This summer was an 8-week whirlwind filled with some of the greatest memories we've made in a long time. It was filled with many highs and a few lows, and now that we're here in Oregon, and the dust has settled a bit, I've had some time to reflect on it all.
Our summer started off with a trip back to AZ to visit our people. Moving away from our home state makes the return hard for me, because I want to see everyone, yet I feel so disconnected to the daily norms that exist there with our family and friends. It doesn't feel like vacation (because it was home), and it just seems like there is never enough time to see everyone I want to see, and really make it quality time. I knew this was going to be our last time driving to Arizona for a while, because what was a 12-hour drive made over 2 days, will now be a 21-hour drive. Things will be different going forward. And change is hard, so I was pretty emotional that week. I remember getting there and realizing how much had changed in the lives of several people I love dearly, and combining that with what the million balls I had in the air with our impending move, I was overwhelmed and my already emotional barriers had completely overflowed.
Solon's sabbatical began at the end of June, and we embarked on an epic 12-day trip in a 30-foot-long Cruise America RV. It is something I HIGHLY recommend. We had a wonderful time just being together, experiencing nature and new surroundings. We saw Mount Shasta, Crater Lake, a little of the Oregon Coast, we spent time with family and friends in Seattle, we drove the kids around the Portland area, we fished in Oregon in the morning, and enjoyed our fresh catch on the grill in the California Redwood Forest later that same day. It was amazing.
The kids LOVED the RV (above);
the area around Mount Shasta was gorgeous (below)
Crater Lake was the most magical place.
I can't wait to go back and spend more time there.
There was SNOW in July!
Loving the nature all around us
Enjoying fresh seafood and campfires on the Oregon Coast
Visiting old friends in Washington
Fourth of July with FAMILY!
Visiting the Stromski family in their new home
Oregon's landscape is gorgeous
Loving that camp life
Getting our FISH on!!! Yummy Rainbow Trout
Redwood Forest, California
The following week, we flew to Portland for our house hunting trip, and after 2 months of viewing listings on the internet, we were able to have our fabulous realtor, Debbie, show us a dozen houses, of which we found one that made all 4 of us (and Sunny) super happy. Our offer was accepted by the end of the weekend. Now that we had an address of where we were going to be living, I could determine what school my kids would be going to, so now there were a few less balls in the air.
Check out that yard!
The end of July brought our 2nd epic "Sabbatical" trip of the summer, spending a couple days in New Orleans, before embarking on a 7-day Carnival Cruise with the kids, our moms, and Alynsia. The motto of this week was to be fearless, in the cuisine that we ate, and the activities that we experienced. We battled our fear of heights as we zip lined through the Jamaican jungle; the kids tried so many new foods they would normally have never even thought to try (frog's legs, jerk chicken, escargot, braised ox tongue) and actually enjoyed them; we snorkeled the barrier reef in the Cayman Islands (my favorite - can't wait to do that again); we shared a meal with my mom's side of the family in Mexico; we sang karaoke almost every night; we met the most wonderful people from all over the world. It was such an amazing trip, and my heart was so full, I had almost forgotten how quickly the hardest part of the summer was approaching.
Exploring New Orleans, LA
before getting on the cruise ship (above);
before getting on the cruise ship (above);
Getting to know the Carnival Glory (below
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Grand Cayman Island
Cozumel/Playa del Carmen, Mexico
with Mom's side of the family
with Mom's side of the family
Fancy Chef's dinner for my birthday = AMAZING;
Alynsia won the Friends' Trivia Contest
Saying goodbye to Piedmont was rough. Who would've thought that we would have loved it so much? I certainly wasn't sure 4 years ago when we moved there. But over our short time there, in that little community, we built an extended family that we will cherish forever. We miss our neighbors, we miss our friends, but we are so grateful for the mark our time in the Bay left on our hearts. It was a gift that I never knew I always wanted.
Our Annual end of summer culdesac dinner (above);
saying our "see-you-laters" to so many lovely people (below)
Last days in Piedmont
Life has truly been an adventure over the last several months, and we are excited to see what the future holds. We hope to continue to build community in our new surroundings, and we look forward to the visits with family and friends that are to come...
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Every day seems to be a reminder to me how short life is, and how important connections are, and how vital it is to nourish those connections. A month ago, October 17, my cousin Mauricio passed away at the young age of 54. He was in a really good place. He had finally found a career path that he was really excited about. He had paid his debts off. He fostered senior dogs, and worked his butt off to take care of them, and his mom. He played soccer on the weekends and did Tae Kwon Do a few times a week. He was healthy, by all means, except for the undetected clog in one of his arteries. Life is short. We have to live each day to the fullest. Surround ourselves with lovely people. Put some money aside for the unexpected. Use the fancy dishes and the crystal stemware mid-week sometimes. We need to call that family member or friend that we haven't talked to in a while. Check in with our people. And when we check in, even if it seems a little awkward with the timing, we should tell them how much they mean to us. It's those moments that matter. We may not be given tomorrow.
So my dear cousin Mauricio, here's what I know:
I know that my Dad wanted kids because of how cool he thought you were.
I know that my Mom thought of you as more of a son than a nephew.
I know that you took Natan and me to the San Diego Zoo and the beach when we were about the same age that Quincy and Paloma are now.
I know that you opened your home to us when we were older and wanted to get away for a weekend in the summer.
I know that a few summers later, you let me get drunk for the first time at your house with my friend, so we could be safe and you could keep an eye on us. "Don't tell your mom," you said. "She's going to kill me."
I know that when you lived in Minnesota, those were the happiest years of your life.
I know how much loved spicy food, even though it made you sweat profusely.
I know you loved art, and you worked on your paintings as often as you could.
I know you always made room in your heart and home, for another dog that was in need.
I know you tried feverishly to discover something you were passionate about for a career, and it didn't always work out, but you kept trying.
I know I admired the way you would stick up for your family on one hand, and call us on our shit on the other.
I know you loved your mother more than anything in this world.
I know that I loved you very much cousin, and my husband and my kids did too.
You will be missed dear Mauri, by all who knew you.
May you rest in peace.
Mauricio Gonzalez Camarena Nieto
7/27/1965-10/17/2019
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