Prisoner of Hopes

Author: Roxanna Mechem

  • Summer Struggles

    Summer Struggles

    I have a love/hate relationship with my yard. It is spacious with wonderful trees. I have small garden spaces and patios. I even have a large freestanding octagonal swing structure surrounding a fire pit. We also have delightful wildlife that, four months out of the year, turn into creatures of mass destruction. I love to…

  • You Called

    You Called

    Last night, just as I was getting ready for bed, you called. I was tired and I had to get up really early this morning. I didn’t mention any of that, because you called. Since you have grown and flown, these moments of insight into your life are rarified. Yes, I could call you and…

  • Home For Christmas

    Home For Christmas

    As long as I can remember, in the few days before Christmas I am consumed by an unbearable desire to have everyone I love under one roof as soon as possible. I know that the family togetherness is imminent. But can’t come fast enough. I love the rituals of Christmas. I love the trees and…

  • There is not a “right way” to camp

    There is not a “right way” to camp

    There is no right way to enjoy the outdoors. I could walk forever with a pack on my back listening to the sounds of wildlife. It is nice to have our RV parked nearby to provide a dry place to sleep and storage for clothes and food. Backpacking, tent camping, rv life, a cabin or…

  • Serenity

    Serenity

    Up at dawn, I sip my coffee in solitude and say a prayer of gratitude. It is peaceful. The birds are making the small chirping sounds that accompany a new day. My family thinks I’m a little crazy for getting up with the sun each day. But to me, it is serene. A time when…

  • Making Do

    Making Do

    There is a game I play on a regular basis. Perhaps challenge is the better word. I look in the pantry and refrigerator to figure out how random and abandoned items can be turned into a meal. This purging of the remnants is cathartic. This Easter we took our first camping trip of the season.…

  • In Search of the Order of Christ: Travel Goals Portugal

    In Search of the Order of Christ: Travel Goals Portugal

    Templar knights…the very words evoke images of adventure and piety. The warrior priests who vow to take back and defend the holy land against the infidels are the stuff of legends. With my head full of images from books and film, we took the train to Tomar. Tomar was a city built as a Templar…

  • Every Day Is A Good Day, Some Are Just Better Than Others: Travel Goals Portugal

    Every Day Is A Good Day, Some Are Just Better Than Others: Travel Goals Portugal

    Not every travel experience can be exceptional. In fact, if you are really open to new experiences you are bound to have some that are not to your liking. But as my friend Tom says, “every day is a good day, some are just better than others”. This expression sums up my travel philosophy. Try…

  • Class: Travel Goals Portugal

    Class: Travel Goals Portugal

    The Palacio Fronteira was an interesting stop on a lazy day. We are not usually guided tour fans. (We prefer a self paced visit.) So with some hesitation, we joined the guided group and entered the house of a man who was raised to nobility due his service to the king on the battlefield. The…

  • Down by the Riverside: Travel Goals Portugal

    Down by the Riverside: Travel Goals Portugal

    In the evening, the air is different. A breeze moves in and the sailboats head upriver. In the approaching sunset, a faint glow emanates from behind the clouds. The light shifts subtly, and a chill descends on the riverside. It is calm by the river. People laugh and talk. Lovers hold hands as they watch…