According to the current on-line dictionary the definition of puddle jumping is: the action of flying an airplane for only short distances or making many stops. Now I don't fly an airplane, at least not yet ( in fact probably never since I don't like flying...but you never know), so what in the name of Paul Bunyon am I talking about it?
Actually, when talking about puddle jumping, the second half of that definition, making many stops, is the focus. At tea with a friend the other day we were discussing dreams, plans, the usual. The more we talked the realization that she wanted everything to be perfect before she jumped in materialized. Also she hoped I would convince her it was perfect, so she could go ahead. In contrast, jumping in and figuring out how to make it work is a better scenario for myself. Because of that philosophy, life has been so much fun and I have learned so much, made so many friends, and rediscovered my love of history.
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| Colorado Blue Columbine, first written of in the journal of Edwin James, botanist on the Long Expedition in 1820 |
A few years ago I mentioned to a producer friend I would like to do a one woman show. After about a month she told me she had a venue and a time, and asked "was I going to do it?" What do you think? Six weeks later with a bit of research the show had a great weekend run. That led to researching the Pikes Peak Region and onto storytelling gigs. It led to Helen (Hunt) Jackson and Katharine Lee Bates, who have led me a merry chase that's been a great joy along with a nice bit of payment. (On Saturday, Sept 6, I sang 'America the Beautiful' as KLB for the rededication of the Municipal Building built in 1904)
You see where this is going? When asked to submit a proposal for the Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, the story of Karol W. Smith was published along with the talk on cable. Of course, the next year the story of the Cripple Creek volcano had to be told. That area around Cripple Creek/Victor is the setting for more than one story in the works. The town of Florissant just north of those towns, joined the others to play a part in the story "Home For His Heart" published by Prairie Rose Publications.
As a child, how many have been told they couldn't do that, follow your dream but have something to fall back on. Don't jump in the puddles, you'll get wet. Sorry, life's too short, getting wet is fun, and oh the joy of jumping in and learning so many things that lead to other things. What a joy! So the next time someone says, "can you do..." guess what the answer could be. In the meantime 'Dirty Woman', her sawmill and ranch are calling for more research. Andrew needs to be saved, a former Pinkerton wants to fall in love and the wife of a murderer wants to tell her story. The people in my head are clamoring to get out, so until next time, enjoy those puddles.
For fun I leave you with some quotes:
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." Lao Tzu
"Only those who will risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
"It is never to late to be what you might have been." George Eliot
and lastly from one of my favorites:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream,Discover." Mark Twain
To follow my haiku: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
“Film and Photography on the Front Range” (Regional History Series): Colorado Springs, CO. Pikes Peak Library District 2012
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Post and photos copyright by Doris McCraw
