To My Grandkids,
     So it's.... uh.. 2021..? 
Not sure where the time went honestly, but I've got quite a gap of time to fill you in on eh? It's been 9 months.... 9 MONTHS since I last wrote to you, SURPRISE, I had a ba-.... No no no, don't worry that's not it.
     In these past months, I've been up to a lot. Let's back up... 
 When I got home from my roadtrip, I joined the Montana Conservation Corps doing trail work around here for the rest of summer. I met some of the coolest people I've ever met in my life, and absolutely LOVED the job. After that, I continued to work at the nursing home getting to show love to some amazing elderly, they are so all sweet, and you know it's never a dull moment! I also started a new job at a ski resort where I helped run lifts- the most chill job i've ever had! (Every morning we got to be the first ones on the mountain, getting the lifts ready to run and having our coffee with the sunrise over the valley... Pretty much a dream) I tried snowboarding for the first time which was good.. and then it wasn't... and then it was eventually good again! I broke my collarbone in my first week learning, so that kinda put a block in my activities for a while..  But she never stops, so a month (ish) later I was back up and ready to go, getting back into my yoga practices and gaining strength back. The last week the mountain was open I got back on my board and rode away the season with some 'final hurrah laps', which I LOVED- I will definitely snowboard more next season when I can actually get into it.  Although the pressure of working 2 jobs was pretty stressful, I'm glad I stuck it out for the season!
     While working on the mountain, I made a lot of new friends, some in passing as they hop to other seasonal work, some only briefly crossing paths, and some that will be bonds for a lifetime- all very special connections. I actually met this pretty wild guy who is an adrenaline junkie,  world traveller, videographer, and overall ray of friggin SUNSHINE. We went on a couple mini trips together seeking out some adventure, and well.. now those mini trips have turned into us planning a summer long road trip together- I couldn't be more excited :)
     Right now we're doing some adjustments and building some stuff for the van that will make it easier to travel in. We ripped out the old carpet and put in hardwood, built some (minorly janky) drawers/shelving,  and just making some final tweaks to get all our stuff organized. I've gotta say, the Ole Rosie Mobile is coming together nicely, and still running like a champ- she's just as ready to hit the road as we are.. 
     
     Only a couple short weeks left until we drive into a new journey,
     tires to the pavement, hand out the window with hair blowing in the wind,
     slightly sunburnt skin and salt in the air. 
     I am ready, I am ready. 
​     LIFE IS GOOD.
 
                                              Lots of love always,
                                                       Your crazy hippie granny J :)

To My Grandkids,
Let me tell you about someone who is.. AMAZING.. Literally- that's her name :)

     While Laci and I were in Yellowstone, we met the sweetest soul ever, and camped with her for a few days. Although we said goodbye and parted ways, she was planning to go through Montana, and would end up near where we are, so we knew we'd see each other again.
     When I got back from camp, we met up and had a whole day of fun planned. We planned to go to some different hiking spots, and just take a day to be out in nature. The first place we went to was the Kootenai swinging bridge, and the river was gorgeous. Then, we drove a bit farther to go to the Ross Creek Cedar Trail, which is one of my favorite places in Montana. We got there, and hiked the trail, exploring a forrest that holds MASSIVE cedar trees. Trees are very special to me, and I feel set free every time I'm surrounded by the wise old grandpa trees!
     After a full day (or so we thought) of running around, we headed back down the mountain to go home. Well, my sweet Rosie gal had different plans, because before I could get to the highway, the van died.. I lost power steering, and acceleration, and had manual brakes, so I pulled over and had no idea what was going on. Us being the tough, strong, self sufficient women that we are, popped the hood and we were looking around trying to find the problem- and then realized we have no idea anything about cars... So to the road we go with a hitchikers thumb out.. Did I mention we had no cell service cause we were in a forrest area? Yeah. That too. An older man pulls over to help, and gives us a jump. To our luck, she still wouldn't start.. Come on Rosie.. Welp- we asked him for a ride to the nearest town, and ended up 5 miles down the road at a biker bar. We used the bar phone to get a tow truck on the way, and sat down for a bit to have a drink and wait for a call back. While we were there, we met a couple badass biker chicks, Candy, and Tush- cool ladies. About an hour later, we get a ride back to the van, and wait for the tow truck to come. Another hour  or so goes by, we're drawing on the van passing time, and then decide to go back to the bar to call the truck again.. In total, we waited 3 and a half hours for the tow truck to come, and then they took it to the shop, so we stayed with some family for the night. (Shoutout to Shana and Katie <3)
     It was quite an interesting adventure day that just kept adding on, but it all turned out fine, and luckily we are both super chill and able to make light of the situation.
     Every time we've hung out, we always have the best time together. She is one of those people that radiate love, and sunshine- A Golden Tribal Goddess. She is deeply rooted into herself, and knows where she stands. She has childlike curiosity for the beauty of this world, and could tell you more about plants than anyone I know :)
     She truly is Amazing, and a super groovy gal.
     I'm so lucky to have met such amazing people on the road, and I'm very grateful for each one.

     There's something bittersweet about meeting people on the road though. I have met the coolest, most open minded people ever on the road, but when it's time to say goodbye as our travels go on, it is often the last time we'll be there together. Bittersweet.

One day when you travel around and meet all new people, you'll see. 
I can't wait to meet YOU. 
I can't wait for you to see how good life is.
Even though you don't exist yet, I Love You!!

Love, 
your supa dupa slick hippie chick nana

To My Grandkids,

     The past month and a half has been the best of my 19 years so far. In May, I bought my dream van, and decided to hit the road, driving wherever the wind took me, and exploring the west coast. Along the way, I met the coolest, sweetest, most ‘far out’ people I’ve ever come across. I made memories- good and bad- and explored the depths of my own self as well. 
     When I first left, I didn’t know what to expect. I was taking a leap out into unknown waters with no expectations. I started in Montana and drove through Idaho, Washington, all the way down the west coast, and then cut over through Arizona, and went through to Louisiana. I’d have to say my favorite parts were the hippie commune we had inside Cali, going to the Grand Canyon, and then Yellowstone! 
     I know I wasn’t on the road for super long, but I still got a good taste of the life of a traveling gypsy :)
     So far in my life, there is nothing more freeing than the open road, music playing, windows down, hand out the window, destination undetermined. Life is so beautiful, and it’s all about perspective. I met a LOT of people on the road, some on work trips, group travels, soul searching journeys, retirement adventures, and some with no place in particular to be, just enjoying the moment and where they are. I also met some people who weren’t in the best situations, and weren’t traveling from choice, but living out of their car with no other option. In specific, I met a young man in California in that situation, and my heart went out for him. When talking to others about living from their van, he would say “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Its no fun when you have to live from your car… It’s been the worst 11 months living in mine…” In which the response would always be that living in their van was amongst the BEST 11 months of their life. Given that those 2 people were camped on the same beach at the same beautiful time of year, life is all about perspective.
     Another thing being on the road taught me is that there are a lot of good people left in this world. The people (for the most part) that I met were GENUINE, LOVING people! The most spontaneous people too- when you live on the road, you can’t plan every detail, it’s just impossible. As much as you may think you have a perfectly carved out plan, the wind will take you wherever it wants you, and align you with the right people.
     Life is so good. Life is so good. Life is so good!!
    The road has taught me so much, paired me with amazing people, thrown things in my face when least expected, and at the same, shown me that I don’t know sh*t yet. Life is massive, and I haven’t even grazed the surface.
     Someday, I hope you get to experience your wildest dreams. I hope you never let anyone get in the way of where your heart calls you, no matter how wild it may be. 
I'm so excited to have adventures of our own someday! Even though you don't exist yet, I LOVE YOU!!!
 Love, 
Your Gypsy Granny J :)