Longing to travel again, near or far….
#SundayStills
#Night
See you next week at #SundayStills Colour Challenge: Glacier Blue. Why not join in?
Sunday Stills: #Night
What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
Longing to travel again, near or far….
#SundayStills
#Night
See you next week at #SundayStills Colour Challenge: Glacier Blue. Why not join in?
Retirement Reflections 
Loved the pics – esp the one of the two of you together in Paris – and I now have Billy Joel singing in my head! x
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Hi, Leanne – My apologies for the earworm. I love that pic in Paris too! It was taken by a friend of ours who I worked with in China. We met up with her immediately after finishing our 2017 Camino. When we saw each other on the church steps of Notre Dame we realized that we were both carrying the exact same knock-off Prada bag from the Beijing Markets. 😀
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Fabulous night shots and that song is a favourite! Such a creative way of sharing your night shots with us. Go you 🙂
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Thanks, Debbie – This is my second attempt at Sunday Stills. I’m loving it so far. It’s such a great idea!!
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Nice collage of photos.
Hope its safe to travel in Australia.
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Hi, Pradeep – Thank you for dropping by. We currently have many travel and gathering restrictions in Canada. Hopefully they will lift soon here and around the world.
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Yes! I guessed Billy Joel from the words of the first song. Funnily enough my 19yo son was listening to some of his music today. Gorgeous pics!
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Hi, Miriam – Thank you so much for visiting. I hadn’t listened to Billy Joel’s song for quite a while. As soon as I began to write this post, his words came flooding in. I now can’t get that song out of my head. 😀 I’m off to your site now to find out what you’ve been up to. See you there!
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I did recognize the song, Donna. It’s always been a favorite of mine. Thanks for showing your gorgeous photographs! Happy new year to you and your family!❤️
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Thanks, Jill. I love that song too. I discover something new about it every time that I listen to it or watch the video. Sending warm wishes right back to you!
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Love your photo collage and the song, Donna. I just went through my photos taken when I was on Vancouver Island. I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to travel again.
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Hi, Natalie – It was wonderful being able to meet up with you on Vancouver Island. I know that we will all be able to travel again soon. I am greatly looking forward to that day!
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Fantastic! Happy New Year!
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HI, Susan and John. Thank you so much for dropping by. I hope that your New Year is off to a great start!
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Thanks for the photo collage and for reminders of our joys of travel. Oh yes – I’m anxious for its return. Cheers to Billy Joel for my morning.
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Hi, Frank – Great minds think alike. I was just over at your site reading your bubbles post. I’ll definitely reflect on it when I do m beach walk today. Cheers!
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Thanks for popping over. (Unintentional pun) … Bubbles was a good topic to start a new year as I returned from a blog break. Here’s how this series started this past October. https://beachwalkreflections.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/1-introducing/
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Thanks, Frank. I’ll check it out.
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Great pictures! Great memories! I love how you arrange them too. I’m lucky to get a photo on my blog without doing anything fancy.
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Thanks, Kate – I must confess that I’ve become a Canva addict. Quick, simple and fun to play with. I hope that all things move related are going well for you.
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I too really like the pic of the two of you in Paris. I can see why it’s a favourite!
What a great song choice to accompany your photos. It was interesting to read the lyrics without the distraction of the music. The poetry is rather haunting on its own, while the music is upbeat and dare I say, almost joyful. Contradictions at work!
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Hi, Joanne – Thank you for your very thoughtful and insightful comment. Definitely contradictions at work. After I wrote the post, I shared the draft with Richard. His first words were “did you write this poem?” I wish! What a guy!! 😀
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hahaha!! Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether we should say ‘awww – that’s so sweet’ or do a face-palm 😆
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Absolutely!
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Brilliant post Donna! I loved your creative approach to melding a favourite song with wonderful travel memories. If someone were to ask me what it is I miss most, it would be going to my grandson’s hockey games, going out for dinner at a RESTAURANT, and TRAVEL. It is the freedom to do these things that I treasure. I just didn’t know that before. Funnily enough I was sorting through my travel photo books a few days ago when I remembered all those things I learned through travel. Hoping we can do that again soon because my list of places to go keeps getting longer!
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Hi, Fran – It’s so wonderful to hear from you. It’s funny what we didn’t know (or realize) before the pandemic. Much of this was hidden in plain sight. What I miss the most is seeing my mom, children and grandchildren. My mom turns 90 this week. Sadly, I will not be able to be there with her in person. We had both been planning for quite some time how we would celebrate this day together. My heart hurts.
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River of Dreams – and your photo montages – show the fluidity of that River…It will still be flowing whenever we come out on the other side of this Pandemic, fear not!
😎
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Very wise words, Laura. Thank you so much for this timely reminder!
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Great nighttime pictures. I love how you put them together. The words to the song as quite serious but he sings it in such an upbeat manner. It´s one that sticks with you but in a good way. Thanks.
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Thanks, Darlene – I agree that this song definitely sticks. I hadn’t realized how different the words appear when separated from their music. The words are very thought-provoking!
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Lovely pictures and collages. I long to travel as well. Soon.
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Hi, Antoinette – Thanks so much for stopping by. Cheers to us all being able to travel again soon!
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I miss getting on a plane and going…anywhere…so much. If I took a wander through my travel pictures now I’d probably sit down and cry 🙂
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I know the feeling, Aimer. There are certain topics (and photos) that I clearly need to stay away from for the time being!
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Donna, I love what you did with the challenge. Your collages of night images show good times and wonderful places. I didn’t immediately guess Billy Joel, but the last image brought it home with those lyrics! It’s such a great song. If only we could take our lenses while we walk in our sleep at night! Thank you for showcasing your creativity, very well done!
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Ohhh, that’s an awesome idea for an upcoming #SundayStills theme: #images-from-walking-in-our-sleep! That would definitely draw upon the extremes of my creativity!
Thank you again for your leadership with this challenge. I’ve already learned a great deal by joining in!
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Hmm, I’ll have to think about that now, Donna! I’m humming In the Middle of the Night as I enjoy my breakfast, lol! Catchy little tune. And because of that I have an idea for a music theme for SS. Thanks for your inspiration!
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Hi, Terri – I’ve been so inspired by you, I’m happy to have offered some inspiration back. I look forward to discovering your #SS music theme.
In the meantime, River of Dreams should seriously come with a warning. It’s a definite earworm!
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Love the collages, but will admit they make me a bit wistful. I could go for a nice long adventure anywhere that is not where I live right now.
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I’m with you on this, Ally. My first travel would be to my mom, my children/grandchildren and my niece. Funny how a little pandemic puts our priorities in perspective!
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Great images, Donna. I spoke to my eldest sister yesterday, and she’s jonesing for travel again in the worst way. Apparently she’s not alone. 🙂 – Marty
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Hi, Marty – Thanks for dropping by and for your kind words. Your sister is definitely not alone. Deep breaths until we can all travel safely again!
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This has to be my all-time favourite Billy Joel song, and right up there as one of my all-time favourite songs period. Beautiful images to accompany the lyrics. Thank you, Donna!
Deb
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Thanks so much, Deb. I had forgotten how much I love this song until the theme #Night brought the words and music all flooding back to me. Now I seriously cannot get them out of my head! 😀
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It’s my kinda ear worm! 🥰
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Donna,
The music is stuck in my head now, and I’m loving it. I even watched the video twice to confirm that Billy’s ex, Christie was in there. Pretty sure it was her. Helen and I are hooking up the RV on Thursday for a month in Florida. Call us crazy, but I gotta get out of this Man Cave and go for one of those beach walks. Great post and pictures. Joe
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Hi, Joe – Yes, that was Christie doing the Plein Air painting in the video. She also did the painting used for the album cover on River of Dreams. I don’t blame you for wanting to get out of the cave. I can totally relate!
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Lovely collages filled with memories. I’ve never followed Billy Joel’s music (well, Uptown Girl was hard to miss) so the song was new to me.
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Hi, Anabel – I’m delighted to have been the one to introduce ‘River of Dreams’ to you. It’s one of my absolute favourite songs. I hope that your 2021 has been off to a great start!
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That is such a great song and I’m happy to now have it as an earworm. Lovely photos. The one of you and Richard in Paris really reminds me that I need to make sure I get pictures of Paul and me when we travel. Often it’s just me behind the camera… or a goofy selfie that I wouldn’t want to share. I’m so happy that you are having fun with Canva. I usually use PicMonkey for this type of thing, but I think Canva is more user-friendly.
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Hi, Janis – Yes – definitely get decent (non-selfie) shots of you and Paul when you away. In the hustle and bustle of travel, it is tempting to skip this step. Once I have returned home, I’m always glad that I put in the extra effort to get a decent photo of Richard and me together. In the case of the Paris photo, I happened to meet a friend there who was trying out her new camera. Win-win!!
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Hi Donna, I opened this email “in the middle of the night” and I wondered whether you planned posting it in the middle of the night or when you had completed the arrangement? Iconic Billy Joel. I extra love the photo of you and Richard in Paris……or is it Richard? I can only see the back of him? xx 😇❤️
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Hi, Erica – You were up late! I used to always schedule my posts to publish at midnight. In the old days when I followed my stats, this helped me to compare days more equally. I no longer look at my stats, but I do love waking up to comments from our Australian and European friends, so I give myself this luxury.
Yup, that’s definitely Richard. Honest! 😀
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Beautiful night photos! I really like the one in Paris. You certainly have travelled all over. I’ve never been out of the US. Hawaii and Puerto Rico but they are still in the US. LOL! Your photography is absolutely gorgeous. 🙂
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Hi, Lisa – Thank you for your kind words. Prior to my retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing, China for fourteen years — so travel came naturally. I am delighted being retired (especially during a pandemic) but I do long to travel again!
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I’m not retired. Lost my job last March after 11 1/2 years. I had another 9-10 years to retire. Started up my Etsy shop and I feel semi-retired because I’m working from home & set my own hours. We miss traveling too. We take day trips to Wildlife Refuges here in Florida and Georgia so at least we are getting outside somewhere. 🙂
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Hi, Lisa – Congatulations on starting up your own Etsy shop! We also have a Wildlife Refuge nearby and enjoy supporting it, as well as our local animal shelter where we volunteer (in non-pandemic times). 😀
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I love the photos, Donna. What a rich full life this is–not just in the daytime. Happy 2021 to you! Here’s hoping we’ll be traveling again before it’s over. Whatever it brings, I know you will find adventures.
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Hi, Christie – Your photos also reveal a rch, full life. We are very blessed.
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I love all the photos but am drawn to the peaceful water scenes the most. Billy Joel is awesome!
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Hi, Jacquie – Thank you for dropping by. Billy Joel is awesome. I had forgotten how much I enjoy his music. Preparing this post was a great reminder for me.
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A wonderful idea to weave a song through your photo collages here, Donna. It’s so difficult to take night shots. Well done. And, fantastic memories. Let’s hope we can all travel a bit farther than our “backyards” in 2021! 🙂
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Hi, Liesbet – ‘Traveling farther than our own backyards’ will be music to my ears, eyes and all senses!
I’m staying focussed on this hope.
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Hi Donna, Love your collages and now I am humming Billy Joel. Wishing you a better year ahead and hopefully travel will be in our future. Glad I stopped by- thanks.
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Hi, Jane – Thank you so much for stopping by. I just visited your site. Your images are truly breathtaking!
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Donna, a treat of a post – beautifully presented picture postcards of your magical travels with the text to the song set perfectly in the centre! I’m chair bopping and your post has cheered me up no end! May it be possible to visit some of these places this coming year – I have my heart set on Portugal, Spain and Canada (but probably next year for that one!) It feels good to dream a bit …
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Hi, Annika – Thank you for such a lovely comment. I’m glad that the Billy Joel song caused you to chair bop! I love your upcoming travel list — those are three of my favourite places!
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Wistful and poignant were the words that came to mind as I looked at your travel memories juxtaposed with the song lyrics.
Jude
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Thanks, Jude – I’ve always loved that Billy Joel song. After writing that post, it remained as an earworm for quite some time! 😀
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