I remember losing it in the grocery store, salty tears in the bacon aisle. It was months after we lost Grandma. The grief hit me like it had just happened. Pal passed away six weeks ago, on the same day Grandma passed three years ago. This didn’t feel like a coincidence, not that I knowContinue reading “One purple bandana.”
Category Archives: Travel
treasure.
Moving to a new place where you know nobody or much of anything about it feels a bit like a treasure hunt. You’re grasping for whatever looks graspable and every little thing is a clue that will hopefully lead you to your next open door. Some clues are big and obvious—like meeting the only personContinue reading “treasure.”
afterglow.
noun [af-ter-gloh] the pleasant remembrance of a past experience, glory, etc. I am so unbelievably thankful that I got a week off to meet my niece and see the rest of my family during the busiest time at the saloon (seriously, thank you, Marcia and Amy!) I couldn’t have enjoyed it any more than I did. Baby Hannah is as precious asContinue reading “afterglow. “
hoi polloi.
[hoi puh–loi] plural noun the common people; the masses (often preceded by the). Sometimes it’s nice to embrace being one of the hoi polloi. It’s easier at times to just blend in, to put your earphones in and keep quiet while in an airport or on a plane. Flying is full of ups and downs. For me, not just geographically but emotionally, too, especially ifContinue reading “hoi polloi.”
wafflestompers.
[wof–uh l-stom-perz] Plural noun ankle boots with ridged soles, used especially for hiking. I feel very lucky to now have many people in my life who will strap on their wafflestompers and go on an adventure with me and my polar bear. About halfway through the hike, they start brainstorming about what they want for brunch. Waffles hopefully. Some place where breakfast is servedContinue reading “wafflestompers.”
bonhomie.
[bon-uh–mee, bon–uh-mee; French baw-naw-mee] noun frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; geniality. Frank and simple good-heartedness. I type this out and just sit and stare at it with a smile. It warms the cockles (as Trish would say). Frank and simple. Not overanalyzed, not complicated, just old-fashioned good-heartedness. Assuming the best about people. Letting benefit defeat doubt. Holding doors, buying coffees, shoveling snowyContinue reading “bonhomie.”
cryophilic.
[krahy-oh-fil-ik] adjective preferring or thriving at low temperatures. When talking about plans for tomorrow, I said to a friend, “Oh tomorrow afternoon will be 24 degrees, so that’s not bad.” He said, “Imagine if your Florida friends heard you say that.” “Ha! Good point. And I really mean it, 24 isn’t bad.” Am I cryophilic Idahoan? Nah. I wouldn’t say IContinue reading “cryophilic.”
penetralia.
[pen-i-trey-lee-uh] plural noun the innermost parts or recesses of a place or thing. the most private or secret things. I know in the social media world, we tend to present the happy and stunning moments and leave out the frustrating penetralia. We can look at someone’s Facebook page and think nothing ever goes wrong for them. Snowy walks and smiling dogs and UF Gator orange sunsets. We don’t want toContinue reading “penetralia.”
landloper.
[land-loh-per] noun a wanderer, vagrant, or adventurer. Are you constantly intrigued by how we connect with some people so easily, so quickly, and with others, not a bit? Every time I sit down to write about new friendships and connections, I present this phenomenon. Some customers will come in to the saloon and we hit it off instantly, beforeContinue reading “landloper.”
swimmingly.
[swim-ing-lee] adverb without difficulty; with great success; effortlessly. Falling in love with Idaho has gone swimmingly; it’s seamless and easy. It happens with each new turn in the road or a smile from a stranger. What has not gone swimmingly in this moving process is the actual moving process. I cannot find the right, affordable place to live. I haveContinue reading “swimmingly.”
beth of fresh air 