SO MUCH has transpired in the last five days of September. But first, some introductions. Jess and Bethani at an overlook of Pamplona My friend Bethani and I met at summer camp fifteen years ago, where we bonded over hauling tipi poles down a wooded hillside without losing limbs or gaining concussions. Since that time,…
Andes Adventure, Day 1: It’s Not Fair
I woke up before my alarm, my nerves making my brain whir and my stomach flip. This is the usual pre-flight process, so I just got Monday rolling early with a shower and a final review of the packing checklist (this was the third "final" baggage check – yesterday's review discarded an umbrella and swapped…
Three Things I’ve Learned this Summer
Frost has sparkled the tips of the grass and the eaves of the rooftop for the first time this season, and I’ve caved and turned the furnace on. The undulating pillow-top forest canopy is morphing from a study in verdant tones to one of quilted reds, oranges, and greens. School buses roll by at regular…