Finally I reached Arizona-after 2 long weeks in California

29Sep2007 Filed under: Uncategorized Author: admin

So it occurred to me today that I ask people to be honest, with themselves and with me. Asking people to define peace is personal. I have the honor of witnessing people open up and share a moment with me. Likewise, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m drained. I rush everywhere! Today I reminded myself to lay in bed for 15 minutes, take 5 minutes to do my meditation and then to groom. Man, I haven’t even shaved my legs in two months. And that might not matter to some people. I never used to shave my legs, but I like too-I like to show off the tatts and muscles-and that’s ok. Busy women just don’t have time for this stuff.

Yesterday was a beautiful ride, clocking in at 280 miles, through VERY windy desert terrain. And honestly, I didn’t want to write a blog, although I did upload and label pictures. Instead, my friend was online and we watched some youtube videos and laughed-many many states apart but still sharing a moment. Here are the links to a couple of the videos that we watched (profanity warning):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PZGw8zqGRQc

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mqs9ap3iV-4&mode=related&search=

Anyhow, it was the FIRST time this whole trip that I didn’t ride hard, unpack my stuff and jump to write. I caught myself thinking back a lot yesterday, to all the states I visited 2 months ago and the people I met. Two weeks from today, three months from the start, I will pull into Crawford, TX. Daphne and her daughter Courtney will meet me there. In fact, they are driving from Maine to support P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER -which astonishes me. I’m totally moved that someone I met through this journey is just as inspired as myself-and willing to go the distance. They will drop me off in VA-but I still have to figure out how to get Audre home. I think a trailer will be to expensive to tow her.

I have lots of things to tell you about and plan to catch up on the blog entries, over the next couple of days. I also need to contact some of those Peace making organizations and see if anyone wants to rally with me in Crawford. Any suggestions on that? My good friend Katie is in Flagstaff, AZ, where I’m headed in just a minute. I plan to stay there until Tuesday. Funny how my perspective has changed this trip- Flagstaff is only 155 miles down the road and that seems like cake to me. I keep catching myself saying “Oh, only 2,500 miles left.” Only???!!!!

Right now, I need to stay in the moment, I still have many states to experience and many strangers to meet. So, thats where I am now-in the moment-being honest that it’s hard to stay grounded. Hope you all have a good weekend!

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One Response to “Finally I reached Arizona-after 2 long weeks in California”

daphne c.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:04 pm

Home Stretch. This project has been an amazing journey. It would have been hard to NOT get involved. Thanks for taking me along.

Alix, I remember chatting with you in June, about a month before you left and saying I’d like to go along, but I had this and that and a bunch of reasons I couldn’t go on the road for two months. And those reasons turned into reasons I couldn’t ride even for a couple of states. And then I began to realize that *I* was a classic example of how Americans, despite our rage against this war machine, REMAIN COMPLETELY STILL…We go about our day, afraid to shake up our 9-5 schedule, or call in sick to go to a protest, or even to take care of our sick parent or child. We live in fear everyday-fear of orange alert, layoffs, fear of breastmilk even.

That day I decided to start turning my thinking around: to find ways I COULD come meet you, and reasons I SHOULD take time to work for Peace. I decided to stop letting the urgent get in the way of the important. Your determination drove my determination. I flew out to Seattle in August and in the name of Peace and out of a very pure love for everything about this project, I saw three states and spoke about peace to many many people in the span of those 2 days.

And I had spoken to many before I left, and many since I’ve returned.

I am looking forward to gathering people together for the finish line in Texas, and I’m anxious have my daughter join me in the journey (although she’s been a little peace soldier all along, trying to figure it out in her own 8-year old way) In eleven days, exactly 4 months (to the day)since I first heard of your plan, we will fly from Maine to Virginia and drive to Texas in the name of Peace. Everyday and All along the way, I don’t and won’t stop talking about this project.

Each person who reads this, each person you speak to, those are seeds you plant. We all have the ability to inspire others to JUST THINK ABOUT PEACE. What does it MEAN, what does it LOOK like? Ask important questions…get to know each other. If nothing else ever comes from those conversations, something is accomplished when time is spent in Peace between two people.

“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes from within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Sacred, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us. This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this. The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all you should understand that there can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which is within the souls of [people]. - Black Elk

See you in 13 days!! In Peace and with pure Gratitude, Daphne

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WALL OF BELIEFS

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Even during the wrath of the myraid cosmic winds, the attacks by earthly being's desires, or the depths of eminant death and despair, one mind stays perfectly still and bright, this is everlasting peace.
mindtraining
Peace is being left blissfully alone.
Nayagan
Peace
"Just What It Is"
Silence,Serenity,Stillness
of Hate
Eager to Love
Accept & Relate
to Everyone
without Debate
Regardless of Race
Religion & Regulation
Peace is the Ultimate
Form of Elation!
Tammy Tuthill
Personal peace is feeling content and happy in the moment. More difficult to obtain is the larger peace, in which everyone is able to feel this way.
Jeremy
Virginia welcomes you and salutes you. How can we get Alix nominated as ABC News 'Person of the Week' ?
Andy
Peace is knowing you finished this inspiring journey safely!
John A.
Peace is the sun rising on the day I see you again.
Daphne
Peace is being here now, paying attention, and knowing that every move, every thought, feeling, action can be a choice toward peace. At the funeral this morning for my neighbor's mom, I saw peace in the loving embraces and tears that brought us all together to celebrate the life of Dorothy. She inspired everyone with her peace and love. Just days before she died, she had a dream and woke to say, over and over, "It's so beautiful! It's so beautiful!"

Thanks, Alix, for asking us to write what is peace. Thanks for riding your scooter all around the country, and for being here now. Beautiful!
Liz Stanley
Peace: absence of violent and hateful conflict. Abundance of love, compassion, and compromise.
VaVaVroom Denise
Peace to me is, simply, empowerment to follow what is in your heart, given by and shared with those around you. It requires mutual trust and respect and selflessness to cultivate and blossom.

Peace is hard because fully practicing it leaves one vulnerable, and that makes many of us feel uncomforatable. I think that explains a lot of the non-peaceful actions committed in our world. Those who work on behalf of peace rarely achieve what is commonly defined as riches and rewards but, I suspect, earn something far more valuable.

Peace is not just an act or a state of being but it is also an embodiment. Peace is you, Alix. Thank you for following your heart and sharing it with all of us.
Rod Bosco
Awareness and Intent.
It seems so easy, but so sloppy and graceless, to live without these things and therefore they become, for me, keys to peace.

It is with these things in mind (of mind) that Alix has found her peace and the strength to keep it.

I support her. I support you. You are peace.
Dana J
Peace is opening your mind and heart to change!
Alix, You must realize that you have signified change in people across the nation,...we have kept you in our thoughts and hopefully if you are ever in our neighborhood you'll stop by....you have not only opened our mind by our heart to peace for everyone. Keep it up and hopefully it ripply in the the individuals thoughts across the nation.
Faith Simonelli
FAITH SIMONELLI
I have many long and short definitions for peace. Today, it is each moment that I am so still inside that everything outside of me is a beautiful expression of that which I also am, no matter what. Loving the expression of needs met and unmet and awaiting spirit's prompting as to what my response in each moment shall be.
Karen Johnson
Understanding that amongst the gays, blacks, whites, jews, Muslems, Christians, and other "dividers" in our world are just a bunch of souls doing the best they can to get through another day. It's amazing how many good people you can meet when you make an effort to assist them in that goal instead of being an obstacle.

I would also say that the minorities of this world, and we are all a minority in some way or form, need to resist the urge to "get back" at the majorities that have suppressed for so long. It disappoints me to say this is just as much of a problem as discrimination from the majority.
Eric
Definition of peace: Actively seeking out the good in each and every person, regardless of their traits and habits you may not understand. I have always felt that if every person thought for THEMSELVES instead of letting a govt, media outlet, religion, or other person or persons think for them, the world would be a better place.

I learned this first hand. My parents were of the type that if you made less money, you were lazy and if you made more, you were somehow crooked or greedy. If you drove a different type of car than my parents you might be criticized. You can only imagine what my folks think about different races and homosexuality.

Please understand the hurdle of NOT hating folks like this. I love my parents and fully understand that they are just working with the knowledge they were provided, never having the opportunity to leave the small town and predetermined thoughts that go with the long established community. The best we can do is try to put "dents" in their armor of status quo. My father has met minority friends of mine and has shook the hand of gay men.

I have no agenda towards this beyond meeting and enjoying as many souls in this world as I can before I check out. Life is too short to hate someone because they might have darker or lighter skin, different musical tastes, homosexuality, etc. I might draw the line at being a Dallas Cowboys fan (JUST KIDDING!!!)
Eric