SerenDIPity with Chief Joseph

SerenDIPity at the North end of Wallowa Lake. Mt Howard in the background, Chief Joseph’s Memorial to the rear of our beloved Zen Den.

My wife (Cathy) went "home" to New Zealand last summer so I took our #zenden out for a writing retreat to eastern Oregon.

I grew up in Pendleton, often frequenting the Wallowas to camp with my family and eventually backpack the mountains above here.

I drove to Wallowa Lake without a reservation, even seeing that they were booked solid online. I rolled up to the booth and said "Color me a risk-taker, but I had to take my chances on a spot for the weekend."

Pinching her chin, scowling with concentration at her monitor I watched her face light up. "Well aren't you lucky, I've got one in the B loop for tonight that just opened up, and another just across from it if you don't mind moving."

I told her that I loved rhetorical questions, and thanked her for justifying the name of our van.

She looked to read "SerenDIPity" adding "Well if that doesn't define you!.."

The frequency of these occurrences are never taken for granted, but the more we put our attention on them...

Next morning I took a day-trip to the South end of the lake to the Chief Joseph Memorial.

I prefer scenic inspiration when I write and this spot lived up to my goal.

There was barely a Soul in sight as I parked for a walk to the memorial site.

As I walked back to SerenDIPity, the thick clouds parted over Mt. Howard parted as an invitation to my most productive writing session in years!

I nod gratefully to the Spirit of Chief Joseph, but this a common tale in our adventures with this SerenDIPitous LTV!