This adventure began after publishing Nature’s Angels, my first children’s book, dedicated to my four grandchildren. The story follows a grandparent and child as they wander through nature, admiring beauty and the wonders of nature in an imaginative way. It was my legacy gift, to inspire and encourage a new generation to explore and appreciate the natural world.
The following year, my mother, whom I cared for the past several years passed away, my nest had become empty, my lifetime of caregiving had come to an end. A time of transition for sure. This was the beginning of a new era for me, life as an unidentified fifty-something. During the arduous process of clearing my mother’s home, it became clear to me that I didn’t want my children to have to go this process of going through a lifetime of my accumulated stuff. This was a pivotal point in becoming a faithful follower to the practice of minimalism. Basically, adopting a mindset toward acquiring material possessions as to what is necessary and what brings value to my life.
So in the summer of 2015, I sold my home and belongings, except what would fit into Bessie, my Jeep Grand Cherokee and headed 1,700 miles west. It was a bittersweet departure saying goodbye to family and friends, and the town where I had raised my family for the past 27 years. Nashville, Tennessee was now in my rear view mirror.
The first leg of this adventure landed me in Kelly, Wyoming where I worked at a dude ranch for the summer. Having let go of my corporate life and attire, I donned jeans and boots and felt right at home in the wide open spaces. This was just what I needed during this transition, to immerse myself into a life so far removed from what I was used to and allow myself to explore each day with curiosity and wonder. When the season ended in September, I headed toward Arizona, the land of my origin. Making a few stops along the way in Idaho and Utah, Oh Zion you are so beautiful!
I had no plan or agenda, I just knew that I needed to follow the sun to where my days would be filled with abundant sunshine. Having grown up in Phoenix, I knew the Arizona landscape too well, and since I was scheduled to attend a writer’s workshop in Sedona, that would be my next stop on this adventure. Sedona was another place familiar from my childhood days. I remember our weekend expeditions where my father would load up the ole station wagon and we’d set out upon the open road. Those early days of riding shotgun with my father’s adventurous spirit and appreciation for Nature was the spark of my own connection to the natural world.
During my two years living in Sedona, my writing life continued, how can it not, being surrounded by so much beauty. But you could say I replaced the pen with a hiking pole, guiding folks from from all across the globe throughout the red rock trails. While hiking the trails together I noticed the connections we make when we share our stories. To me, there’s no better way to get to know someone than to share the trail together. This experience opened a new path for me to combine my love of nature and writing. So, I began leading writing workshops to explore story and our connection to the natural world.
Sedona and I eventually parted ways and I relocated to the little cowboy town of Wickenburg, Arizona where I worked at a historic guest ranch. It was during this time that my love of story led me to my next project, producing an oral history project about this historic guest ranch. However completing the project wasn’t enough, I felt these stories needed to be heard, so I decided to launch a podcast, Souvenirs: Timeless Tales of People, Places, and the Past, to honor and share these historical accounts. The podcast just wrapped its second season, featuring stories from Artists and Authors.
Perhaps my thirst for story comes from having missed so many untold stories from family members who are no longer here to share them. That’s another story!
