This is a story about Darby and Cyndar –  out collecting wildflower seeds to regenerate the beauty of the wilderness areas of Colorado, a little closer to home…

Darby and Cyndar have many things in common – that’s what makes them friends.  They also differ in many ways – that’s what makes for interesting conversation.  They are different and they are alike.  One thing is certain.  They are not boring or dull.  Whenever they are together there is always a debate about “things”.  Things like, “is there such a thing as too much butter in a recipe”, or chocolate being its own food group, or is it worth it to drive all the way over to ‘here’ or ‘there’ to get a certain item or to do without.  Child rearing, money, travel, exercise, work, fruit and vegetables, reading vs audio books, love the kids no matter what or is this a weed or a flower…

They may differ on any or all of these things, but weed vs flower is yet again, another debate that they may never solve.  Ying vs Yang. Trash or treasure?

Darby and Cyndar love to garden.  They love wildflowers in all colors and varieties.  They love to cook with fresh herbs.  They both garden with love and enthusiasm.  While Cyndar talks to her plants and flowers to help them grow, Darby is dilligent and methodic about soil and fertilizer.  They share plants – one has too many of one thing, it is given to the other, back and forth, all summer long.  “Here you can have this.” and “Would you like to have some of this?” and “I grew this for you” and “This might look good there”.  It is sharing.  It is communication.  It is a shared love of nature.  It is a bond on multiple levels.

So, if you should see Darby and Cyndar out somewhere in an opesn field or each other’s yard, collecting seeds, just let them be.  They love and appreciate this bond with nature. They love and appreciate this gift of flowers and friendship.  The “seeds” they take are always regenerated.  Cultivated.  Nurished.  Loved.  Appreciated.

They are blessed.

Disclaimer:  Be sure to check with authorities before you take seeds.  Different national forests may rules and/or permits to take seeds.  Always ask your neighbor first!!!

Lauren and Heather are sisters and they are like the daughters I never had.I love these girls.They are fun, bright, full of curiosity and a bit of risk takers!They are in their early 20’s.And, most importantly – they jump.

When I first got to know them it was such a treat as I only had a son and missed out on girl time.From day one we have always gotten along great.I’m in awe of their lives up to this point.I never really went anywhere.There was no money and no opportunity from my vantage point.A generation later and I see all the difference in the world in how kids view the world versus how I did from my little town in New England.

They were home schooled along with their older brother.They had only 1 TV in the whole house!Their mom, Barbara, gave them an amazing education that included each learning how to play a musical instrument and to speak a foreign language.Their dad is a pharmacist and a wonderful painter.

When Heather was a 17 she somehow got a foreign exchange student gig in Brazil for 12 months.Her parents struggled with the decision to let her go as I certainly would have also.She came back enlightened about a lot of things in life.

Her older sister then got a position as an au pair in Switzerland for a year.All expenses paid, plus a salary.Heather just got back from a year in Switzerland au pairing for a family “of means” and was able to travel, attend school and work on her French (in addition to the Portuguese she learned in Brazil).They learned to love different foods, appreciate different cultures, and makes friends from all walks of life.

Now, about the jumping.One of my favorite things I remember about visiting with their family was all the pictures they took.A couple of years ago, the girls decided to tour Europe for a few months.It was on this trip they decided that wherever they went they would take a picture of them jumping in front of a landmark or with a scenic background.I think their record is 7 jumping at once.(Try it sometime;it’s harder than you think).One of my favorites is when they got Barbara in the picture, having the time of her life, with the girls in her life.

I’m looking forward to them getting married and then it will be Brides and Bridesmaids jumping.I hope to be in one of their pictures someday.I hope to never lose the love of life that they have that includes being good, decent, honest human beings (and I did I say Christian?) that love to travel, love to have fun and love to jump.

By Cyndy Harrington

By Cyndy Harrington    www.dcmtravelreviews.com

 Are you familiar with Flat Stanley?  Rufus is our Flat Stanley. 

Years ago my friend Holly and her husband were stationed in Hawaii.  We were lucky enough to get to go visit them.  We’re pretty easy house guests and don’t require a tour guide very often.   While we were making our plans to tour Oahu, Holly asked if we would mind taking Flat Stanley with us and take pictures of him at the various places we visited.  Ok – I’ll bite – what or who is Flat Stanley??

She took out this little cardboard and fabric makeshift little boy about 10” tall. The cardboard is cut out in the shape of a child and the kid who makes him glues on a fabric shirt and pants and whatever else they like that symbolizes themselves.  They travel.  There is a real Flat Stanley project started by a teacher 20x years ago.  Kids make a Flat Stanley and give it to people to do travel.  You take pictures of Flat Stanley doing fun and interesting things.  You pass Flat Stanley around to people and this child gets these pictures from all around the world.  This one was for a sick child. 

This, I thought, is amazing.  It is so simple, so easy and it will touch a child that may never get well.  It is the very least I can do. 

I will never forget a story on the news a few years later.  The President was about to speak in front of a whole group of people.  They were all standing on a lawn with cameras and reporters shouting questions.  The President pointed into the crowd and said “You.  You – come here.”  And with a huge smile on this face he waved this person from the crowd to come stand next to him.  The man forged his way to the front of the crowd and shook hands.  The President took something from him and the man turned to face the crowd.  The President was holding a Flat Stanley.  He knew.  How fun.  And it made the national news.

 Yep – we had to have our very own version of Flat Stanley.  He came in the form of Rufus, our garden gnome.  Now Rufus sits in our garden with his brother Mortimer (Morty, for short).  Rufus has the primo spot in the garden but he doesn’t get out and about very often.  It seemed like a logical choice.  Doug indulged me and took a nice picture of Rufus and mounted him on cardboard.  Thus, the adventure began.

We started off small and easy – which means people weren’t usually around.  Over the next couple of years we got brave (meaning not embarrassed) so I pulled Rufus out everywhere we went.  I am always asking people to pose with him.  No one has ever refused.  I have him in the cockpit of an airplane, with the CEO of our brokerage firm, in museums and on a cruise ship.  Rufus has a “stunt double”.  We call him R2.  He’s laminated and we have pictures of him floating in front of coral reefs in the Caribbean!  He was even in the wedding party when we renewed our vows.  He poses anywhere and anytime. 

Here’s what I learned.  People are curious and they want to know about Rufus.  We share the Flat Stanley story and tell them that since our son doesn’t travel with us much anymore it’s like our surrogate kid.  That always gets a laugh.  He is a great ice breaker.  We’ve also run into a few people who do the same thing.  They have their own version of Stanley/Rufus and will find all kind of different places to take pictures.  It’s a small club so far, but we’re hoping the word spreads.

THE BIG MISS

When we were in a Chicago pizza place I had neglected to bring Rufus with us.  Four Chicago Swat Police Officers were there dining.  I had the nerve to ask them, but no Rufus.  I will persevere to insure that never happens again!

What is fun:  When we go back and look at pictures of Rufus “getting into trouble” and being places he probably shouldn’t be, were he human, we always laugh.  Life is too short not to laugh and have a little fun.  Rufus just adds that little *extra* to the adventure.