Last night, after listening to the Surgeon General telling us to brace for what will possibly be “one of the worst weeks of our lives,” we decided to leave it all for a while and follow Christopher Robin through a magical door at the base of a tree into the land of Poo, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, Eeyore and friends. No one in the Hundred Acre Wood has ever heard the word “coronavirus.” Thanks to Disney and Netflix, for a blessed two hours, we accompanied a grownup Christopher as he found his way back from stress, worry and complication to innocence and a clear seeing of what really matters. We laughed, chuckled, smiled, teared up and felt our own stress and worry melt away.

A couple of times in recent days, I have had a feeling that I remember having when someone dear to me passed away.  There was a sensation of seeing life around me go on merrily – people laughing, a gorgeous sunset, lighthearted music playing. I remember looking around, stunned – how could it all still be happening like this when I feel like the world has just been flattened, smashed.

Yesterday, my husband and I walked in the sunshine, breathing deeply. My eyes wanted to grow wider so I could take in a whole grove of trees filled with blossoms. I wished I could angle my ears like a cat to catch every note of the songbirds celebrating spring. I was filled with awe at the marvels of Nature.

Hello, my friends –

This blog has been quiet a long time. But the first day of spring seems the perfect time to resurrect it. As our ability to be in physical proximity with each other decreases, the value of our online connections increase.  This blog, called “Surrendering to Serendipity,” was originally created to allow us to travel together on the 90-day roadtrip following the Mississippi River. It was glorious to have you all traveling vicariously with me then – and also to have you with me on the two-year book tour of Roadtrip with a Raindrop.

Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River is a winner!  Roadtrip…won Bronze in the Travel category of Foreword Review’s “Book of the Year” INDIEFAB competition! It was announced last night onstage at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and across social media. I am humbled and honored be included among this talented and accomplished group of authors (other winners include the Dalai Lama!) .

Thank you, my friends, for being part of this raindrop adventure. Some of you have followed this blog from its very first post! This is your adventure and your honor as well!