#wanderlust
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My Night Out Walking In Kansas City
Out Walking Off Tacos So after the excellent tacos I had to go out walking around the city to explore. I’ve been here once before but that was last year and the end of summer. I was also nursing a severe leg wound from dumpster diving (I may write about that at some point) which Continue reading
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I Eat Tacos at Guy Fieri’s Dive in Kansas City
Out and About My last night in Kansas City, MO and I wanted to eat tacos. So before heading home from this last trip, I spent it out and about in KC. Last stop over I stumbled upon Guy Fieris Dive and Taco Joint in The Power and Light District downtown. I tried to go Continue reading
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A Day Riding Wolf Creek Ski Area
My (in)Experience Riding Before I get I get into telling you about my day riding, let me talk about my experience so far with snowboarding. It has been smaller places like Perfect North Slopes and Paoli Peaks in the beginning. Afterward, I advanced to Snowshoe Mountain, WV and thought I was doing well. This was Continue reading
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Train Ride From Durango
About The Train and The Ride When my good friend says “hey, I want to ride this train up in Durango so I booked us some seats” you say yes! I had no idea what it was or what I was getting into. Easter Sunday came and off we drove from Pagosa Springs to Durango. Continue reading
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Kansas City, MO > Pagosa Springs, CO
What a drive! About half was done off the interstate. The rural areas in Colorado were just amazing. Lucy did great. Still trying to get traveling with a feline figured out but hey, she did awesome for being 20 and not having much experience in the car. As always, there were many times I wanted Continue reading
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Shelbyville, KY > Kansas City, MO
Hi there and hello from Kansas City, Missouri. The trip took a little longer than expected. Lucy had a few moments requiring quite a bit of attention. After all the traveling across the country, we still don’t have a solid routine down yet. Also I drove through a massive storm system that spawned tornados in Continue reading
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Lucy Update
Bloodwork from our most recent visit did not come back normal as expected. Lucy is anemic (this is totally new!), thyroid panel is high (she’s had hyperthyroid disease for 4 years), and she is showing signs of renal disease (I knew this already). Care will be to increase her daily dosage of thyroid meds and Continue reading
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Just a quick note..
I have a new travel companion. Well, not exactly new but new to the traveling part. My 20 year old calico cat Lucy. She’s had lymphoma since 2018 and she’s become too needy to leave behind. I’m also not sure how much time she has left so from now on she will be coming with. Continue reading
About Me and My Grief Journey
My grief journey began in the Summer of 2020. I became a widow overnight. Without warning, my entire life was turned upside down, broken into pieces I didn’t know how to put back together. Writing became my anchor—my way to breathe, process, and heal, even in small, fractured moments.
After losing Eric, I was diagnosed with PTSD, complicated grief, and an anxiety disorder. For a long time, I was paralyzed by my own emotions. I traveled across the U.S. for over two years, mostly alone, learning how to carry myself through the aftermath of sudden loss.
Along the way, I found love again. Greg became an important part of my life, bringing companionship, laughter, and even new challenges. Losing him to suicide has been another unimaginable heartbreak that shapes much of what I write here. Through it all, my emotional support animals —Odin (dog) and Freija (cat)— keep me grounded and remind me there is still love, life, and care to give.
I moved and now reside in Chicago, Illinois. This city, this home, is my space to rebuild, to grieve, and to explore who I am beyond loss.
What you will find here
This blog started as a place to house my writing. Over time, it’s become much more. Here, I reflect on grief, healing, and the messy, beautiful, often difficult journey of life after sudden loss. I write about my day-to-day experiences, the struggles and triumphs with my diagnoses, and anything else that captures my heart and attention.
My journey on podcasts
Many of my articles are available in podcast form on Spotify and Amazon Music. I welcome your comments—I love feedback. Let’s share this journey together, and maybe find adventure along the way.