2. I went to Idaho in August with my Dad and my brother for my Dad's 65th Birthday! We flew into Spokane and drove out to a tiny town called Avery, ID. One thing that we forgot while living in a state that is pretty flat is that mountains are things, rental car sedans are also things...but that doesn't mean those two things should mix. Let's just say our late afternoon into late evening mountain pass did not go great. But we made it and stayed in this great little cabin on the St. Joe River in the middle of nowhere. We were there to ride the Hiawatha Trail, which is a stretch of old railroad tracks converted into a bike trail "15 miles long with 10 train tunnels and 7 sky-high trestles." It's all slightly downhill, but then we decided that we should turn around and ride back up (slightly more difficult!) But that beer in the parking lot was goooooooood then! We also biked part of the Path of the Couer d'Alene around the Couer d'Alene lake on a whim. The entire trip was awesome and having a chance to be in the actual wilderness, in the mountains and under the bright stars was thrilling. I hope that I have another chance to get out that way at some point; there is still so many things I would like to explore!
3. I also had the most fun doing a show this summer/fall at the Mercury Theatre called THE BARDY BUNCH - basically a musical parody that pits the Brady Bunch characters against the Partridge Family in crazy, Shakspearian plot lines. It's just as crazy as it sounds...lots of laughs, lots of blood, lots of polyester. I played Laurie Partridge - I had a great time doing the show and singing 70's songs all night, I got to pass myself off as a 16-year-old, AND I got to play with some of the best damn people ever. Starting over in a new city isn't easy, especially when you left behind some friends that were closer to family. Luckily, I found some really good people that are quickly becoming really great friends.
4. Ummmmm....REMEMBER WHEN THE CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES???? Honestly, one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced. That whole series was incredible, but the last game will go down in history as one of the best ever. Never in my whole life have I thought, "Man, I really wish I could watch a rerun of an entire baseball game!", but I honestly would watch that game over and over and over again. This city was electric, the joy was palpable, Lake Michigan was freezing.
5. I've been "dating" this year. I don't think I've ever actually DATED in my whole life... Stay tuned for awkward/hilarious stories, I'm sure.
6. So....Trump. I won't get into here (for the time being), you can read my Facebook for that. But I did want to talk about the Women's March on Washington. When it was first being organized, I thought "I have to be there." I have to do something besides just push send on Facebook. I knew some friends from New York were gonna go and I figured I'd fly to NYC, drive up with them and kill a few birds with one trip. The March was honestly awesome and inspiring and thought-provoking. The sheer number of women (and men!) that got together to stand together was incredible! I saw every age, every size, every gender, every religion, every sexual orientation, every walk of life represented. The March was peaceful, positive and cathartic.
I had some people close to me ask, with genuine curiosity, why I went and if it even mattered. It does matter, even if individual issues such as the refugee crisis, gay rights, racial discrimination, gender equality and access to healthcare don't' really affect your day to day life. Because isn't that what gave rise to Nazi Germany? Lots of "good" people averting their eyes while their neighbours and countrymen were discriminated against, treated like animals, taken away and ultimately extinguished - all because it didn't directly affect them or they may have even prospered from it. So we marched to let our representatives know that not everyone is complacent and willing to turn a blind eye. One of the most powerful moments for me was a man standing by himself along the March route with a poster. I can't remember exactly what it said, but it was something along the lines of "I am a Syrian refugee and I thank you from the bottom of my heart". As we passed - hundreds, thousands of us - we chanted "No hate, No fear...Refugees are welcome here." All for this one man, who stood there looking amazed, so that he would know that we are not a nation that bows to fear and supports hatred. It matters. And I got to hear Gloria Steinem speak. BOOM.
Other than that - it's January and I'm mostly hibernating and avoiding going outside. So I'll see you all in April when the sun comes out again!
-e
