Another Cross-Country Adventure: Some Final Thoughts

January 31, 2024Leave a comment

I often wondered if I’d take living by the ocean for granted.

Now I know that I don’t (and never could) take it for granted.

Who could?

I’m sure some people do.

But, seriously, who could ever take living by such a beautiful, peaceful place for granted?

Growing up, I thought I was so lucky only living several hours from the ocean.

When my now husband and I lived in New Jersey, I thought we were so lucky to live less than two hours from the ocean.

And when we lived in California, only a short 10 minute walk from the apartment, I thought it was one of the most wonderful things in the world.

I tried my hardest to walk down to the ocean every chance I had and it was worth it every single time. The idea that I lived near to the ocean, near a place I’ve always loved, never got old. Most days I simply couldn’t believe I lived so close. It made me so happy.

Living where we lived, I could always be with the ocean. When I wasn’t walking along its rocky shores, I could smell the salt laden air through an open window. And when all the windows were closed at night, I could still hear the ocean’s rhythmic pulsating, like a heartbeat, through the walls.

Then there came the day we had to move.

If it was up to me, there’s a part that would’ve chosen to stay.

But there’s that Dr, Seuss saying – “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

There’s a lot of truth in that saying.

So, the day came when we were moving…and we left…and I had to leave the ocean behind. I know I’ll see the ocean again, but there was just something different about this experience. And when we left, I could feel the ocean tugging at my soul.

Then there came the experience of traveling cross-country and all the things I wrote about in previous posts. What I didn’t mention is that this is all thanks to the military life. (And I say that a bit sarcastically.) I’m not a fan of the constant moving. It’s stressful and wears on a person. And this life…I didn’t choose this life, I chose my husband…and in choosing him, I suppose, I chose this life. Some days I can handle it. Some days I don’t handle it well, if at all. It’s like a double edge sword. Sure, we get to see and experience different things, but it’s not all rainbows and unicorns like our friends and family seem to think. (At least some of them.) There’s all the stress and anxiety and, honestly, sometimes, just pure bullshit (please excuse my language) that goes along with it all.

But most days I’m alright because I know I’m lucky in the things I get to see and experience. I know a lot of people would love to travel cross-country, for instance, but probably never will or will never have the opportunity, for whatever reasons. So, most days, I’m alright…because life’s too short to site around staring out the window, wishing to see the things we dream about at night. Even if I don’t have complete control over where I live or for how long or a lot of other things.

But what do any of us really have complete control over in this life?

Besides, I still control the things I can control. For instance, what I do with my time in whatever place we happen to be living.

And at the end of the day, I know I have a lot to be thankful for.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 6

January 25, 20241 Comment

We slept in.

There was no need to rush.

We slept well.

It was our first night not sleeping in a hotel bed. We had stopped overnight at my parent’s house. They were coming to help us move in anyway. (Which I’m so thankful for.)

Our final destination wasn’t too far away. At least when compared to the previous day of traveling.

So, we slept in.

And had a nice, hot home-cooked breakfast.

I feel it was well deserved after all those early mornings and long days of travel and mediocre breakfasts eaten while on the road.

It was a cold morning, but it was New York in winter, so I was expecting it.

I’m not entirely sure what to say at this point. I think my brain was so tired of thinking that it simply turned off…or at least switched over to autopilot. I mean, before I knew it, we were in Massachusetts, standing in our new apartment and envisioning all the possibilities of the future.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 5

January 24, 20242 Comments

Another early morning.

Another beautiful sunrise.

I don’t remember this sunrise, but I know it happened because when I finally woke up the sun was out. Rather, it was struggling to break through a layer of thin clouds.

We were in Ohio, driving towards Pennsylvania. I honestly don’t remember much of Ohio. We were toward the end of our journey, so all the early mornings and constant go was starting to get to me (and him). I felt drained, tired. (So did he.) Once or twice, I did fall asleep while my husband was driving, but it was only for an hour or so. The one thing I do remember though is…when we were driving through Cleveland, we saw the baseball stadium, home of the Guardians.

We passed the border sign welcoming us to Pennsylvania. All of a sudden there was snow. It wasn’t falling from the sky, but already sprinkled on the ground. The last time we saw snow was in the beginning of our journey – California, Nevada, Utah – and before that it was back during our last winter in the Northeast.

Today’s drive seemed like the longest stretch. We were so close to the end and both exhausted, so that’s probably why the roads seemed to go on forever.

But we soon left Pennsylvania and entered New York.

As I was watching the landscape speed by my window, I noticed we were passing through a wildlife refugee area. At first, I didn’t see any animals, but then we began to approach a decent size body of water. And there they were – beaver dams. There were several beaver damns dotting the surface of the water, all of which were dusted with a light layer of snow. It was an amazing sight. I wish I would’ve had time to take a picture, but I’m just glad I had the opportunity to see such an incredible part of nature.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 4

January 23, 20243 Comments

Iowa was colder than I thought it would be this time of year. My hands and feet were frozen as soon as I stepped outside of the hotel. I had to sit in the cab of the moving truck with the heat on full blast to warm up.

Then again, I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, having never been to Iowa in the winter.

I’d never been to any of the states we drove through, or were going to drive through, in winter, except for New York, so it was all new to me. What I thought I knew about these states and their weather was, in some cases, a huge surprise.

Anyway…

It was another early morning.

Another sunrise.

This one set the sky on fire.

As the sun began to appear over the horizon, its colors bursting into the sky, it set the morning ablaze with a bright red sky. Slowly it faded into a lighter red, turned pink, and then faded into a bright violet. It was gorgeous.

Our drive through Iowa didn’t last long. The states came fast now – Illinois, Indiana, Ohio.

We drove through miles and miles of farmland, of wind farms housing clusters of wind turbines, of endless sightings of water towers. I started taking pictures of every water tower we saw and sending them to my brother (which is an inside joke between us from when we were kids)…until I felt like I was seeing one every couple of miles and therefore accidently clogging his phone with pictures of water towers.

I turned my attention to the wind turbines and the farmland. The turbines never ceased to amaze me in size, looking smaller farther away, but once you’re practically on top of them it’s easy to see how big and tall they truly are. Some of the turbines seemed to be on people’s property and I’m not sure if they owned the wind farm or if they simply were leasing the land…or sold it completely. Other parts of the land were flat, made for farming or grazing, and housed a living space and barn. In some cases there were also a couple of silos. Some of the houses were small, others were big. Some of the houses looked as if they had been there forever, possibly generational farms kept in the family.

As we drove, I kept thinking how there was something beautiful about all we were seeing.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 3

January 22, 20244 Comments

It was another early morning.

One of the only good things about getting up before the sun is that you actually have the opportunity to witness a gorgeous sunrise.

And the Wyoming sunrise didn’t disappoint.

The sky was lit with colors of pink, blue, yellow, and hits of purple. It exploded into a fireball of oranges and golds. It was one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen and I’m sure my words don’t do it justice.

Shortly after nature’s beautiful morning display, we crossed the border into Nebraska.

Nebraska was going to be our so-called long-haul of the day. Our journey took us straight through the state – no stops or overnight stays.

To me, Nebraska is full of beautiful agricultural lands. It’s farm country. We saw miles and miles of cattle grazing under the winter sun, a few horses roaming the fields, and lots of haybales and rolled hay.

In another life, I think I could’ve been a farm girl. I know it’s hard work and not an easy life, but I do love agriculture and all the different types of farm animals. I love the smell hay and the smell of a farm in general. I know it’d be a hard life, but a rewarding one, and in a different life, I think I could’ve been a farm girl.

One of the most interesting things I saw in Nebraska was a sod house, or “soddy.” We had stopped at a gas station to fill the tank and over in a nearby field I noticed a curious looking structure. Well, my curiosity took over and I had to go have a look. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, almost like a small, one-story house that had been compressed or mud that had melted in the rain and hardened in the sun. Turns out it was a sod house. I’m not sure if it was the real thing or a replica, since there was a sod museum nearby, but either way I thought it was interesting.

Fun fact…sod houses were built by pioneers in the 1800s and early 1900s.

By the end of the day, we had driven across the entire state of Nebraska and crossed over into Iowa. Before the sunset, we passed a cluster of wind turbines. And, when it’s dark, the wind turbines have a flashing red light on them that goes off every few seconds, which is something I never knew until that night.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 2

January 20, 20245 Comments

It was a cold morning, colder than I expected for Nevada.

There was frost on the windshield and we had to keep the heat on for a good while until we warmed up.

We drove along a road parallel to a snow-covered mountain range. The sun rose from behind those mountains, but its colors were muted by the clouds. Eventually the mountains fell into the background and the road faded into a landscape of farmland with horses grazing.

Shortly after sunrise, the fog rolled in. It covered everything in a thick blanket of white, engulfing mountains right up their peaks. It looked like another world – beautiful and surreal.

We crossed into Utah and the fog persisted. It felt like it even grew in density. We drove through the salt flats and we couldn’t even see them. The salt seemed to fade into the fog, as if there was no road and we were driving through the clouds. Only the little, frost-tipped shrubs by the side of the road could be seen, a dark tan or brown against the blank canvas of fog.

I watched the world pass from the window of the passenger’s seat. Even when we were out of the salt flats, the white, frosted land seemed to fade into the fog. It was beautiful, but reminded me of a crystalized winter land, something belonging to a science fiction or fantasy world.

The closer we were to Wyoming, the more the fog lifted, and the landscape turned into what resembled more farmland. There were dozens of cows and horses grazing and eating or laying on the ground. Black-billed Magpies perched on wooden fence posts, surveying the area.

And then we officially entered Wyoming.

I love how the hills curve and roll, how the mountains tower over you with grandeur, and how the rocks are carved in the natural rock formations.

Wyoming is another one of those states whose beauty is in its nothingness. But like Nevada the nothingness I speak of is simply the nature and the peace found in that nature, in being able to see its natural beauty without the sudden obtrusion of manmade buildings or oil fields. It’s being able to appreciate what is naturally there without wanting to change it. It’s knowing that the land was there long before us and will continue to be there long after we’re gone.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

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Another Cross-Country Adventure: Day 1

January 19, 2024January 20, 20246 Comments

It was an early morning.

I’m not really a morning person.

But being able to see the beautiful sunrise, dressed in colors of pink and blue, was worth rolling out of bed at an hour I’d rather be sleeping.

We were heading to Nevada, the first stop on our journey east. The road there took us through some breathtaking scenery and I have images in my mind I’ll never forget.

We passed through farmland and marshland. There were tons of little birds sitting in the water. Some were flying through the midmorning, blue tinted sky. Behind the gathering clouds there were washed-out colors of yellow, pink, and orange from the sun, mixing with already blue hues. The marsh waters were perfectly calm, producing a gorgeous reflection like a mirror.

The diverse California landscape changed as we passed into the Sierra Nevada region. The mountains rose, snow-capped, and the giant trees stretched toward the sky. I loved all the tall trees and thought about how enchanting they looked, clustered together as the woods became more and more dense, like a magical woodland for fairies and other creatures.

We gained elevation as we drove further into the mountains, eventually reaching an area of Lake Tahoe and, what I believe was Donner Lake.

As we drove, thin clouds gathering and eventually the sun slipped behind them. It still shone through the veil of clouds, around trees, and over snow-covered mountains. There were streams and creeks, frozen and half frozen, with snow dusted rocks and boulders. The crystal water giving off a flawless reflection.

And that’s all there was for miles and miles – nature untouched.

And it was so peaceful.

At some point during the day we crossed over into Nevada. Nevada has its own type of beauty – a beauty in its landscape, in its nothingness.

But it isn’t nothingness.

Some of the hills and mountains have reddish or purplish or even black tints to them, which must have something to do with their sediment. These same hills and mountains can be tall or short, chipped into different rock formations, and surrounded not only by desert, but also small shrubs. And the blue sky lights up the land, stretching for miles with whisp-thin clouds.

Yes, Nevada has its own beauty.

It’s certainly not my favorite state out of the 50, but its beauty cannot be denied.

And during the winter months, the higher mountains are adorned with snow.

When one thinks of Nevada, one usually thinks of Las Vegas and desert, but this state is so much more and I believe it’s one of those places that should be left alone, left to the animals who live there and nature itself.

After a long day of driving, seeing so much of the beauty nature had to offer, there was still one thing left for us to see – a Nevada sunset. It was beautiful. The sun was a golden orb lighting the blue sky, slowly sinking behind the desert and the hills and the snow dusted mountains.

To see more photos, please visit my gallery by clicking here.

If you missed Another Cross-Country Adventure: Prelude to Day 1, please click here to read.

Another Cross-Country Adventure: A Prelude to Day 1

January 18, 2024January 20, 20247 Comments

California to Massachusetts – six days, a dozen states – what a crazy adventure.

But it was one I was going on…again.

So, it didn’t feel as crazy or surreal as it did the first time.

However, if you were to ask me what I was thinking during that time, I’d say that I don’t remember. There were so many things happening simultaneously it was almost as if I was on autopilot. At the time, all I knew was that there was packing to be done in preparation for the move.

During the moments I had to myself, which were few, I thought about the ocean. I thought about how much I was going to miss it. At night, when the world was quiet, I could hear the ocean whispering and when she was worked up, I could hear her heavy, rhythmic breathing. When the call to see her was too much, I could take an easy 10 minute walk (pass an old cemetery where the deer and geese always stayed and a beautiful little lighthouse).

I thought about how much I was going to miss the ocean and her rhythmic dance, the waves tossing and churning and rushing towards the coast. There were days I’d walk there, stand on her shore, and simply watch the ocean, slip into that blue space where the mind thinks of nothing and you just are – you and the ocean.

There was a spot I loved to sit, high up on the rocks, so I’d deviate from the path and climb up to my perch. From there I could look out over the ocean, see all the seagulls and pelicans soar over the water, watch the sea otters surf the waves, notice a seal or two pop their heads up for air, and watch the sun glitter off the ocean like a million tiny diamonds churning in the waves.

I thought about the ocean’s children – seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, egrets, herons, and all the different types of birds, even the sea creatures I never saw who lived deep below the surface.

And when our last night there finally arrived, we went down to the beach with a couple of chairs and watched the sun set. It was one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen. The sky was a mix of soft blues and purples and pinks with brilliant oranges and golden yellows. I never wanted to leave, but leaving was inevitable. So, as we left the beach that night, I felt as if I left a part of myself there, as a part of myself is scattered on the sands of every beach that touches the ocean.

To see more photos, please visit my gallery by clicking here.

Happy 2024

January 1, 2024January 1, 2024Leave a comment

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C.S. Lewis

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ~Neil Gaiman

I wish each and every one of you a happy and healthy new year. All the best in the coming year ahead.

Cheers to 2024!

2023 in Photos

December 26, 2023December 26, 2023Leave a comment

What a year! I’m not even sure, really, where to begin. This year brought me to so many beautiful places. I’ve seen oceans and forests and mountains and valleys. I’ve seen forts and lighthouses and other historic buildings. I’ve seen seals and sea lions and sea otters and whales and clusters of Monarch butterflies and numerous types of birds. I’ve even made friends with a few cats. And to top it all off, I drove cross-country. During every adventure I had my camera with me, like it was another appendage. I have so many photos from the year it’s hard to choose my favorites (and I still have several rolls of undeveloped film). So, without further, potential, rambling from me, here are my favorite photos from 2023.