West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Are You Having Fun Yet?

The Northwest is one of America’s famous playgrounds. Washington and Oregon are at the top of many travelers’ “to see” lists. The freeways and waterways have become more crowded each year as vacationers flock to the mountains, San Juan Islands and nearby Canadian retreats for fun and peace of mind. Biking, water sports, ferry rides and hiking are a few of the favorite pastimes to be enjoyed in some of the most scenic country of the world. Now as an island resident, our little place on earth with 500 people swells to 1200, as families seek the pleasures that await in the northern section of the United States. I was reminded of some our family FUN this weekend as our son and grandsons returned from a week’s road trip to the seashore then back to Hood River for a train trip and back to Mt. St. Helen’s visitor’s view of the active volcano. My son’s experiences with his little boys took me back in time (which I will save for another day to tell and just share some of my past holiday FUN with you).

My husband and I spent many years in the Northwest as his company put in most of the gas lines and pumping stations from Oregon to Washington. I had taught art for local colleges in Arizona while our children were in high school. The year our son left home for college, I began traveling with my spouse. With some effort I have forgotten the Chevy Chase version of my life on the road, and now remember just the “fun stuff.” What good does it do to dwell on the time it snowed five feet in the driveway of our company-leased vacation house on the Deschutes River with no insulation in the house event, where we froze to death unless we huddled together in the bathroom for warmth, and the only thing on the TV was Mr. Green Jeans, and the raccoons stole our milk in the back porch snow drift ice box, because the refrigerator wouldn’t work and we never saw the hot tub off the back patio, because it was under ice and snow for six months at a time.......hanging on to old memories just takes up space in your internal hard-drive.

Or the time our 5th wheel RV was parked in the only spot left in the middle of Arizona, yes.... I remember that wonderful time when records were broken for all time highs of 125 degrees and the water hook up for the trailer cost more than the monthly rent and you couldn’t run the air-conditioner because you would blow all the circuits. Yes these and many more experiences did build character!

I was reminded of these incidents and many more family vacations, such as taking our teenagers to see the Royal Gorge in Colorado. That was a topper.........I had just had surgery and was in pain, our 16 year old daughter hated the world because we made her go. My husband was hit on the head while inspecting a construction site a few hours earlier, was declared unconscious for a brief time, but as they were calling 911, he jumped up from the ground, claimed he was “healed” and needed to be on the road for our famous summer, got to leave now vacation, because our son had to be back for football practice the first of August, and so had no time for checking to see if his neck was broken, etc.! He neglected to pass on this latest info to me and was a clearly in a bad mood most of the trip from being shorted that day. Our daughter read book after book and whined when her brother looked her direction. Oh, I forgot the best part.....I ended up in the emergency ward in Colorado somewhere. All I remember from this family holiday was my husband saying to the kids, “Look at this scenery, dammit, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and your mother and I love it and always will, because we took a year late honeymoon to this wondrous place, cause we couldn't afford it after the wedding......put your book down NOW and look at the Gorge.”

Looking back over these FUN TIMES, I realize the CHILDREN AND CREATIVITY SECTIONS or the middle right sides of our houses were not Feng Shui’d very well. Surprise, surprise!!! This Gua or area should be, if possible, dedicated to having FUN. Be childlike again, hang your children’s or grandchildren’s framed artwork. Celebrate life with pictures of METAL or DOME shaped objects, such as balloons, clocks, wind chimes of metal, metal sculpture, glass balls, mobiles with round mirrors or other objects. Laugh or smile when you enter this room located on this middle right side of the yard or house. Use plants with round leaves or metal coins in round jars and maybe a tire swing outside and a round garden to gaze upon. Be creative. Hopefully you will use this section of your home to activate better relationships with your children or children-to-be. Start now to bring harmony and balance to your family FUN.

WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED FENG SHUI MENTORING?

· It is for those wishing to study with me privately. ONE ON ONE.

· The cost is $350 for three hours a month, through phone, email and faxes.

· A six-month commitment is necessary.

· 27 red envelopes (first month only) and the first month’s payment of $350 due on the 1st of each month.

· A monthly mentoring date is set for at least one to two hours of phone conversation, at different intervals.

· Packets of hard-copy material are sent for you to study each month. Emailing and faxes will be part of the course also as we go over floor plans.

· The material is copyrighted, but I will give you permission to share a lot of the information.

Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA 360-424-1501

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com www.moongateschool.com

Caroline Patrick, Feng Shui consultant/practitioner, teacher/speaker, Feng Shui artist and writer, lives in the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington. Her weekly newspaper article called WEST MEETS EAST is a popular Feng Shui advice column. She enjoys answering your questions, when possible. Some questions will be chosen for publication with the permission from the reader. Enjoy her new 5 Element attached-folding cards which can be used as a Feng Shui enhancement or correction in any space. Larger prints of several selected paintings are also available. For consultations, speaking/teaching engagements and art evaluations contact her at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com or visit her websites at www.fengshuiartistry.com and www.moongateschool.com.

Any suggestions given in this column are only for entertainment. Please contact your physician for any medical or herbal advice or diagnosis. Caroline Patrick is not responsible for any misuse of her advice or suggestions.