Phases and Stages

Startled awake this dawn by the words, "phases and stages"from the title of an old country song. Thinking about a concept that came to mind when I went to China a few years ago. The beginning of a trip extends back to at least to the first moment I conceive of a trip and lasts as long as I have memories of the trip and share them. The trip is defined and redefined in that long stretch of time. My current trip has been a roller coaster of stop and go, up and down in the past month. Problems of passports and health, a comlete surrender to the fact that I may not be able to go and then a reprieve at the last moment. So tomorrow, God willing, my youngest daughter and I will board the plane. It is going to be a much different trip than I visualized when I first started the planning. But, I am open to the experience and the lessons.