My Second Favorite Rest Stop

I think it a bit odd that I have favorite rest stops along the highways I traverse. These are places where I pause to gather my wits during the hours of highway driving. My favorite rest stop is along I-95 shortly after entering Florida. "Welcome to the Sunshine State" the signs proclaim! Yeah. I really could use some sunshine right now.

My second favorite rest stop is no where near the first. It is along Route 15 a few miles after entering Pennsylvania from New York. It sits high atop a ridge overlooking a valley and a dam with a lake behind it. 

During the autumn, the area is especially pretty. The colorful trees surround the scene making it seem as if a painter had stopped and decorated the region for their own use. 

The small town in the valley below the dam is quaint and bucolic. I would like to visit there some day, when I am not feeling the stress of trying to drive more miles per hour than the speed limit allows. 

I am, it seems, always hurrying from one place to another with just enough time allotted for the trip and none available for the pleasantries of visiting places along the way which are more than a just few yards off the ribbon of macadam I am traveling. 

But this rest stop is a stop I must make. It slows and grounds me and makes me pause to enjoy the beauty of the region. 

I am thankful that it is there to slow me down and to break up my trip.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Chilly Gray Autumn Days

October 23, 2013
Gray and Chilly

Yesterday was one of those chilly, gray, autumn days that just makes me want to do nothing. I felt as if I could not  just do nothing except hang around and be a couch potato.

I noted that the leaves continue to remain valiantly attached to the trees, as if they can keep the inevitable from occurring. Yet they remain and for that I am glad. During my sojourn to upstate NY this past weekend I could see areas where the leaves have already made their way to the ground and the bare trees are evidence that autumn is transitioning into winter. Ugh!

Geranium on the Back Deck

Here in Maryland, my lawn remains green and in need of mowing. It was cold and rainy; hence, the mowing never happened. 

The gray skies just want to make me nestle under a big pile of  bed covers and let the world pass by. Unfortunately, it will not. The world keeps chasing after me despite my best efforts.

At least some color remains, until tonight when the first frost of the season is due to slide into my yard and transform the vibrant plants of summer into brown memories of the season past.

Life goes on--but the memories remain and sustain. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Grapes and Wine

I am amazed how many different varieties of grapes are used to make wine.

Most people can name a few.

Just a few. The biggies are:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Chardonnay
Riesling
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Cabernet Franc


But there are so many more. Including the ones above, I  found over 20 different grapes that I currently have represented in wines in my cellar. The additional ones include:

Barbera
Chambourcin
Chancellor
De Chaunac
Muscatel
Niagara
Norton
Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
Sangiovese
Sauvignon Blanc
Shiraz/Syrah
Tempranillo
Touriga Nacional
Valdiguie
Verdejo
Viura
Zinfandel

Others that I know I have tasted or even possessed include:

Barbarossa
Carmenere
Gamay
Grenache
Lambrusco
Nebbiolo
Petit Manseng
Tannat
Traminer

I likely missed a few in the list--but the point of the exercise for me was to review the different varieties of grapes that I have sampled and to realize that each grape and the wine it produces has unique qualities which when combined with the growing region and the skill of the wine maker produce very different wines.

Wines are like people. Each person is unique despite their ancestry. And like a good wine, hopefully we get better with age.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Lowest of the Low

Of all of the horrific things I have had the unfortunate opportunity to read about in the news, a story I ran across yesterday really made my emotions boil.

It was about human trafficking in the UK (read England) but it is happening everywhere.

This one was especially stomach turning because it was about a young girl who was smuggled into Britain to have her organs harvested. Boldly enough, the article was titled: Girl smuggled into Britain to have her 'organs harvested'. I was appalled as the story unfolded about this being the first confirmed case of such an incident in the UK. But, the story reads, not likely the last nor even the only.

Another story states that there are 2.4 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. 

If we are looking for cause--here is one. I did not fully understand the magnitude of the problem. But the story I read about being trafficked for organ harvesting really caught my attention. I won't go down the mental road that the story took me--but, I will say, it really hit home with me that this stuff is real and real people are being hurt and even killed. Maybe the article resonated with me because it was about a young girl and I am the father of a daughter that I love very much.

I know we all thought that slavery and human trafficking had been abolished--but, sadly, it hasn't. Worse, it is happening in the U.S., too.

So, I'm sorry that this story isn't about the usual stuff I write about, it is not uplifting nor does it have a happy ending, but I urge you to read the two articles I linked and be disgusted enough to take action.

While we are struggling with government shutdowns and political infighting, millions of people worldwide are enslaved and dying. I offer this website from the FBI as a place for more information: FBI--Human Trafficking. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - October 21, 2013

1. The World Series starts this week. Baseball will be drawing to a close with the end of the month.

2. By not traveling on a holiday weekend, I found open highways, light traffic, and record setting travel times. WooHoo! 

3. When you mow the lawns for the last time of the year, how do you know it is the last time?

4. It was 39 degrees this morning when I woke up here in Maryland. Who forgot to pay the heating bill?

5. I liked a statement that I heard about running a marathon: There is no way I'm going to run that far unless I'm being chased by a clown with a knife and there are margaritas at the finish line.

6. Life is made exciting by the pursuit of something that I don't have, but want--especially if I have to work hard for it.

7. Sometimes wanting is far better than having.

8. It is hard to say good-bye, especially when the parting was unexpected.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cold Autumn Morning and The World Series

Autumn Tree with Obligatory
 Upstate NY Deer Target

It was 43 degrees outside as I woke this morning to greet another day. 

I was afraid there might be frost on the leaves, but at least that didn't happen. The day dawned bright, clear and crisp--but no frost. Yet!

The colors of the leaves on the trees continue to deepen and the excitement of the continuing foray into autumn continues. Soon hunting season will be upon the region and the thinning of the herd will begin.

Sunday's can be exciting with all of their promise and the expectation of adventure. My day will find me on the ribbon of highway homeward bound to prepare for another week of high activity.

Turning to sports--

Baseball is poised to begin its final chapter of the year. 

I was a bit disappointed that the World Series is going to be between the St Louis Cardinals (defending their crown) and the Boston Red Sox. While the match-up seems to be a no brainer, the teams tied for the best record in baseball during the regular season,  I would have hoped for almost any other two teams in the playoffs--like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers, for example.

Entry way to Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL

But I will watch the series because it is the final chapter of a baseball season that began eight months ago with pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. The season ends as the Spring Training 2014 schedules are being published and I am planning my trip to Sarasota to enjoy time with the Orioles. It is the circle of baseball, I guess.

I never thought about it, but baseball spans all four seasons. Spring Training begins during the last weeks of Winter and continues through Spring and Summer and well into the first half of Autumn. Until Spring Training begins,  I will be watching Penguins hockey and suffering through what is at this juncture a mediocre Ravens season while waiting for the return of the warmth and the sun. 

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Finding Autumn in the Finger Lakes

On NY 414 Heading to Watkins Glen

It took a five hour drive--but I finally found autumn yesterday. On the drive to Ithaca autumn appeared in the hills, known by some as mountains. 

The trees have seemingly found their color as the season progresses. I hope these colors soon find their way to Maryland.

Looking on Seneca Lake from a Winery

The day was perfect. The trip from Maryland to upstate NY was uneventful and punctuated with stops at four new Seneca Lake East Shore wineries. I actually found some NY State red (yup RED) wines worth buying. I'm going to disguise them as being from Sonoma to get people to try them. They were from Silver Springs Winery,  a great new find on the eastern side of Seneca Lake. The Bold Merlot was especially stunning in its depth of color and rich flavor.  It had a solid nose of dark fruit. And since this was the first winery I visited--I'm pretty sure of my assessment.

It was good to enjoy the colors of autumn, but even in the Finger Lakes the colors are muted in response, I believe, to the weather conditions which have been experienced across the region since autumn began. 

I wonder what today will bring?

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY

Gray Skies but Bright Heart

Dark Skies over the Pool House

Although the skies were gray yesterday and threatened rain, I was really excited that our government lurched forward--even if only by three months.

Perhaps there is yet hope!

In celebration, I drove with the top down on Cat to enjoy the warm day despite the impending threat of rain which never fully materialized except for some widely scattered sprinkles.

Cold weather is on the way though.

I had the oil changed in the truck and equipped it with new windshield wipers for the coming winter season. I will hate to back Cat into the garage one day soon knowing that the likelihood of driving it again before springtime arrives is relatively remote. 

Soon, I will be looking for a coat before leaving the house. That will be sad. 

But, as each day passes pool opening day in the spring draws one day closer.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Call to Action -- A Follow-up

Yesterday, following my own advice, I wrote two senators, two members of the House of Representatives, and the President. I received only one email response--from my local representative, so far.

Am I discouraged by the limited response? 

Nope! They were all pretty busy yesterday finally accomplishing their constitutionally appointed tasks. Traffic, unfortunately, should be back to normal for the morning commute.

Today is a new day and it, too, is a day needing renewed prayer and so I will again pray for our leaders.  Even though they finally achieved an agreement to reopen our government--the need remains great. A one time prayer push will not be sufficient. The trials and the tribulations of the day are great.

I urge everyone to continue to be in prayer over this crisis which is not ended, but only delayed until January and February.

I am not going to overload my representatives' email accounts today--but I will continue to pray for them and this country--every day. Maybe next week I will send them another word of encouragement.

I heard the words of a great hymn God Bless America as I was writing this. 

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free. 

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: 

God bless america, land that I love, 

Stand beside her and guide her 

Through the night with a light from above. 

From the mountains, to the prairies, 

To the oceans white with foam, 

God bless america, 

My home sweet home. 

-- irving berlin

When it is the darkest, the arrival of the dawn is most greatly anticipated and appreciated.

We need God's blessing upon the land, this nation, our society, our leaders, and each of us who calls this land our home.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Call to Action

In reflecting upon the fall of the Roman Empire and the numerous empires and countries which have risen and fallen during the history of the human race, like maybe the British Empire, I am stuck by the similarities.

Among them greed, corruption, and selfishness.

Sadly, I worry that we, the greatest force for democracy that the world has ever witnessed, are experiencing the same thing. We have become besieged with special interest groups who define their entire existence upon one limited issue. Their unwillingness to compromise for the greater good of the country is carving a path to destruction and clouding the true mission and purpose for our nation and our society.

It is time for "We the People" to take action! We must let our representatives and leaders know that we are here, we are watching, and that we demand action!

Here is what I propose: Pray.

Yup. Pray. 

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul instructs: First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. -- NET Bible

Don't know what to pray? 

Try this:

Father in Heaven, I bring before you the leaders of our nation. We are facing troubling and difficult times and I ask You to provide our leaders with the wisdom and understanding they need to lead our nation. Help them to seek your will. Guide them and us through these difficult and stressful times and help this country fulfill the mission that you have laid our for us in this world. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen

Note: instead of just saying "our leaders" you may want to substitute the names of the leaders: President Obama, Speaker Boehner, and your senators and representatives (in my case Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin, John Sarbanes)

Don't stop there!

Now write an email (it's faster) to each of the members of Congress and the Executive Branch that you prayed for. Use their web sites because they are all under limited staffing during the shutdown. You can find a listing of their names and addresses at the Contacting Congress website. Let them know that you prayed for them and that you are urging them to seek God's will for this great nation during this difficult time. 

Here is what I wrote in my email though their websites:

I prayed for you this morning. May you seek and find God's will for this nation during these troubling times.

Try it!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD