Little River Canyon Reserve, Ft. Payne, AL

A murder is what prompted my first visit to Little River Canyon over five years ago. As with any murder, this one was horrific, and should have never happened. I know the attorney that defended the murderer. She has since been pardoned. It borne a theory called the "battered wives syndrome".

I returned to Little River Canyon last weekend. Since my first visit, I have learned that Little River Canyon is I believe, the only canyon atop a mountain in the U.S.

My loving companion, the powder blue Altima, complained as I punched the gas to climb elevations that my BMW previously had no trouble with. It was a windy Sunday afternoon, and not a cloud in the sky. I needed to clear my head. I needed to be alone afterall. Can I count how many times I wanted to pull over and pick the breathtaking flowers in bloom? Those rocks! How beautiful they would be in a rock garden. Hmmm. Well, I will just tell you that the fact you are not allowed to take away from the reserve, made me want to that much more.

Ft. Payne is quite a small town. Famous for the country musicians in the group Alabama. I have also learned that there is some unbelieveably long yard sale that stretches across several states, which happens to wind through Ft. Payne. Small towns never cease to amaze me.

But, what is most impressive is this canyon. I have visited the sight of the murder several times. I actually get out of the car, and walk to the sight, and lose my balance slightly when I peer over the side of the canyon. It is one thing to read a book about a murder, or to watch a movie about one. Morbid curiousity, but because maybe some of us don't understand the how or the why's of it. Have you ever been that angry at somebody that you have thought terrible things? Yes you have. But, this....anger....was not the issue. The issue was about one human being controlling another one.

Would you ever allow that evil side of you appear? Most of us would hurridly say, "no! never! not me! " One thing I have discovered working in the practice of law, and understanding forensics, psychology and why folks do the things they do, is that many of those who have crossed the line NEVER ever imagined for a split second prior to the act, they could or would ever do such thing. Guess what. Sometimes people are wrong about themselves and who they are or what they could or would do.

What if you were brainwashed by somebody who you believed would kill you, if you didn't do what they told you to do? These are some of the thoughts I have atop the canyon.

So, why do I go there, you ask? Well....quite a few reasons. To this day, I still don't know what I would have done had I been there at the moment of the murder. I think I know that I would have said, "Bring it on, chum. Walk the walk, buddy." I wouldn't believe the sob. I don't allow too many people to get close to me emotionally, perhaps the lack of trust in the world has prompted this. My mother calls me jaded.

The irony of it all is that the place, the REFUGE, is one of astonishing beauty. When I am up at the canyon, all I can think of is the power of God....of creation...of good and wonder in the world. I wonder why bad things happen to innocent people in the world.

I take time out to look at the tiniest bloom of the tiniest flower I can find. I jump up on the rocks, as if I were a kid again. I get dirty. I go barefoot. I smell the fresh air, look for the endangered species who live there.

Sometimes people I don't even know piss me off.

Metamorphasis

Organic and natural foods are my favorite.
Thanks to an addition of two new healthfood stores, and a Publix grocery store, that carries a wide variety of foods, both shopping for and eating food has become my new favorite past time.

I have been attending hypnotherapy sessions lately. I know. I know. Different.

For years, I have been unhappy with myself. So, I decided to make some changes.

The air I breathe smells much sweeter now. It seems as though I can't consume enough water. In three weeks, I have only consumed three sodas. The first soda I drank after hypnosis tasted disgusting, reminscient of the crap you have to drink during the glucose tolerance test to see if you have sugar diabetes.

A friend of mine e-mailed me the other day, as we had been discussing weight loss, which is one of the reasons (of many) I decided to undergo hypnotherapy. She said, funny thing was that Oprah was on her t.v. at that moment talking abougt weight, and she said, "You make the decision to lose weight".

It is a control issue. For those of you who may have read my past blogs, might sense I am hung up on having control, but all the while, my lack of control over things were the most prevelant. Like, you know what? I don't believe that life just randomly occurs. I think that you actually have more control than you give yourself credit for.

I was out of work for a few months. Still not employed permanently, but at least, have a place to go and work each day! So, when I was out of work, and had very little to do with my time, I began reading, mainly books having to do with spirituality, dreams, synchronicity.

If you are reading this blog right now, it is because you were meant to do so. What type of changes are you going to make?

My Parents: If Only they Knew....

My parents constantly humor me. The best part about it , is they don't even realize the value of the comedy they generate.

Not only are both my parents extremely intellectual, and brilliant, they are nerdy. I can't really think of a better adjective.

It is my honest belief that before one is born, your soul chooses your parents.
Mine, have filled my life with awe, disbelief, education, and most remarkably, entertainment. I am the luckiest person I know.

My parents are geeks.

They are both genius and slapsick comedians all wrapped up in one. And, even when they seem to own personalities on opposite poles, suddenly, I realize they are each sitting smack dab on the equator. Two peas if I have ever seen 'em.

I appreciate technology, and the discovery of blogging, because it has given me great insight into the mind of a rather quiet man who is my father. He often writes about things that I myself have either witnessed and/or experienced firsthand. It has only been within the past year of my life that I have come to appreciate the fact that my odd parents are also comparable to the classic slapstick comedians.

Let me give you an example. My mom, from time to time, moves furniture around in the house. Sometimes none of us notice the change. I suspect that mom moves furniture as a result of a combination of boredom, private torment and most of all victory.

I read a recent blog of my dad's that recounted him tripping over a table that mom had moved during one of her presto chango acts. After reading the blog, upon my next visit, I remarked, "Oh mom, so, you....changed the furniture around, huh?"

"Oh, you noticed?" She remarked. I am afraid that I probably wouldn't have noticed other than reading my dad's blog the day before, but like I said previously, thank goodness for technology.

Then, I started visualizing my dad flying across the living room after having tripped over the coffee table. Now, to be honest, I don't recall this happening, but knowing that he survived that incident, the visual still puts a smile on my face even now. Let's be real. If you have been married as long as they have (God knows, it has been forever).....comedy just happens!!!!

I do my best at entertaining my folks. For example a few months ago, I rushed over there to show them my new tattoo.

The only reaction I got was a peer overtop of the daily newspaper and a "huh".
"Sort of looks like a smudge." Mom said.

"Yeah," Dad joined, "of oil..."

"Want me to get something to wipe it off with?" Mom asked

They chuckled. It was sort of some type of sick revenge---the parents have won. The child's shock value...lost. Dang it, now I have to call my plastic surgeon and find out how much it will cost to remove it, and how soon he can schedule me....

Okay.