Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s experienced this: you’re driving along thinking about cream cheese, or some other random thing, when suddenly a song comes on the radio that grips your heart so tightly you nearly veer off the road wondering what the hell just happened. It’s not just me, is it? […]
What is living upp exactly? For starters, it’s knowing how to invest your time and energy so you can bounce back from life’s heavy moments and live up to your highest potential. Living upp is about expansion, and it involves reclaiming your joy and independence regardless of your life circumstances. It helps you slam the […]
At 1:19 a.m. I awoke to voices outside the van. “A black Mercedes,” said a man with a southern accent. A woman mumbled something back to him that I couldn’t quite make out. When my eyes finally opened I was immediately blinded by two flashlights beaming in through the windows. Thankfully, I’d attached the magnetic window […]
I haven’t only been sitting around listening to Air Supply. I’ve done some other stuff, too. I’ve been making the rounds to some of my favorite places and spaces, like the spot near Lake Sammamish, where I went with the sole intention of seeing one of two bald eagles that live there. It just so […]
“How long have you been married, Bill?” asked the man in the ball cap. “Sixty-two years,” Bill replied. “To the same woman?!” the man in the hat asked as he chuckled and glanced over at the third man in the group. “Yeah, and nobody should ever be married that long,” Bill added, laughing. I laughed, […]
Van life certainly has taken some getting used to. For example, earlier this week while brushing my teeth in a State Park bathroom, I glanced down to see what appeared to be a sink full of underwear. And that was the moment I decided to stick to brushing my teeth in the van, which brings […]
Six years ago, I rolled into Seattle in a Porsche with Texas plates. I was wearing flip flops. And I now realize that was a poor choice. When I stopped to pump gas, the look on the gas station attendant’s face said it all: I was indeed a moron. There I was, standing in an inch of […]
I spent the day eating beef jerky in my new van. I’m only sort of kidding. If this is what freedom looks like, then hella I’m livin’ the dream. I won’t lie. I did some crying in there, too, but the much-needed release felt amazing. Grieving…with beef jerky. Being between homes is strange, though. Things […]
It was time. I stood in an empty room while he gathered the last of his things. I was wearing my fuzzy robe. It’s funny to think that a robe could be considered an act of self-care, but it is. Trust me, this particular robe has comforted me through all sorts of unexpected disappointments and […]
I saw another bald eagle today. They’ve been visiting me regularly for months now, circling above me, perched in trees, in my dreams. A symbol of independence and strength, they represent freedom. But freedom always comes with a price. And sometimes, casualties. Last year, we bought a Mercedes Sprinter van that we planned to convert. […]