Breathe and Believe

On February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 By AngeliaIn Angels among UsLeave a comment

Breathe and Believe.

This is a phrase I have repeated to myself many times during this pandemic. Life upended when news of the virus broke out but most especially in the travel industry where I built my career. Business travel came to a stand still. This wasn’t the first time. Change happens in travel and when it does this is what we do. Breathe in, breathe out, and breathe through, and believe with every fiber of our being that challenges do not last forever. We can use this time to strengthen and empower ourselves to endure our hurdles. We will adapt to the new way, whatever that is, and come out the other side more resilient than ever. Our ability to progress and move through difficulty is what our industry does best.

Breathe and Believe.

These words had new meaning for me as my sister, Deedy Breaux, fought Covid-19 pneumonia in the Clearlake Methodist ICU. I had to tell my self. Have faith! DO NOT GIVE UP! The longest night of my 2020 was not in March when travel went quiet. It was the cold night of November 19^th as I awaited news of my sister’s fate. I knew it was very dire; a deadly virus, a caring nurse, and a DNR directive. This hero who dedicated herself to every child she cared for in one of the largest children’s hospitals in the state of Texas lay fighting all alone. It hit me in the gut. It forced me to my knees. I knew. I just knew she could be on her last breath. I prayed she’d wore enough PPE to reduce the viral load at exposure. I hoped the experimental treatments responded in her blood. The last words I heard from her by text said “I can’t even get enough air to cough. I love you so much. Don’t stop praying for me.”

Breathe and Believe.

It’s all we have. It’s all we need.

My sister survived when others have not. Her healing a Godsend we all needed. A happy ending we had to know was possible. The travel industry will survive as well. As we pass through these days into the next part of history. Let us all remember to have faith. Walk in whatever spiritual peace you are in. Take care of your health. Find joy in all you do. Laugh every day. But most of all…

Breathe and Believe.

Recovery is here! Get your vaccine as soon as you can. Share the hope the vaccine brings to our loved ones and to all those who love to travel.

My sister’s story was published by the Texas Children’s Hospital blog. It is an incredible story of a modern-day miracle.

Read and Believe. We are almost there.

Machine generated alternative text:
My COVID-19 survival story: Why you should get the
COVID-19 vaccine
January 26, 2021

https://www.texaschildrens.org/blog/my-covid-19-survival-story-why-you-should-get-covid-19-vaccine

A City of Relics

On July 11, 2014July 11, 2014 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life, Unfading Beauty11 Comments

The Daily Post at WordPress weekly photo challenge is to find your relic. The first thing that comes to mind is the fabulous and dying (but resurrecting) Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas.

However, I have posted about it many times, mainly because, I am fascinated and (mostly) terrified of it.

So that left my other fascinating relic, which is pretty much the entire city of San Francisco. And yes, I have posted about it many times too, and that is because I have SO MANY PHOTOGRAPHS in my vault that have never seen the light of day (until now).

Some of these relics are very old, and some are not so old, and some are just icons that may become relics.

© Angelia's Photography 2013
This is the creepy relic of a prison called Alcatraz. Softened by the gentle drift of a sailboat on the bay.

This is the absolutely stunning SS Jeremiah O’Brien. One of two remaining Liberty ships from the World War II era. It is distinguished as being the last unaltered Liberty ship that makes it historically accurate. The beauty moors at Pier 45 in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

These are the Historic streetcars, trolleys, and trams of San Francisco. They call them the museums of motion and that is so true. It is a flashback in time to ride, not to mention a genius way of moving around San Francisco, while saving your legs from the enormous amount of walking. This form of transport is classic and you will feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of the memories of these cool cars.

© Angelia's Photography 2013
Lotta’s Fountain is a donation to the city by the entertainer Lotta Crabtree in 1875. The most famous thing about this relic is that it is known to be the meeting place of the survivors of the 1906 fire/earthquake every year at 5:12 on April 18th. It is said the reason they meet is because many people, after the big quake, said “Let’s meet at Lotta’s Fountain”. It was the one place still standing that everyone knew the location of.

© Angelia's Photography 2013
Chinatown. Just look at the photo and you can see the relic signs in the background. The rich culture of an area with the elaborate displays of a heritage on every corner.

© Angelia's Photography 2013
This is the sign of a once vibrant sea port, and now famous for a vibrant tourism. It signifies a maritime history that only lives at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

I hope you can agree with me that San Francisco is a city loaded with history and relics.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unexpected

On November 22, 2013 By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography, Beautiful Life39 Comments

We didn’t expect to have any time between the Coastal Redwoods and the airport drive.

We didn’t expect to see the coastline, not when the sign read Beach Closed.

We didn’t expect this winter season to give us any kind of color, especially when the gray fog dipped low over the hilltops all around us.

We didn’t expect to turn towards the arrow that read beach overlook and find any sort of view or path. We had no idea if it was even open in this quiet off-season.

No, we didn’t expect this last nugget of pure shining beauty, in the form of an empty overlook, at the top of Muir Beach.

We did not expect our last stop to be the best. Not after being over-the-top joyed at so many places in the San Francisco Bay Area – Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Par, Chinatown, Napa Valley, and the Coastal Redwood forest.

No, we did not expect this at all.

And it took our breath away.

**Click on any photo to enlarge and view as a slideshow**.

In the depth a light will grow,
A silver shine no shadows know,
Like wings unfolding in the sky,
That circle ’round a gleaming eye,
Turning darkness all away,
Even depths will know their day,
For every shadow has its end,
In light!
Life will return again!

― Robert Fanney

See other unexpected entries at The Daily Post at WordPress.com.

My iPhone Adventure in Northern Cali

On November 18, 2013November 18, 2013 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life, Life is what you make it.34 Comments

I headed to San Francisco to meet my husband on Friday. He was already there on business the last few days. I used his AA miles to get there and favors from my two big kids – Brandon and Sydney – to watch the dogs for me.

This adventure wasn’t planned too far in advance. I call it an unplanned lucky break. We lucked out his conference was in one of my favorite cities. And caught a break getting me free airfare, and of course, travel agent rates in Napa Valley.

All in all, this is one my favorite trips on record. The coast. The cool air. The beautiful wine valleys. And those gentle, giant redwoods. This is the stuff vitality is made of. I soaked it up and hope I breathed in enough of the Pacific Ocean to last until next time. There is something about it that just calms me.

I highly doubt Nothern Cali needed me, but I sure needed Northern Cali.

Since I have no idea when I will upload my 800+ photos taken with my big girl camera. I am giving you a glimpse via my iPhone photo library.

I took mobile phone pics in hopes of making up for the lag in posting the “pro” ones. But hey, I get to brag on my new iPhone 5s.

Isn’t she awesome? She did a fabulous job!

DFW airport. My journey begins.

View from the airplane. I just love clouds. My window had funky cracked lines on it. Kinda weirded me out, but made a nice sun flare in my photo.

Lunch on Pier 39. Clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl, mmmm, delicious.

The Bay Bridge at sunset. So pretty! And after this photo, it turned a brilliant pink.

Wine tasting at the hotel. Pretty sure there was only one I didn’t care for, but the rest were magnificent.

We hit the Italian chocolate factory after. It is like the Willy Wonka of San Francisco. So! Much! Chocolate! I would have gone back before we left, but we ran out of time. Not just for the chocolate, but the super cool mermaid holding a mermaid baby fountain in front of the store (a reason to go back! Ha!).

Day two in full tourist gear.

We are visiting the wharf and Pier 39 again. What can I say? Different time of day, different light. My photographer friends will understand this.

The sea lions. My favorite animals on the bay. Yes their arfing night and day is annoying, but they are so funny and cute. They remind me of my Anna dog.

Big war ship and submarine on the bay. The photo makes it small, but this beast was massive.

To die for pizza at Tony’s in North Beach. The leftovers were given to a homeless man in Chinatown. No doubt he enjoyed. Amazing food.

The Golden Gate Bridge by Big BUS tours. I liked riding the big BUS. Reminded me of Big Butt and hey, I can relate. Ha.

Day three, we arrive in beautiful Napa Valley.

I am truly amazed by this countryside. We drove up the side of a mountain for better views.

Muir Woods. We didn’t just walk the boardwalk and take a few pics. Oh no. We took to the trail and hiked steeply up, over, and around for an hour and a half. But now I can say, I lived and breathed redwoods for several hours. It was fantastic.