Well, it’s after Labor Day. Officially the end of summer. Which is fitting, because I started this journey in May at the end. The end of a season, the end of a job, the end of a marriage. While this post marks the conclusion of our summer adventure series, and the greatest summer of my life, it’s just the beginning for me.
This summer I learned how many enjoyable hours there are in a day. I reflect on the gift of time that we were given and the experiences we gained as a result. I’m refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to rejoin the workforce with a renewed spirit.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, we spent the entirety of this summer truly living, connecting with ourselves and each other.
With nothing else distracting me, I organically started writing again; initially, not with any purpose in mind, but because I felt compelled. As I revelated* in Divergent Thinking, “A narrative started forming in my mind and I just had to get it down on paper (so to speak.)”
*Revelated is a word I playfully coined when I couldn’t find the right word to accurately and powerfully express the idea of having a profound realization or understanding. It’s a creative way to convey the concept of a significant insight or revelation. Sometimes it’s the only right word.
After publishing that first post I feared I had used up all of my creativity, but I found the opposite to be true; the more I create, the more creative I am.
My posts have helped me reignite passions, form new connections, and reconnect with long-term, dear friends. But most importantly, they’ve helped me reconnect with myself.
As my journey took me from coast to coast across the continental United States, I marveled at the grandeur of Montana’s mountains, embraced the majesty of the Grand Canyon, and immersed myself in the vibrant scenes of Austin and Florida. My travels also led me to explore the rich history and culture of our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., stroll down the iconic streets of Hollywood, and savor the coastal charm of Oceanside, CA. But what truly enriched this odyssey were the incredible people in my life along the way.
I’ve learned in the midst of your greatest struggles, you find out who your friends are.
People you never expected will be there, while others bow out.
I’ve had people I’ve known for years but haven’t been super close to step up unexpectedly when I needed them.
I’ve received advice, guidance, wisdom, and understanding from those who have surprisingly shared similar experiences.
I’ve learned that there’s so much you don’t know about people and what they’ve been through in their lives. I’ve learned how much emotional connection you can have with others who are right in front of you.
This summer I embraced the mantra, “we may never get to do this again!”
We got really good at road tripping! We bought lottery tickets in every state we visited, location stickers for our luggage box, and sent Pistole Postcards to my parents from every destination.
There were so many daily mini adventures, like leaving a shovel sticking out of the ground when we heard the twinkling tune of the ice cream truck so we could chase it down on the golf cart.
“This is what I like to do with you,” my youngest, Tara, said to me with a grin from the passenger side as we raced toward summer sweetness. “Chasing things and trying to find things.”
Other times, we just dropped what we were doing and spent the day at the pool.
‘I’m so lucky,’ Tara said to me on one such outing. With a small pause, she added, ‘That I’m at the pool with you right now.’ And I fully felt the depth of these special moments.
This summer I got to be fully present to experience my oldest and her friends turning 16!
There were midday margaritas where I ran into old friends during the lunch frenzy.
And nights out with former co-workers who became long-term friends.
The summer started out with me making new friends in the sun…
Then turned into me catching up with those I hadn’t seen in years.
There were still moments of rest and contemplation…
And gifts such as friendship and Lizzo tickets, where I got the opportunity to not only attend the concert with a new friend who shares my passion for female empowerment, but to also share those passions with our daughters.
I kept saying, “I’ll never get another summer like this” but the truth is, what I allowed myself to experience has simply inspired me to live every day like I did this summer.
We’re looking forward to the future.
There’s so much of others that we take with us from our 2023 summer adventures.
We remember to ride all of life’s waves as they come at us.
We still wear our Taylor Swift friendship bracelets and appreciate the generosity of the kind Swiftie who shared concert photos with us when our phones died.
Lucas, I loved spending time with you over Labor Day weekend, and I was right, it was enchanting to finally meet you.
And finally, Bree, we took your advice. We will keep having our fun together!
But our adventures aren’t over.
I’m getting ready to embark on a new career. I will continue to follow my passion for writing. Throughout this summer, as I explored and refined my skills, I had a revelation that I want to use my gift for writing to inspire and help others. I’ll also continue to embrace the richness of all my friendships and connections. And the traveling has only just begun!
Stay tuned for my next adventure. A solo trip to New England to experience the fall foliage…
For More Stories > Pistole Posts Home
Home: Pistole Posts 
Leave a comment