Something tells me I'm not the all inclusive type....

My idea of a vacation is this... The West Coast of Vancouver Island. I'm telling you, if you've never been here... you just should. There are beautiful places in the world. Seriously breathtaking places. But nothing is more humbling than being surrounded by the rough, rugged beauty of the west coast. It's just something about the mountains, the waves, the tides, the sea otters, the bears, the islands, the streams, the waterfalls, the crisp morning air.... nothing makes me speechless like this place. Its either in your blood or it's not. It's in mine... Within moments of stepping onto the tin boat, and motoring out away from the dock... I could actually feel... stillness. Quiet. I was decompressing. I was not thinking. I was existing. I was alive. What a wonderful 3 days.

It doesn't hurt that my good friends family has a float camp in Nootka Sound, one of the most magical places around. (which I feel incredibly lucky to be able to go to!) It is also equally wonderful that this good friend, has now become my fabulous graphic designer/assistant/savior/second me. We had been working hard, burning discs, tying up loose ends, organizing life... so a mini road trip (in fact annual now) was just what was needed to re-charge our batteries for a busy wedding season.

Here is my hopefully helpful list of...

"Seven things to consider when road tripping..."

#1. Carefully select co-pilot/tequila and old country tapes for cabin #2. Bring a dog #3. Ensure you can get to one of the most magical places on Vancouver Island #4. Purchase $1 red hats at the first store you see, and wear them around joyfully #5. Make fabulous meals. Eat them in incredible places (like uninhabited islands) #6. Be prepared to laugh out loud, singing old country favorites like "don't ask her on a straight tequila night" #7. Recognize that you are NOT going to want to leave

Boys and Dogs

He's loved dogs since... forever. Loved our dog Brandy that accidentally bit a little girl, and wound up on a 'farm'... has begged for more family dogs ever after... no one would get him a dog.

He moved back to the Vancouver Island from far away baseball playing shores... and that's when it started. The obsessive dog talk. Suddenly, he had the entire family convinced that we needed to buy a dog for our mom. I was apprehensive, as my mom had clearly stated that she did NOT want a dog. He was most certain, that she was delusional and really did want one.

He called me daily with dog finds, he texted me with every new breed, new location, new idea... he finally succeeded in convincing mom she wanted a dog. "ok" she said more confused than anything. He found the perfect dog.... he was going to get it for her... the phone calls stopped... no more texts... where did he go? Everyone thought he must have given up. I knew, however, that it was never about getting mom a dog. But more about filling a childhood dream, of a boy and his dog.

A week later, I got the call. He had driven to Gold River from Nanaimo (directly past our family home in Campbell River, Vancouver Island) picked out "Digsy" and knew instantly that he would NOT be dropping him off in Campbell River, but keeping him forever.

That's the thing about boys and dogs, sometimes, it just makes sense for them to be together.

Looking Back...

Often we get caught up. I get caught up in the whirlwind of life.Thing move so fast, messages coming in, voicemails, call backs, drawbacks, driving here, running there.... Life isn't prone to slow motion. Life doesn't slow down, unless you do. Unless I do.

Sitting here at my computer desk, coffee already cold, sun streaming in through the trees... I meet up with my old friend Nostalgia. Periodically, unexpectedly, and often uninvited, we find ourselves face to face. Today it began with an email I got from a good friend and amazing artist Jennifer Jayden, which began with, "it's been a while and although we haven't chatted in ages you cross my mind lots".

While looking back, I am brought to amazing memories of my days at sea. My time spent bobbing around the globe, bumping into so many incredible human beings, spending split seconds with people that seemed like an eternity. I've been revisiting photographs taken at the time, over the span of nearly six years of my life... one thing is brilliantly clear, I didn't miss a thing. My dad once wisely wrote to me during my travels "soak it all up, Once gone. Gone." And soak it up I did, as well as document it. All of it. These images are not just travel images to me. They are a reflection of not only remembering the places traveled to... but more for the people who traveled there alongside me. Each image, brings back such a flood of memories, smells, tastes... brings back sailing into Venice for the first time with Sharon Stanley... "girl, you are going to freak out". (and I did) Wandering around Santorini with Lucille, our hearts so full, I thought for sure there was no substance in the world that was strong enough to contain it. Running around at the Great Pyramids of Egypt with Paul, touring Barcelona with Irene. Halifax with Caro, Cassie, and Abri... Anguilla with Kim and Kim. The Caribbean with the Kim Miller... Papeete with Jen. Vietnam, China and Japan with Dave.

People have asked me where my favorite place has been, or which country was the best... and I do have my favorites, but most of the time its the memories that go along with the place, the people, the experience as a whole, and not just 'the place' that makes it so special.

In a place where life is just moving so fast, I often find it helpful to reflect on not only where I've been, but the intricate connections that have sustained and fueled me along the way. Here are a few of my most precious memories.