Friday, August 15, 2014

Lost in America - Finding Your Place by Alison Henderson

I've never considered myself lost. I've traveled all over the world, from Ireland to Japan, and lived in 5 U.S. cities, coast-to-coast. I've found something to like about nearly every locale (except Bizerta, Tunisia. It's a hellhole). But only in the last few years have I felt I've truly found my place. 

misty hills
About five years ago, my husband and I took our first trip together to Carmel, California. I had been once before at age seventeen when my parents brought me and my sister to the West Coast to look at colleges. My strongest memories of that visit were the "scenic" motel with no TV and the famous French restaurant where we were encouraged to eat escargot (my sister acquiesced; I refused). 

After more than twenty years in Minnesota, OG and I were looking for a place that had it all: beautiful scenery, things to do, great restaurants, and above all, mild weather. Carmel fit the bill in every way. The minute we arrived, I was smitten. With every succeeding visit, I became more and more convinced that this was where I was meant to be. Eighteen months ago, fantasy became reality when we moved here full time.
Carmel Valley


The first time we drove inland from Carmel-by-the-Sea and beheld the magic of Carmel Valley, I thought I had reached Shangri-La. A deep sense of peace overwhelmed me, and I knew exactly what the poet Robinson Jeffers meant when he described his first sight of his "inevitable place". I'd like to share a few pictures to whet your appetite for a visit to my little slice of paradise.


Point Lobos




Point Lobos















Big Sur 
View from my deck

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com 


9 comments:

Liz Flaherty said...

I love that view from your deck!

Jannine Gallant said...

I haven't been down there in a few years. A beautiful place indeed! Glad you and OG are enjoying it so much!

Alicia Dean said...

I'm sold! Breathtaking. What a lovely view and a wonderful place to write. We totally need to take a road trip. Who's with me?

Alison Henderson said...

Oh, road trip, road trip! The locals warned us that as soon as we moved here, we'd have lots of visitors. Our daughter is visiting now, and we've had company off and on all summer. We're becoming accomplished innkeepers.

Unknown said...

This is why I love California in a nutshell! Thank you for sharing! :)

Alison Henderson said...

Thanks for stopping by, Melissa. I frequently have to pinch myself to be sure all this beauty is real!

Margo Hoornstra said...

I'm in for the road trip. That view you have is phenomenal. Enjoy! OG too!

Leah St. James said...

Stop! You're making me very jealous! (I'm going to have to cover the window overlooking my tiny back yard with blown-up pictures from this blog! :-) Lovely!

Diane Burton said...

Love the pictures--esp. the one from your deck. You've found where you belong. Congrats!