Tonight's blog is more of personal one then a review or destination. But it does still have to do with the amazing people of the Pacific Northwest. Some friends and some met in a passing moment of individual paths crossing. It's also a homage of a sort, to those that I encountered on my latest trip.
As some know I'm considering the move from my current home in Montana to my childhood home of the Portland/Vancouver area. Being the nature of this somewhat overwhelming beast, it requires a lot of planning and of course, trips back and forth for interviews, home hunting etc. I love a road trip and to take it all in, but truth be told I had never driven more then 200 miles by myself before. I always have fantastic road trip buddies or my fun loving husband shares the wheel. So setting out this time was a little more anxiety inducing. I had to face plenty of different emotions to get get behind that wheel and go. I know for many, it isn't a big deal. But for me it was gigantic. None the less, I woke at 5 am and started my journey on a snowy Montana morning, well before the sun thought about gracing the horizon.
I picked up Sarah in Garrison Montana, We'd planned the rideshare so I was pretty excited to meet someone completely on the same page. Top of the line road tripper with a lifetime of amazing experiences and 11 hours to share mine and hers before it was done. The only time there wasn't the sound of girls chatting was when she napped and I somewhat obnoxiously listened to my music. I may have overplayed Family of the Year. So my first thank you, goes out to Sarah. May your heart lead you to the places with no roads and to an always amazing adventure.
It feels like when I'm visiting the Portland area, I never have enough time to see all the amazing people in my life who call the area home. And if I do get to see them, the time is short but always so very sweet. First and foremost, I want to thank Mona for putting me up for two days, I wish there had been so much more time to be able to visit. After my job interview the time just flew by. Thank you Tracey for making a long Thursday to join us on Wednesday for karaoke!
Teri, has been so integral at not just helping me at locating places from my past but helping me join my past with my present and making a good time of it at that! We took the afternoon to drive up to Lucia Falls and see my old family home. And then sat down for some BBQ. Thank you Teri!
After seeing some other old friends Sean & Jimmers! I set out for the next part of my journey to Seattle. I had a little coping to do, being alone with myself on a road I wasn't too familiar with. I was headed to Seattle to have a quick lunch with Rob and stay over with my friend Danielle. Two people who have been important parts of my life. Danielle is one of those people I cannot understand how she hasn't always been in my life. We met roughly 10 years ago (who's counting) in an online group that I ran on Myspace, We've kept in touch and I make it a habit to see her if only for a few minutes if I'm in the Seattle area. It was good to catch up and have dinner and talk until we were both sleepy. She even offered to make sandwiches for my journey!
The drive home was the part I was worried about the most over 600 miles of just me, driving through wind, rain a sand storm and did I mention wind? Until this point I never understood why talk radio was invented. I soon figured it out. But I also learned that I could trust myself to stay awake and alert. It's ok to eat burritos in a car by yourself on the interstate (it also makes you thankful no one else was in the car!) It was alright to replay the same song over and over again when you lose radio signal. And singing at the top of your lungs when no one can hear is pretty awesome.
Anyway, thank you to all my friends old and new that moment when our journeys crossed, to be such amazing people and allow me to share your journey with you and for sharing mine as well. You are all so awesome!
As some know I'm considering the move from my current home in Montana to my childhood home of the Portland/Vancouver area. Being the nature of this somewhat overwhelming beast, it requires a lot of planning and of course, trips back and forth for interviews, home hunting etc. I love a road trip and to take it all in, but truth be told I had never driven more then 200 miles by myself before. I always have fantastic road trip buddies or my fun loving husband shares the wheel. So setting out this time was a little more anxiety inducing. I had to face plenty of different emotions to get get behind that wheel and go. I know for many, it isn't a big deal. But for me it was gigantic. None the less, I woke at 5 am and started my journey on a snowy Montana morning, well before the sun thought about gracing the horizon.
I picked up Sarah in Garrison Montana, We'd planned the rideshare so I was pretty excited to meet someone completely on the same page. Top of the line road tripper with a lifetime of amazing experiences and 11 hours to share mine and hers before it was done. The only time there wasn't the sound of girls chatting was when she napped and I somewhat obnoxiously listened to my music. I may have overplayed Family of the Year. So my first thank you, goes out to Sarah. May your heart lead you to the places with no roads and to an always amazing adventure.
It feels like when I'm visiting the Portland area, I never have enough time to see all the amazing people in my life who call the area home. And if I do get to see them, the time is short but always so very sweet. First and foremost, I want to thank Mona for putting me up for two days, I wish there had been so much more time to be able to visit. After my job interview the time just flew by. Thank you Tracey for making a long Thursday to join us on Wednesday for karaoke!
Teri, has been so integral at not just helping me at locating places from my past but helping me join my past with my present and making a good time of it at that! We took the afternoon to drive up to Lucia Falls and see my old family home. And then sat down for some BBQ. Thank you Teri!
After seeing some other old friends Sean & Jimmers! I set out for the next part of my journey to Seattle. I had a little coping to do, being alone with myself on a road I wasn't too familiar with. I was headed to Seattle to have a quick lunch with Rob and stay over with my friend Danielle. Two people who have been important parts of my life. Danielle is one of those people I cannot understand how she hasn't always been in my life. We met roughly 10 years ago (who's counting) in an online group that I ran on Myspace, We've kept in touch and I make it a habit to see her if only for a few minutes if I'm in the Seattle area. It was good to catch up and have dinner and talk until we were both sleepy. She even offered to make sandwiches for my journey!
The drive home was the part I was worried about the most over 600 miles of just me, driving through wind, rain a sand storm and did I mention wind? Until this point I never understood why talk radio was invented. I soon figured it out. But I also learned that I could trust myself to stay awake and alert. It's ok to eat burritos in a car by yourself on the interstate (it also makes you thankful no one else was in the car!) It was alright to replay the same song over and over again when you lose radio signal. And singing at the top of your lungs when no one can hear is pretty awesome.
Anyway, thank you to all my friends old and new that moment when our journeys crossed, to be such amazing people and allow me to share your journey with you and for sharing mine as well. You are all so awesome!