Destined for Mt. Shasta

- home to the Wintu, Achomawi, Atsugewi, and Modoc tribes

It was an early start, Friday, July 25. I was so grateful Tom could take me to the airport (Hollywood Burbank). I remember thinking it was a little over the top requesting that passengers arrive 2 hours before their departure, but once there, I could understand why as security was strict! Reminder to self, wear socks and shoes on my return as bare feet when being screened and many other feet have been, felt icky.

Seated in the lounge I was content to watch and observe. One woman sat next to me briefly before kindly offering to take my banana skin to the bin before another woman sat down and we dived into a conversation. When San Francisco was called for boarding I didn’t pay too much attention. Only when the lounge had emptied did my new friend and I wonder if we were meant to be on that flight.

We were!

So while we were going to Redding, the flight would continue to San Francisco - talk about confusing. Anyway, to cut a long story short, when we landed my new friend and the man she was dating gave me a lift and we shared further conversation over a coffee at Theory Coffee Roasters.

When they headed home, I walked a block to the bus station. Had I known there was no lounge to sit in I would have stayed longer at the cafe. Despite the clean facade, the bus depot toilets were locked and staff at the service desk sat behind a thick protective window - indicative of the environment. All would begin to dissipate when the bus finally arrived, some 35 minutes late. Even then, two fellows tried to board with their tickets - one had missed it by 24 hours and the other would leave at midnight. Oh dear. Fortunately, the bus driver was kind enough to allow the one who’d missed it to board.

Thankfully, my seat allocation was on the right side of the bus because that had the best views. At this bridge, I began to feel my heart open to the many mountain peaks that would lead to my destination.

My first glimpse of Mt. Shasta was so surreal… goosebumps… truth tingles… a smile formed and widened like a child in wondrous rapture. While my mind questioned, ‘It’s just a mountain, like any other. What’s the attraction?’

Indeed… was it purely the mind acknowledging a bucket list dream? Or did it entail further meaning?

There was a feeling… a quickening… of lightness, the effervescence from an innocent child at play, who has come to explore and meet more of herself.

Every chance I get, I happy-snap through the bus window…

My hosts whom I will house and pet sit for, kindly pick me up from the bus stop in Mt. Shasta City and we drive 4 miles out of town to their acreage property. I am made to feel at home in every conceivable way and feel so grateful for their generosity. While initially intimated by their two large dogs - a German Shepherd and a Golden Labrador X Pyrenees Retriever - they soon settle once the owners leave the following morning for their family time away.

The view from their back patio reflects to me a mountainous strength, where the cloud above its peak puffs like a dragon.

*Please be still and gently hold the Tehama Wildlife area in your loving focus - within 3 days more than 360,000 acres have burned. As I type this post smoke floats North, obscuring the surrounding pines in Siskiyou Country, including Mt. Shasta. Thank you. 🙏

I look forward to sharing more with you soon… time to walk and feed the dogs!

Love’s Harmony,

Leanda Michelle ✍️