Zest & Aplomb

Lifestyle

This Summer Was For Reading!

It has been a busy summer, starting in May with travels to Spain and Japan. Then came the arrival of two grand babies, a visit to see my Mom in Arizona, and an extended stay in Lake Tahoe. All of this travel has kept me moving more this summer than in the last five combined, which has facilitated some excellent reading!

I’m ready to spend some time at home, start fall planting, get ready for the holidays, and enjoy some cooler temps.

I’ve already got my fall reading lineup ready to go, but I want to share what I’ve read and listened to before moving on.

Here are my reviews:

Since I’m new to audiobooks, I will separate the two into separate categories. Mainly because the experience can be so different depending on the audiobook narrators.

October 2, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Relationships

Saying Good-Bye To Theresa Yuan

By Cheryl Ryan

I started seeing posts last week on my Theresa Yuan story. Her friends were writing that she passed away on July 13, 2023, at the age of 89. I’m sad that I won’t see her on the street anymore but so grateful that she allowed me, a stranger riding by on my bike, to interview her.

A few days after seeing the posts, I ran into her son at her home as he was going through her belongings. He said that she didn’t want any memorial or obituary. I told him that people were writing in about her and I asked if I could share her passing so that those that wanted to could share here.

He said, “Of course.” So if you’d like to share about her, please go to her post at the link above and share your memories with her friends and family. The picture I’m posting is the last photo I took of her while she was out for her daily rain-or-shine walk in March.

Her son mentioned that she was a bit of a celebrity around here. And it’s true. Watching her walk with such confidence and determination is what drew me to her and made me stop, and I’m so glad that I did.

July 23, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

Next Stop: Madrid To Tokyo

By Cheryl Ryan

I flew directly from Madrid – following my Camino de Santiago hike – to Tokyo. It was a culture shock. Coming from Spain with ancient Roman ruins, expansive fields of grain and plenty of cheese and wine to a pristine, modern city of high rises, airport monorails, sushi bars and rice fields took a minute to adapt to.

The first thing I noticed was how clean and orderly everything was. Not a piece of garbage to be found. Anywhere. And there aren’t even trash cans. All citizens manage their own garbage and collectively agree to a social contract of keeping the country clean for everyone. People don’t carry food around. They eat it where they buy it.

July 21, 2023 by zestandplomb

Travel

Crushed It! Camino Francis: Stage 1

By Cheryl Ryan

I did it. I finished! It exceeded my expectations – it was, honestly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was hard at times (ok, I wasn’t always crushing it but it sounded good in the title) and strikingly beautiful. I’m feeling especially grateful that I overcame the drumbeat of naysaying voices that took up residence in my head and decided to go anyway.

We went with The Natural Adventure Stage 1 tour. It’s a self-directed tour, meaning that you follow the well-marked path without a guide and when in doubt, ask other hikers. We went off path a couple of times while getting in and out of cities, but were always directed back to the appropriate path, usually by well-meaning Spaniards (often when we didn’t even know we’d gone off trail).

They count your arrival and departure dates as part of the trek, but we were only walking for 7 days. Our estimated mileage came in at about 100 miles. You should add mileage, though, for coming into towns, finding your accommodations, looking for stores or bathrooms, and site seeing in the evening.

June 30, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

The Camino Frances: Stage 1

By Cheryl Ryan

I’m getting ready to hike the Camino Francis: Stage 1, a portion of the popular Camino de Santiago. A friend of mine, an organizer extraordinaire, has planned a trip for seven of us to meet up this May. We’re all coming via different routes to start our journey in St. Jean Pied de Port.

The Camino Francis de Santiago is walked by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims (which is what they call us walkers) each year. Our portion starts in St. Jean Pied de Port and continues for approximately eighty-eight miles, ending in Logrono, Spain. People doing the entire route will walk 490 miles ending in Santiago de Compostela.

A Camino is simply a path or route. There are 281 known Caminos spread across 29 countries. The route we have chosen will take nine days. We’re using The Natural Adventure tour group, but many options exist. They’ve arranged all of our accommodations and will transport our luggage from one medieval town to another as we trek through Spain’s Basque country.

April 27, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Relationships

When Old Friends Call – Answer

By Cheryl Ryan

Two old friends reached out in January. Both were unexpected, and both were inspired by a card. My very first roommate called on a recent Saturday morning. I met her while working at Bonanza Sirloin Pit on my falsified work permit – I wasn’t sixteen yet. She was the day manager, a whopping three years older than me. Our dress code was a black (ridiculously short) skirt, an orange plaid peasant blouse and black felt cowboy hat. It was my first and only waitressing job and it still looms large as my most memorable employment experience.

Probably because it was my first taste of independence and I interviewed and got the job myself. I felt very grown up. Eventually, I moved out with two of the girls I worked with. I went on to be a bridesmaid at their weddings, and as we moved apart we continued to share our growing families through holiday cards.

Written on the back of one of the last cards I’d sent, Linda, I included my cell number with a note to call sometime. This was probably ten years ago. Recently retired, she got organized at home, found my card, and took me up on my offer. I didn’t pick up. I thought it was junk. Luckily she left a message, and I called back the next day.

March 10, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

When Meeting A Stranger Is The Best…

By Cheryl Ryan

Lately, when traveling, I download a podcast or two, bring some writing to edit, and make sure my Kindle is charged. The goal being to mostly avoid people while I get to where I really want to be. Let’s face it present-day air travel isn’t what it used to be.

That was my intention as I boarded a bus in rural Arizona for a 2-plus hour ride to the airport, which would still leave four hours before my scheduled flight’s departure. At least the bus was clean, and most of the people boarding were happy since they were picked up from Sedona, Arizona, a popular vacation spot. There was some seat reshuffling with each stop, and once everyone was boarded, my final seat companion settled in.

I characteristically avoided her at first but decided I needed to engage a little so that the rest of the ride wouldn’t feel so awkward. I started making small talk. What brought you here? Where are you headed?

February 11, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

“All Hail” The Library: Much More Than Books

By Cheryl Ryan

I really love libraries. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until they reopened our local branch after being closed for two years. Just walking in feels like home.

I don’t remember going as a very young child. But my memories of the bookmobile (not quite a library but close) are vivid as an elementary school student. I remember when it pulled onto our street and I waited in line to climb the stairs of the retrofitted bus. And then it was my turn to select books from the shelves. I also loved taking my kids to story time and watching as they carefully selected the books they would borrow for the week.

I didn’t enjoy them nearly much as a teenager or while in college. There was always someone shushing me just when I had something extraordinary to tell my friends. And during college, it was usually under duress since I’d procrastinated far too long and had to spend countless hours trying to finish a huge paper making it look like I’d been working on it for months.

September 30, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

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