Since we’ve been back on the Continent I have been using the analogy that I feel like a baby deer learning to walk. It is interesting to me that I can go to any of the countries that we’ve been to, many where English is not the primary language, and thrive, but once I’m back on US soil all of a sudden I don’t know how to do anything. Which is only slightly dramatic.😉 In the past I have felt like these feelings were a regression and now I feel like the low level of discomfort/unease is the new normal. I know that unlearning is hard, and maybe the little bit of discomfort I feel, in particular around coming home, is because it has been uncomfortable in the past. For the record, when I talk about discomfort I mean mainly around things pertaining to reverse culture shock, and not our people. I don’t want those feelings to be my default response around our visits anymore. We are aware of what changes we want to make and are making them, so why would I feel this way? This realization has helped me choose to carry my faith that it’ll all work out into all experiences moving forward because the alternative isn’t productive. I no longer wish to view the discomfort as a regression or failure. I want to see it as a productive place to be because through discomfort comes growth.
I think throughout the experience of being nomads for almost three years, our needs have changed too. For example, I need more down/alone time now as I’ve grown. This is an interesting juxtaposition because many people, including myself, were surprised by how much I actively thrived in so much alone time, solo exploring, and only having to worry about Dave and myself, day to day at least. I feel a certain sense of pride around who we have become and what we’ve done, and I know that growth is far from over!
We haven’t been away from home this long since our first leg of the adventure that started back in August of 2023. That leg was different though because we were in the United States and Canada, so we were able to see tons of friends and family almost ever city we went to. This time being home after being gone seven months, eight once we’re back in Minnesota, and not seeing as many friends and family makes it feel different.
Being back with our people this past week in California, for the first time in seven months, was good for the soul. And, I found myself feeling unwarranted guilt around not being able to anticipate everyone’s needs. I realize that, much like ourselves, our people have been growing and changing too. Their needs also quite possibly could have changed, and me anticipating that might not be exactly what they need either, and our people know our hearts. I know that I need to give myself more grace. I think those unwarranted feelings all stem from the amount of pressure I put on myself to show up for our people the way that they have shown up for us. Whether it is via phone calls, emails, texts, video chats or even visits. Our friends and family have really made an effort and we want to do the same for them.
Random tidbit incoming: One thing that Dave noticed in the airports during this leg is, in New Zealand they say check your bags for rats and other pests, but in the US they say check your bags for firearms. I feel like that pretty much sums up our feelings. 😂
After an incredible week in California we are now in New Mexico for our third time and it is starting to feel like home. The saying “home is where the heart is” has started to become more and more true the longer that we’re not living in our house in Saint Paul. Home doesn’t have to be one specific place and we’re beginning to realize and embrace that. We have my mom and stepdad, as well as Dave’s parents, all coming to visit us during our time in NM before we return to the Midwest on the 25th. We are VERY excited to see all of them and we can’t wait to share with them all the things we love about being here. It will be wonderful to see family again!
I hope this finds you all happy and well wherever you are, and as always I’m sending you a universe of love!
❤️Alison
The day before we left Oahu I was able to hike up Diamond Head for my first time and the weather was perfect! The view of Waikiki was absolutely spectacular!It was cool to see the Diamond Head Lighthouse from a different angle too. The route down was interesting. I climbed through a bunker/pillbox that was part of the remains of Fort Ruger and down inside the mountain. It was definitely an adventure that had great rewards!The view of Koko Head after I finished the hike and was walking back to Waikiki.The morning after we arrived in Pacifica, California we departed for a 48 hour getaway. We traveled down the coast to Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, Pebble Beach and back. We had never seen or done any of what we did at it was wonderful!Views from points along the coast. Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. We tried to not get too close to the edge. If you have watched the show Big Little Lies this is the bridge you see during the opening credits. We stopped for lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur and the clouds finally cleared for us!After lunch we stopped at Pfeiffer Beach in Los Padres National Forest and it was beautiful. Reminds me kind of of the arch in Cabo San Lucas. Pfeiffer Beach is known for its purple sand. We finished off our first day of touring at Carmel Mission Basilica. “Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo, first built in 1797, is one of the most authentically restored Catholic mission churches in California.”I love the details on the organ. The gardens outside of the Mission were beautiful as well. The Caravaca Cross. “is highly significant as a personal relic of Saint Junípero Serra, brought from Spain and discovered on his chest during his 1943 exhumation. This revered artifact was blessed by Pope Francis in 2015 and now resides in the Convento Museum.”They have the priest’s quarters preserved inside of the museum. This is a Pincushion Protea. There are so many cool plants in California!Day two started with a walk around the Monterey Wharf. I got to see my first sea otter in the harbor!SO CUTE!Our first stop after we left Monterey on our way to 17 Mile Road and Pebble Beach was Lover’s point. We got to see a Harbor Seal there. As well as, what Google Images says is, a Hawaiin Monk Seal Pup who was coming up on the beach. It was a beautiful first stop. The next stop was Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove near Carmel. The lighthouse is famous as the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the U.S. West Coast, guiding ships since 1855.After the lighthouse we stretched our legs on Spanish Bay Beach. Even though the water was fridgid the weather was absolute perfection!We visited Bird Rock in Pebble Beach as we continued down 17 Mile Road. Bird Rock is home to many seabirds like Cormorants and Pelicans as well as seals and sea lions. More beautiful views. The fog started to roll in as we pulled in to Sunset Point Overlook. But the Harbor Seals didn’t seem to mind. 😉We got to see the Lone Cypress which is the symbol for Pebble Beach Golf Course.Our last stop after lunch in Carmel was a peek at the Hansel and Gretel Cottage. The incredible first 48 hours back on the Continent ended with a beautiful sunset view from our friend’s house in Pacifica and a very full heart!One of the days last week I decided to walk down the very steep hill to the waterfront of Pacifica. I walked along Esplanade Beach to Pacifica Pier. And made my way to Mori Point. Said hello to this cute ground or rock squirrel. The views from Mori Point were definitely worth the climb. Looking back upon my progress. After my hike I wandered around the downtown area of Pacifica. Saw some cool street art and found a library to visit. I finished off my adventure with a well earned pint of Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing at Winters Tavern. On Thursday, April 2nd, my good friend from Minnesota came to visit for the weekend and to help celebrate my 47th year of life. We took her to the unique Taco Bell Cantina that is on Rockaway Beach and then caught the sunset afterwards. Friday morning we were welcomed with clear skies and sunshine so we got and early start and made our way to Golden Gate Bridge. Golden Gate Bridge. This was my friend’s first visit to San Francisco so seeing the bridge was a must. I don’t recall if I have ever walked out on it before so that was a fun treat. It provided great views of the city and Alcatraz Island, which was our next stop. Right after a quick visit to Fisherman’s Wharf…to see the Sea Lions. This was my first visit to Alcatraz and I was excited to experience and learn more about it. I learned so much in the “Welcome to Indian Land” Exhibit which “highlights the 1969-1971 occupation by the “Indians of All Tribes,” a 19-month protest that spurred the Native American civil rights movement when Native American activists seized the island to protest broken treaties and advocate for self-determination.”“Many non-Native people supported the Occupiers’ cause. Groups as diverse as the Jewish Women’s Organization, The United Auto Workers, the Black Panthers, the Japanese American Citizen League and the United Church of San Francisco donated money and supplies. This crane was given by a woman, Nancy Ukai, who is a member of the Japanese American Citizen League gave this crane in 2021 to represent their ongoing solidarity with Native Americans.”The placard by this poster read “The Occupation transformed participants’ self-perceptions and instilled cultural pride. Many participants experienced internalized racism and felt ashamed of their heritage. Others were not previously aware that they were Indian. By calling themselves Indians of All Tribes was a way to create a pan-tribal attitude and sense of camaraderie as the movement spread nationwide. “The gardens on Alcatraz are well maintained and have beautiful flowers and cool architecture. It is hard to describe what seeing the inside of Alcatraz. Hearing stories from inmates about what the conditions were like. So many stories. Solitary confinement was nothing short of terrifying. “The utility corridor in Alcatraz is significant primarily as the unsecured, hidden path used by inmates to escape, most notably during the infamous June 1962 breakout where Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers used spoons from the mess hall to break away the plaster around their toilets to access this corridor. It is situated behind the B-Block cells, this area allowed prisoners to bypass surveillance, reach the roof, and hide during the planning of escapes.”Views of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge from Alcatraz. It was a full day and I’m glad we went!Friday had another beautiful ending with good food and good people. Saturday morning we went to Golden Gate Park. While the Men went and played Frisbee Golf the Women visited the Japanese Garden in hopes of seeing some cherry blossoms. (Editors note: I did see cherry blossoms two years ago, almost to the day, when we were in Vancouver and I totally forgot about it!)The garden was beautiful and had a plethora of cool trees!This Drum Bridge (Taiko Bashi) was commissioned by the Government of Japan for the 1894 San Francisco Midwinter Fair. There weren’t many cherry blossoms left on the trees,but the Wisteria was poppin! Visiting the Japanese Garden really confused this baby deer about which country she was in as it was so reminiscent of many of the Japanese Gardens I visited in Japan. I’m SO glad we went. After the Japanese Garden we explored more of Golden Gate Park. This is Spreckels Temple of Music located in the Music Concourse. The Music Concourse had a ton of cool trees like this pollarded London plane tree. I learned from looking this image up that “Pollarding is a pruning technique that limits the tree’s height and creates a dense canopy of thick branches.” This is the Rideout Memorial Fountain. Behind it is the de Young fine arts museum. We also visited Shakespeare’s Garden. I still need to research why there was a box of tarot cards behind his bust and we left them where they were. 🙂We finished off our visit to Golden Gate Park with a visit to Naga. Which is a 100-foot-long, 25-foot-tall sea serpent located in the Rainbow Falls pond. It was originally created for Burning Man and occasionally blows bubbles. 🙂Naga with Rainbow Falls in the background. I’ve heard it is even more spectacular at night when it is illuminated. It is hard for me to pass up a reflection shot!Afterwards we treated ourselves to a delicious brunch at Son and Garden. What an incredible, heart expanding week, to be welcomed back with! Capped off with yet another beautiful sunset. I am incredibly grateful for our amazing friends who cushioned our fall. ❤️❤️❤️We arrived safely in Albuquerque (ABQ), New Mexico, after spending the day in the airport April 5th. Nothing went necessarily wrong with our flights this time just long layovers. This is the courtyard outside our adorable casita which is in the top five of the nicest Air BnB’s we’ve stayed in this entire adventure!Murals in our neighborhood. Finally made it to Bow and Arrow Brewing! “It is notable as the first Native American women-owned brewery in the country. Co-founded by Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay, it is recognized for using indigenous, locally sourced ingredients—such as Navajo tea, blue corn, and wild sumac—to create Southwest-inspired beers.” Drinking delicious beer and supporting Indigenous communities, what could be better? Maybe the fact that we were able to share it with our friend that lives in ABQ? 😉More cool murals around town. Street art, literally. This statue is outside the tiny and somewhat hidden Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The last time we were in ABQ the chapel was closed because of vandalism. It was closed yesterday as well, not sure why, so I have yet to see the inside. Cute shopping street near Old Town ABQ.More neighborhood murals. You know I can’t resist. It is good to be “home”.
