Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.
Anthony Bourdain
I love to travel. My beloved husband and I traveled as often as possible from coast to coast, north to south. Much of the time was spent visiting family and friends. Craig had four adult boys; two lived in northern California, and the others lived in Colorado. My Daughter and Grandson resided in Virginia. I also worked with a good friend who lived in Southern California. She and I were writing and promoting our book, Listen to Women for a Change.
When not visiting family and friends, we found many places to explore from Baja, Mexico to Chicago. We had so much fun, especially after we purchased our 38-foot diesel pusher motorhome. We’d pack food, clothing, and other essentials such as books and card games. It was indeed a cozy home away from home.
I sold the motorhome after Craig died in 2009 and have only traveled a little. The last time I was in Hotchkiss, CO–where I grew up and raised my daughter–was for a dear friend’s wedding in 2017.
Returning to Colorado at this time was exciting, interesting, and somewhat emotional. Seeing and reconnecting with old friends warmed my heart. I also noticed the ghosts of the past lurking around, waiting to be acknowledged. Many of these apparitions were sweet memories of picking and drying fruit for the winter months, playing softball in the schoolyard, and sipping hot coffee with friends at the local Feed and Seed store.
This trip starts from my Norfolk, Virginia home to my dear friend Aimee’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas. We packed up her Ford Escape there, and she and I and her black lab, Luna, and headed west. These are my notes. I hope you enjoy the read.