

It’s not that I don’t find Alaska beautiful any time of year. And winter, in particular, is often truly spectacular. But there really can be such a thing as too much of a good thing.

This time of year, with the frigid cold of winter surrounding me – ice, snow and hoar-frost encrusted branches the only view outside every window (during daylight hours), it’s hard not to at least envision myself in gentler climes.

If I could be ANYWHERE else … anyplace else at all – where would it be?

Maybe I’d go for a dip in a tropical paradise … and swim with sea turtles.

Or perhaps soak up some warm rays in the deserts of the southwest?

The endless possibilities flitter through my brain in a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, smells … and warmth. Oh! The blessed warmth! Which shall it be? ☀️

Or, hmm … I could just stay HERE. ❄️⛄️

I’ve been told I have a fertile and vivid imagination. Since stark black and white (make that LOTS of white) are really lacking in ‘vivid’, it’s time to daydream. Want to come along for the ride?

Closing my eyes, I can literally smell the tropical fragrance of blooms after a soft spring rainfall, the lush greenery of foliage that has never felt the bitter touch of a killing frost.

I can all but taste salt on my tongue and hear the gentle, rhythmic pounding of the surf as it rolls to shore across warm sand. Beach towels, anyone?

Add the sound and feel of a warm, tropical breeze – just brisk enough to caress my cheeks and rustle the fronds of nearby palm trees. Yes! Palm trees, by golly. If I’m having a tropical “moment”, I’m definitely adding palm trees. 🌴🌴

Or, oh gee … we can stay HERE. ❄️❄️

On the other hand, I’ve heard the warmth of the tropics can be kind of humid. Perhaps I should aim my thoughts towards a dryer heat? 🤠

Pack the sunscreen – Arizona and Texas, here I come! Warm, desert sand underfoot, hot sun beating down from above (winter sun, of course – not summer sun – I’d melt!).

Oh! The mere thought of it warms my toes and makes me eager to don shorts. OK, OK, I’ll also dream up some sturdy hiking boots – I don’t want stickers or a snake bite as part of my daydream.

There is something so unique and special about the fleeting life of wildflowers in the desert. I think a late winter or early spring visit would be just the ticket.

I can see it now … fields of blue-bonnets in Texas or golden poppies in Arizona, the season of color may be brief but oh, so memorable.

And then, there are the real WOW moments only the true desert can produce. Cactus blooms; brilliant flowers that can burst forth from fragile bud to flower and be gone again, some of them literally overnight.

This delicate pink and white blossom is actually quite large – a real eye-popper, as are the long, very sharp needles protruding protectively from the cactus itself. You can imagine the size best if you take note of the ROOF overhand (photo on left) that this substantial cactus nearly reaches up to!

Or …. sigh, we can stay HERE. ❄️☃️❄️

Daydreams are a marvelous way to escape the relatively monotonous boredom of everyday life. Especially when it’s cold out and you are mostly stuck indoors. It’s a past-time I’ve indulged in regularly in recent months, since I’ve been even more isolated than usual this winter.

I hope you enjoyed coming along on my little virtual vacation. Thanks again to Johanna & Bill West, Sandy Wojtaszek and Kathi Shaffer for permission to print many of the photo inspirations for this particular trip. ❤️

Hey, on the bright side; since no actual airfare was involved, there’s no limit to where we might wing off to next! Any suggestions?

For now, however, I think I’d better think up something a bit more physically demanding – or at least visually entertaining – to do here at home. Not only do I need more exercise, but so do the dachshunds! I’m being STARED at! 😳

How good are you guys at reading dog-eyes? To me, Rhonda is clearly asking, “Are we ever going to DO anything, Mom? Please, can we do something NOW?”