Remembering Bentonville in Autumn: Round About Bentonville

 On the morning before we left Bentonville,

we decided to drive around the outskirts

of the town.

 We drove down one of the main streets in Bentonville

that goes by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Very soon we had driven past a new subdivision

and found ourselves on a dirt road in the country.

 I really love the fact that this town is still small

enough that it takes mere minutes to be in the countryside.

 We came upon lovely pastures edged with

lovely autumn colors.

 The small farms had a few animals, mostly

sheep & goats with one or two

donkeys to keep the other animals safe.

I don't think there is another animal, except perhaps a dog,

that can make enough racket to alert the owners to trouble.

Donkeys can also kick the stuffin's out of an intruder.

 Beautiful color along the fence lines.

 This is a lovely part of the country...

pure serenity.

I like the hills but am not in the least drawn to mountains.

I have lived long enough in Texas to have gotten 

spoiled to be in open spaces...

anything with very tall trees or mountains

causes me to feel closed in.

Welcome 2017... Peace, Love, Happiness, Joy, Prosperity and Meaning

Good Monday morning. January 2nd 2017 has arrived! Personally, 2016 was a difficult year and I'm glad to see the backside of it. My wish is for all of us to have a year(s) fill with love, happiness, peace, joy, prosperity, and meaning.

I just read an article about the need to pursue meaning over happiness in our lives. Living a life that is meaningful can also be living a happy life. I think they both go hand in hand. http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/12/in-2017-pursue-meaning-instead-of-happiness.html
(The last paragraph in the article is quite poignant.) 

We have 18 days until the President-elect is sworn in as the new POTUS. There are 19 days until the Women's March on Washington. The "Women's March on Washington" will undoubtedly include men as well. The generations who have come after me are concerned about rights for humans. They are concerned that their children grow up in a world where equality is the norm. I don't think the younger generation will sit back and let human rights slip away. If they don't now, they soon will have children of their own and I feel sure (no, I know) they will want the same advantages and respect for their daughters and sons.

The march aims to "'send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights,' according to the event's official website."
I will not be in Washington and I doubt I'll be in Austin for the march there. The March does need to occur, but I only hope it will not produce violence. I want it to successfully show women in solidarity; to show a "meaningfulness". Women of my age have gone through a lot to get where we are today and I hope the generations of women that have come behind me will not let these successes, in which they reap the benefits, fall by the wayside. I don't want younger women and men to have to fight for women's rights again!