oh here we go

it’s easy to be lonely. but what’s so wonderful about our human race: is we have a natural connectedness about us no matter where we wonder.

a summary of summer so far

22 may - 24 may : a flurry of catching up with dearest elizabeth, seeing, loving, being. people of this caliber are so few and far between i feel like i won the lottery with this beautiful friend.

25 may : 6 hour drive to Bristol. Stayed with Nadia and Diane. incredible to be with them and have face to face conversations.

26 may : 7 hour drive to memphis. tennessee is unassumingly gorgeous. gabe’s family? same description. I so appreciate learning and being with friends‘ families to see where/how they grew up. Lost nearly all my voice in the middle of dinner with his parents. embarrassing, but somehow their hospitality made me completely relax.

may 27-29 : 4 hours to Arkadelphia. Lillie and Dennis and their house: all beyond precious. I loved talking to Lillie about dad. started my cough. biiiiiig blood blister. huge humidity. tired runs.

may 29 : 9 hours to Lubbock. this was a haul. i can’t believe there are so many small towns. like i knew this, but my mind never grasped the sky and distance and sheer expanse of texas until i was thigh deep into my drive. oh that sky oh that sky oh that sky. Lillie Green is the sweetest cousin ever perhaps.

may 30 : 7 hours to Santa Fe. first reallllll taste of the west. chiles? in love. more spice: more life. first meet up with the gals. first night at some elevation. beautiful home to stay in. only stressed out about the keys once.

may 31- june 3 : oh sedona. what can i say. beautiful, magical, surreal red rocks and complete peace. but also i went through some major self hate. like major. like the type i should probably talk to a professional about, but maybe i’ll dive into that later on... you all know the ups and downs. but what world is this where new york trees and arizona rocks exist only 3 time zones away ... all one border.

june 3 : 3 hours to grand canyon. finally. she’s something. she’s everything. saw 3 mountain sheep (((1 was a baby))) camped in an abandoned field. under the stars but also over a rock, so it made for little sleep woooooweeeee.

june 4 : 4 hours to Lake Powell. farewell dearest kate, and hello water. also hello 105 degree weather and no shade. border of Arizona and utah and she is a beauty. low water. despite heavy boat traffic and many folks upset at our risk factor analysis emily, sarah and i swam for three hours across the lake and to some caves and through the mud and the silt- i definitely touched 3(+) eels. again- the west is everything and nothing ive always dreamed of. oh and my tent blew away. two dudes helped us drag it back as the oodles over my friends. they were unworthy of that goddess energy these women exude, so we had a lovely meal of chips, salsa, and i heated tortillas in the car. we drove into town for ice cream and on a whim i bought a piece of art for my theoretical home.

june 5-7 : 4 hours to Durango. emily’s aunt is the coolest. durango is beautiful. i couldn’t stop getting bloody noses with the altitude (?) but it’s always just my right nostril- maybe that’s why may right nostril is physically larger than the left ... i’ve always been self conscious of this fun little imperfection hahaha. i was ravenously hungry, but couldn’t stomach to eat before lunch at the same time. a dichotomy of sorts. i had 3 runs. 1 was good. rhay was the one i didn’t get a bloody nose 1/2 way through. it was glorious. i decided i must raise ski bum babies out in colorado. there is no other way.

june 7 : 6 hours to Aspen. and i cried through the mountains. is there anything more beautiful? no. no. no. this land. these skies. those trees. all ours, all here, all in front of me looking out my windshield. I feel like i’ve been under this eastern seaboard sized rock my whole life and everything is reinvigorated out here. yes i know it’s always new and exciting and everything dies down in your mind evebrutally but i don’t think this feeling of completeness can fade entirely. climbing elevation creates elation (& nosebleeds). it brings a feeling of utter abundance as the clouds dance above and the trees part for the meadow grass... everything in agreement on how to survive. no signal through the mountains left me singing caamp all the way through. i texted emily and sarah ‘i think this state is my heaven so if i die don’t worry about me’

weird body things: my chacos tan is pretty dope, but my foot blisters are just gross, blood blister is gone but bloody nose season is in full swing, tanning isn’t a thing- it’s just a burn, itch, tan, peel —-> burn again. ive lost two blue painted fingernails, and my tattoo is fairing well for all the use and abuse of sweating, sun, & water.

ive taken Tuffy with me everywhere. he’s featured at nearly every location. my pride and joy. one true companion. apparently driving solo around the country is pretty gnarly even if you’re doing it with a 18 year old teddy bear.

so yes, in short, colorado, i’ll be back. and in a big way, but first - i’ll finish this road trip, beach it up, pack for BOLC, live some more life... then i’ll be back colorado please please please save me a spot.

i missed writing this journals. it’s hard to write on the road- my eyes usually have to be looking somewhere beyond the steering wheel and not down on paper. this is a go go go summer, but in the best way. i am lonely and connected and happy and depressed. i am feeling: that is what i am most excited about.

have you ever read a post with more colons? grammar : goodbye