‘I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.’― Walt Whitman

I am incredibly grateful to have a family that I not only love but like a lot. I remember the first session with my therapist, she asked who I considered myself to be closest to and that did not necessary have to be the family I was born into but the one I created. I immediately said my dad and my brother without a second thought. I have created an amazing family with some incredible people but my dad and brother will always be the people who I turn to. It is not lost on me how lucky I am as this is not the experience of so many. Covid ruined a lot of things but delaying my brother’s trip was one of the ones that hurt the most (seeing my dad and meeting my godson have also been delayed but hoping to rectify that soon). By the time B arrived, it had been over two years since I had seen him…the longest we’ve gone since he was born!

We had a few days in Bend before hitting the road. B arriving didn’t feel real until he pulled up! Our plan was to hang out in here for a few days, where I showed him my favorite places-Smith Rock, the Painted Hills, and downtown. Then we would head to Crater Lake, drive the Oregon Coast from bottom to top, and culminate with visits to Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier. He continued east to Glacier National Park and I went to Seattle. Most impressive, is that we got a long the whole time. B and I have very different personalities and temperaments so that we actually enjoy one another’s company really speaks to our bond, ha!

When we planned this trip, I was planning on staying in Bend but, as I talked about, life happens fast! So a trip to show B around turned out to be a really lovely farewell! In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about my trip…so stay tuned!