Happy 100th Birthday, Dad!

PACIFIC NORTHWEST – The Adventure Never Ends

Well, eventually I made it home. I was gone 26 days and traveled just over 6000 miles in total – 2500 by sea, 3500 by car (tiny car that is). I went everywhere and saw everything & everyone – and had a fabulous time.

   Some people think I’m a bit crazy for doing all that “All Alone” – but what choice do I have???  I’m single, and that means being brave enough to do some things on my own – but that doesn’t mean I’m “Alone”. I was with 25 other LDS Singles in Alaska, and except for my long-weekend in Canada, I was visiting family & friends every step along the way.

   I’ve finally embraced my Singleness – and I’m living the life I’ve always wanted to live. No more waiting for “X” – whatever X is. Besides, I figure that getting out and living life is the best way to meet someone who wants to live this lifestyle too. And I’m certainly a lot more interesting than if I were sitting at home binge-watching Netflix.

   Most people “say” they want to travel, but there’s always something holding them back – I know I was like that for many years. One of my favorite quotes is “Don’t Postpone Joy” – and I don’t anymore. A dear friend also went to Alaska while I was there, but sadly she didn’t make it home – and it was a huge wake-up call to me. Just a few weeks earlier we had compared notes on our different Alaska cruises, looking forward to this “Trip of a Lifetime” – and she’d been in good health, then suddenly died mid-trip. You just never know how much time you have left.

   So, if you want to travel – Travel! Whatever it is that you want to do, set your mind to it and work toward it. Sure there will be obstacles along the way – Life isn’t ever easy – but it sure is worth it. Although I’m still catching up on dirty laundry, I’m also starting to plan my Next Adventure – because all of Life is and Adventure. And I plan on looking back at the end of my life and smiling because I lived the life I’d dream of.

Favorite pics from the trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao5WnNcgJCY

Favorite pics from Butchart Gardens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31V8XIdTnI

A few Selfies from along the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao5WnNcgJCY

PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Follow the Rainbow

OK, almost home – so, of course, I took the long route. This time I decided that I wanted to drive through Preston – since that’s where my parents are from. After having such a wonderful visit with my uncle and talking about the people we love, and so many memories of his childhood in Preston – well, I just had to go. Besides, the route from Boise to Pocatello was a route I’d never taken before.

   It was mostly blue skies and big white puffy clouds, but I did run into just a few brief raindrops along the way. And as I looked ahead on the map I saw that American Falls was on the way – since there’s just something beautiful about waterfalls, I decided to detour over to the dam for a look.

   Just as I got to the park at the dam, a rainbow appeared – a full end-to-end rainbow, with just a hint of a double rainbow alongside. Fortunately, I had planned on taking pictures at the dam, so camera in hand, I snapped a few pictures. Living in the desert I just don’t see rainbows all that frequently, and it’s really an awe-inspiring site. To be so close and see it so clearly as to see every color in the spectrum, it took my breath away and I just stood there mesmerized for a bit. As it started to fade, I hopped back in my car to continue on my journey – but instead of fading away it got stronger, so I followed it for a little while. As I drove along, following the rainbow, a freeway sign for the exit at Rainbow Road appeared (no, seriously – I can’t make this stuff up). So, following directions, I pulled off the exit and took a few more rainbow photos – this time with the sign included too.

   Honestly, I kindof hoped to find something amazing at Rainbow Road since a rainbow had led me there. But there was nothing there, just an off-ramp to a country road heading out toward farmland.

   But that’s OK – I don’t need the Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow. The life I’ve been blessed with is all the riches I need – and I am truly and intensely blessed. My personal Pot of Gold is filled with amazing people, fabulous memories, and blessings more than I can count.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Hanging with my Homie (I mean Roomie)

My original plan had been to start my trip in Boise, but that just didn’t pan out. So I promised my old College Roommate Heather that I’d stop by on my way home, and here I was nearing the end of my trip.

   Heather and I lived on Darwin Avenue, right across the street from the LDS Institute and Student Center at Utah State University – and we had immediately hit it off. She was just returning from her mission in Oakland, California – and I had grown up there, so we had an immediate connection. And even though we were only roomies for a year (before we moved on to other apartments), that one year had really connected us.

   Not realizing quite how long my scenic journeying would take, I ended up at Heather’s house rather late – but as I pulled up every light in the house was on. OK, so I wouldn’t be waking anyone up – WHEW!  Quick intros to her family, and we headed upstairs to get me settled in the Guest Room. We talked until well past everyone went to sleep (even the teenagers), and finally realized we were getting tired about 1am – so we hugged “Good Night” and both crashed.

   In the morning, I awoke to muffled voices and the smell of pancakes. Oh yeah – that was one of the reasons we became friends in college: Heather is a great cook!  Heck, I even remember her making Homemade Tortillas once – and really, who does that?

   Anyway, there were her 4 boys (and a few rentals) coming and going, and her husband – a kitchen full of activity and yumminess. Then after breakfast, we went for a walk through her lovely neighborhood. There is a private walkway along a stream, with trees and ducks – and backyards running along both sides. Very serene and peaceful – and a great chance for us to just walk and talk, and catch up.

   Just after lunch I hit the road again. It was a short visit, but a great one. Heather and I hadn’t seen each other in over 20 years, but that didn’t matter. We became friends almost instantly in college, spent lots of time together that year as roommates, and we will always be friends. Some friendships are just like that. And fortunately, I’m quite certain that it won’t be another 20 years before we see each other again.