With Montana, it is Love Part 1

November 1, 2024

I recently had a moment that reminded me of Anne of Green Gables when she experienced the opera for the first time. In her dramatic way, she exclaimed that she could never return to normal life again because the experience had profoundly changed her. I now understand exactly what she meant. As we exited the airport in Kalispell, Montana, and headed toward Whitefish, where we’d be staying for the next week on vacation, I realized that I wasn’t in Pennsylvania anymore. The great Rocky Mountains loomed before us, their beauty so stunning that it brought me to tears—tears of awe and wonder. As a lover of all things nature, these are the experiences that feed my soul and I knew I was about to feast on a smorgasbord of nature’s best offerings. Our ultimate destination was Glacier National Park, a place I’d been dreaming of visiting for months. Once we settled into our condo, and purchased our highly recommended bear spray, we finally arrived at the park entrance and took our obligatory picture by the “Welcome to Glacier National Park” sign. After several months of planning, to finally arrive was surreal. No words can fully capture the sheer magnificence of this place, though I will do my best to try. We kicked off our adventure with a red bus tour along the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. These restored vintage 1930s buses, with roll-back tops, offer panoramic views of the park’s breathtaking vistas while the guides share the area’s history and landmarks. Learn More

The Adventures We Take, The Memories We Make

November 1, 2024

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a vacation is “an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or traveling.” I don’t know about you, but that definition doesn't capture the reality of most of my vacations. While I've mastered the art of leaving home and traveling, I’ve failed miserably in the leisure department. Vacations can be downright stressful. Planning, budgeting, packing, considering pets, navigating traffic, dealing with canceled flights, and facing a pile of emails upon return are just a few challenges. Add the obsessive compulsion to do as many activities as possible, and you have the perfect recipe for anything but relaxation. When my four children were young, I dreaded the horrendous task of packing everything they’d need for the week. With limited funds, our packing often included a tent and all the necessary camping supplies. On one particularly memorable camping trip, our site was inconveniently located at the bottom of a downhill slope. After we unpacked and headed to the beach, a storm blew in. A torrential downpour ensued, and the water had nowhere to go but down the hill and into our tent. When we returned, we found all our belongings floating in about a foot of water. Hanging everything on tree branches and on top of the car to dry, we must have looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. Learn More

Sometimes It's Okay Not to Be Okay

November 1, 2024

Have you ever had a time in your life when you just weren’t, okay? If we're honest, we all have. This Monday morning, I'm in that space. I'm not terrible, not falling to pieces, no tears—just not okay. As I self-diagnose and spend some time in introspection, I think I've discovered some answers. For starters, I tend to cram a plethora of activities into a minuscule amount of time. Anyone else have that tendency? It’s like trying to fit all my Aldi shopping bags into one little bag to save space in my car. It can be done, but my bags aren't in the greatest shape when I unwedge them and pull them out. Similarly, I know I’m not in the greatest shape when I fit too much into my schedule. It’s too easy to say yes to too many things and end up overcommitted, spread out thinner than butter on toast. This often happens when it comes to my grandchildren. They're so precious to me, as I’m sure yours are to you, and I don't want to miss a single opportunity to be with them. Unfortunately, mine aren’t local, so visits require a commute. Over five weeks this summer, I made three weekend trips to Philadelphia and one to Mechanicsburg, with just one weekend at home. Sound familiar? Learn More