Bodenstein Creek and Brussels

From a friend in Brussels, Belgium:  We are all OK. Hanne is with me @ Home. Emma cannot leave school till 16:00, but she's in a safe environment. Anja has to stay at work till news from the police, bit she's also safe. Airport & Brussels are in lockdown. Borders are active again Thanks for your care.

Bodenstein Creek in the Rapid Lightning drainage northeast of Sandpoint seemed even more tranquil this morning than when Bill and I walked there yesterday on a lovely spring afternoon. 

It occurs to me once more this morning that we can never ever take for granted the relative peace and safety we enjoy in our surroundings here in North Idaho, especially when awakening to the news of yet another horrific terrorist attack thousands of miles away. 

Today's attack in Brussels touches home, as one of our daughter's most wonderful experiences in her world travel (much related to geocaching) occurred when she flew into Brussels a few years ago and met Koen, who owns a taxi service. 

Throughout Annie's stay, Koen and his family treated her with hospitality fit for a queen, and since that time, we have had the good fortune to meet Koen when he traveled to Dublin for a geocaching event which Annie had organized in 2014. 

What a nice man!  An instant friend!

How sad that he and his family and the Belgians must live with the uncertainty and fear of terrorism basically in their back yard. 

Thousands of miles away across the sea and most of a nation, we complain about mud in the morning and then take off to the beautiful mountains in the afternoon where we can leave the pick-up unlocked with car keys dropped on the dash and camera equipment sitting on the seat. 

That's precisely what we did yesterday afternoon----don't get me wrong; we usually lock up-----but our walk along the beaver ponds at Bodenstein Creek and further up the road was purely spontaneous.  

Bill had taken off ahead of me.  I looked at the snow and ice on the road which takes off from Rapid Lightning Creek Road and said I'd stay at the pickup. 

When he was gone for more than five minutes, sitting in the truck got boring, so I followed his tracks and met him checking out the potential fishing holes in the beaver ponds.  

That's when we decided to walk up the road.  In my mind, it was kinda like "getting the stink off" after four days of watching college basketball without a whole lot of exercise. 

It was also a wonderful introduction to our frequent trips to the mountains for the peace, quiet, beauty and, of course, photo ops. 

Back at the pickup, keys still sat on the dashboard.  My point-and-shoot camera and cell phone sat on the seat. 

This morning, I cherish the afternoon experience all the more as I think of the despicable acts of violence that maim and murder unsuspecting souls around the world.

I am glad to know that Koen and his family are safe but am angry that they have to live their lives this way. 

When we can put faces of friends or family to this ruthless hatred for humanity, we realize all the more how fortunate we are, and we wish that they could experience the same relatively peaceful existence that we experience virtually every day far away from the insanity. 

Thank you, Bodenstein Creek.  Be safe, Koen and family.