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I never was a great student back in my school years, but I always made sure to be the best student in the classroom of life lessons. My life experience taught me the best lessons are gifts; even the most painful and harmful events in our lives can teach us if we choose to listen.
At a very early age, I learned that life events could throw you off in a second. My time as a volunteer ambulance driver consistently embraces that reality. But of course, for all of us, the pandemic is proof of the uncertainty life can be.
I injured my back about three years ago, and it took me over a year to heal. Unfortunately, back pain is now part of my life, but I refuse to let it take over my life. I already had to give up two of my biggest passions, backpacking and volunteering as an ambulance driver.
After months in the making and a change in plans, I'm ready to hit the road for the next year or until I have had enough. The original plan was to get an RV and travel, but with the gas prices, I had to make some changes. Since the whole idea is about the journey, I changed the vehicle in which I'm traveling.
I took advantage of my petite size (4'11") and converted my car into a micro camper. I'm happy I'm simplifying everything. This journey is not about luxury; it's about being at one with nature, exploring new places, meeting people along the way, and creating new connections.
I'm excited and terrified simultaneously; there are many uncertainties ahead for me, new challenges, and scary moments not to mention some lonely times. But I'm ready to embrace them all because, most of all, I am terrified of not trying and giving myself this adventurous chapter in my life.
Grasslands, Wind, and a King-Size Bed — Saskatchewan, Canada
By midday, I enter the province of Saskatchewan. My first stop is the visitor center on the west side of Grasslands National Park. I did some homework, but by now I know the best information comes from the visitor centers. It is a good place to get my bearings and have all my questions answered. After a few hours of driving, I do not have much time to explore the park today, so I head to the campground and try to figure out how to make dinner in this blasting wind. The road i
Jun 18
Janet, Me, and the Gift of Spontaneity — Alberta, Canada
It is so wonderful to see Janet again. In all honesty, when we said goodbye last time, I did not imagine we would have another opportunity to meet again. We live so far apart, in different countries, with so many miles between us. After Janet finishes charging her tiny electric car, I laugh to myself because I thought I was roughing it in a tiny space. She is a true trooper! We head to Cypress Hills Provincial Park, on the Alberta side. What a beautiful and peaceful place! Qu
Jun 15
When Rain Reveals the Land: Dinosaur Provincial Park to Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
The rain is not letting up. Mother Nature has her own plans. I appreciate the rain, and even though it makes my travels more difficult, I know how blessed the land is to receive this abundant water. With this much rainfall, I am not sure how much I will be able to explore Dinosaur Provincial Park. However, I do not want to miss visiting this park. As my windshield wipers clean my window every few seconds, I appreciate my landscape movie for the day: solid gray skies stretchin
Jun 10
A Tiny Yellow Square on Earth’s Timeline — Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
By 5:15, I am up and ready to start my day. I also want to leave before people come out of their houses. Staying longer, I feel, would be like abusing Katie’s kindness. I do have a core route as I travel through Canada, but it is a very fluid core. Right now, I have changed it so many times. :) Most of the research I do is a day or two before, or even just as I start driving. So before going to bed last night, I created a route to Drumheller. That is how I found myself at Dry
Jun 8
Blue Water, Wild Wind, and a Kind Stranger — Alberta, Canada
By late afternoon, I am back on the Icefields Parkway, heading toward Abraham Lake on Route 11. No matter how many times I have the privilege of being part of this incredible landscape, my heart melts with pure joy. The endless sea of mountains feels like a perfect puzzle, each mountain unfolding into the next wild and rugged peak. Each one stands proudly with its own brave story, while also being part of a much bigger picture. Somehow, the Canadian Rockies feel much higher t
Jun 4
A Road of Snow, Water, and Wonder — Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho, Banff, and Jasper National Parks, Canada
It is time to head northeast. By the time I arrive at Mount Revelstoke National Park, the sun is out. I stop at the visitor center and learn the road is open until Broken Bridge Trail, which was highly recommended, so that is where I am heading. I also make a quick stop at the historical ski jump site, where visitors can safely experience what it feels like to stand on a ski jump. The hike to Broken Bridge Trail is easy. It goes a little uphill, but nothing major. The views b
Jun 1
Trusting the Road Again — Okanagan Valley, BC
After a good night’s sleep, I am still moving gently, but something inside me begins to trust the road again. I still keep things on the easy side and continue my travel to Osoyoos. I chat with ChatGPT a bit to see if there is anything interesting on the route. I have to admit, AI can be a fantastic tool for travel planning. That is how I find myself stopping in the small town of Grand Forks, walking around to find the many stunning murals around town. I love when my landscap
May 28
When the Road Asks Me to Slow Down — BC, Canada
It took me longer than I'd hoped to recover. This attack truly took me by surprise. I am beyond grateful for Sandra’s loving heart and hospitality. I am grateful that I was able to take the time to heal, and for the extra time I got to spend with Sandra and her funny cats, Mia and Winny. The view from her patio of the Canadian Rockies was a good reminder of the beauty ahead. It is hard to say goodbye to Sandra. We are celebrating four years of a beautiful friendship; a friend
May 25
Nature Through the Eyes of a Nomad – Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival, Invermere, BC, Canada
Self-growth has space to expand when you choose to push your own boundaries. From the moment I asked for a divorce, I made a decision to practice this notion. I was 50 years old, and for the first time in my life, I could finally do ME. I learned one important lesson from consistently stepping outside my comfort zone: I give myself the opportunity to reach more of my potential. So I keep pushing those boundaries… Speaking in front of an audience was never on my radar. Never i
May 13
The Beauty and Fragility of the Open Road – Invermere, BC, Canada
This post was supposed to start much differently. However, as I put my words down and express my emotions, I feel I need to start from where I am now, and not as I usually do, which is recording my journey in chronological order. It’s Monday, May 11th, and a beautiful sunny day here in Invermere, BC, Canada. I arrived slowly over a week ago. Why slowly? On my second day back to the freedom of the open road, I encountered a major challenge. If there is one thing that challenge
May 11
A Season of Friendship and Quiet Confidence Among the Mountains
Good morning, beautiful day. Yesterday, a tiny snowstorm came for a visit. My mountains were nowhere to be found. They were hiding behind the heavy gray clouds. This morning, as the sun rose and clear blue skies welcomed the day, my beautiful mountains stood in all their glory, reminding me that everything in life is impermanent. In a few days, I will be on the road again. My thirst to be back on the open road fills me with excitement for the next five months of travel. It is
Apr 24
The Beauty in the Shift, Estes Park, CO
It is a gift to find a new passion in life that excites us. It is a thrill to try something new and discover its beauty. Glass fusion is becoming a true gift in my life. I love every aspect of it, even accepting the small cuts on my hands from the sharp glass. I am not sure what I love more—creating or teaching. However, sharing my love for glass fusion with the guests who come to the Y is an absolute pleasure. I feel blessed to share my excitement and inspire others to recon
Mar 31
The Beauty of Not Knowing, Shaped by Curiosity — The Story of a Colorful Vase
I loved every minute of creating this glass fusion vase. Sitting for hours, fully immersed in the process, felt like a quiet meditation—each moment a pleasure. I sensed from the beginning that I was working with something beyond my full understanding. That curiosity made the experience even more meaningful, as I watched the piece come to life and learned from it along the way. I used an 8-inch circle, which turned out to be larger than needed. Once melted, it created a thick
Mar 17
The Joy of the Peaceful Heart I Created, Estes Park, CO
I love those mornings when I wake up to a fresh layer of snow. The majestic mountains around me dress themselves in a white coat, bringing a smile to my face. Then the beautiful sun rises and slowly melts it all away, leaving me with hope that this winter the snow and the sun might learn to coexist. My heart is content and grateful. Life feels peaceful and wonderful on my end (when I disconnect from the news). I keep working hard on my presentation, and I am glad to report th
Mar 6
From Glass Beads to Gold Rings, Estes Park, CO
Last year, while working at Winter Park Resort’s Lost and Found, I was fortunate to witness many beautiful lessons through the gorgeous stories of lost and found items. I did not expect to collect stories from the Glass Fusion studio. Yet here is one that warms my heart and reminds me that deep down, we are all artists. Leah came to spend a few days with her sister, Lindsay, her nieces, and their mother. They have been coming to the YMCA for several years and always enjoy tim
Feb 18
When the Moon Holds the Night in Magical Awe, Estes Park, CO
Life on the open road taught me that I prefer to live with a looser sense of routine. I love and thrive on the soft edge of uncertainty. And so, I try to keep my winter pause open to many different directions. Even though sometimes I feel that I may have committed to something beyond my comfort zone, I do appreciate the challenge my presentation gives me. I am happy to report that my presentation is moving at a good pace, and I have found the right balance of rhythm. I work o
Feb 8
A New Year Beneath the Moon, Estes Park, CO
Happy New Year! Yes, I know it is almost February. :) However, I am catching up on my diary now. I am so thirsty to let my fingers write and spill my heart onto the keyboard. I am surprised by how deeply writing has become part of me. The last time I wrote was a few weeks ago. In the meantime, a year ended and a new year began. I could not think of a better way to begin the year than spending it with my boys. It has been a year since I last hugged Adi. It is the longest stret
Jan 21
Another Dance Completed! There It Is! My Third Book Is Out!
Did it again! 🙂 I am happy and excited to share that I have finished putting together my third book. It is a collection of my posts, with afterthoughts woven in. Reading through the past year was a powerful experience. I discovered that moments that once felt heavy and painful are no longer part of my life. What once hurt deeply now feels like a distant past. I truly enjoyed the process and found fresh wisdom in revisiting what I have already left behind. This book feels lik
Jan 13
Jan 1
A Turn in the Road, the Next Step
I know some of you enjoy my weekly post with your morning coffee. I cherish this compliment close to my heart. For a short period, though, I need to focus on an exciting project. It is exciting and a little terrifying, but more than anything, I feel humbled and honored by this invitation. Two days after arriving in Estes Park, I received an email that stopped me in my tracks. I was so stunned by the opportunity that the very first thing I did, before even thinking it through,
Dec 29, 2025
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