Here it is, the pilotwheel that changed my life. You can't tell from this photo, but it's huge, maybe ten feet or so diameter. I can't remember exactly. All I can remember is the Otherworldly glow. It is beautiful, isn't it?
Here it is, the pilotwheel that changed my life. You can't tell from this photo, but it's huge, maybe ten feet or so diameter. I can't remember exactly. All I can remember is the Otherworldly glow. It is beautiful, isn't it?
This spot is where riverboats have landed for more than a century. When we were there, the Mississippi Queen stopped and her passengers disembarked to look around the town for awhile. People came down to watch the boat come in. The moment was like stepping back into history.
This is the hotel where we stayed and where the pilotwheel from the JD Ayres hangs. This hotel was built in the 1800's and is a beautiful place to stay. Even though it is haunted. Yep, I have a Stephen Kingesque story about our nights in the luxury suite. The next time you see me, let me buy you a glass of wine and tell you THAT story.
This eddy was hidden from the road running along the river, but Jane and I found it. She took a snapshot of me taking photos. This was an incredibly sacred spot, we felt it the moment we got out of the car. I swear I can see Eva Ann in the reflections in the water. I sure felt her presence in this spot, stronger than any other.
These are photos from my trip to Marietta, Ohio where I "met" my great-grandmother who died long before I was born. To read the story of how the Otherworld brought us together, follow this link, and as a bonus you can read an excerpt from First, There is a River http://www.romantictimes.com/kathysteffen.htm
My sister, Jane and I took this trip together. Since her move to San Francisco, I've missed her terribly and this time spent with her was incredibly special. Add the "coincidences" and the whole experience became downright magical.
All morning Marietta was buzzing with the news...the Mississippi Queen was coming in that day. Calliope music, just a tease of sound at first, was the first hint of the experience about to happen. The majestic boat rounded a curve and floated downriver as people from town rushed to the riverfront to watch it come in. The huge boat came close to the landing, then the stage was lowered. A flurry of passengers disembarked, and the riverboat allowed some townsfolk on for a tour while it was docked. The afternoon was just like living in my book. In fact, the moment became the first scene where the Spirit lands and Quentin looks over the crowd for Emma.
