5/19/2020

To My Grandkids,

     Wow, life is crazy! I've got a lot to update you on, so here's a little thought-dump.
In the past week, my friend Bryanna flew to Montana, and we moved into my van, Rosie! I had the blue one at first, but it needed some work, so I sold it and got a new one! Her name is Rosie, and she is a 1991 Dodge Ram Van, just like the other one, except it's a little smaller, and it is pink and white!! We have it all set up inside like a mini home, and it is AWESOME!! The past couple days, we have parked by Glacier National Park in Montana. GNP isn't actually open right now cause the world is still closed down from the virus, but there is a bridge called Belton Bridge that we found a pretty awesome campsite by! When we wake up there, we are overlooking the  river, have mountains on all sides of us, and we are right by the train tracks, so we get to watch it go by! The stars out there at night are UNREAL, they are so bright!
     For our kitchen, we have a mini camping grill that we light up and cook on, and we have a water jug that hangs from the ceiling as our 'sink', (we actually have 17 gallons of water around the van, and we get it from all natural spring spouts off the mountain!) and we have plates, bowls, utensils, seasonings etc etc. (everything that you would need to cook!) Our closet is under the bed, its just a bunch of drawers that have our stuff in it, and we have a shelf in the middle of the van (aka the living room) that holds everything else like books, shoes, chargers, seasons, food, etc.. For a fridge we have a cooler that sits in the front, and we have a powerstrip that plugs into the car so we can charge everything on the road. We also have my guitar and ukelele that just float around the van. 
     For 2 girls living in a van, we've got a pretty awesome little set up. We also use the roof of the van as our "upstairs" aka the kitchen and second living room, where the guitar jam out seshs happen :)
     For now, we are still in Montana, waiting to hit the coast. We're waiting for our license plates to get in , and then we're off to the beach!
      Yesterday, we ventured out across the hungry horse dam and we ended up finding a boat dock that had a bunch of tree stumps around it. We were laughing, singing, dancing, and when I walked out to the water, it made me fall silent. It was so gorgeous and peaceful out there. Everything was still and calm, reminding me to be still in the moment and appreciate how great it is to be ALIVE. We walked to the edge of the water, climbed up on a tree stump, and looked out across the water, admired the mountains, the lush green everywhere, and snow at the top. Everything was beautiful. It was pretty chilly out there, and I jokingly asked Bry if she wanted to jump in, but we we're like nooo it's way too cold.. Actually... The fear of the cold made me want to do it even more.. So, we stripped, and took a leap without a second thought. IT WAS SOOO COLD, but afterwards, I felt EXHILARATED!! Honestly, that is the best feeling ever, instead of backing down, standing up to fear and doing what scares you. 
       That's when you feel most alive. 
      The best things in life live on the other side of fear.

       I can't wait to keep you updated with all the crazy stuff we get into on the road. We are gonna meet so many people, and have so many amazing stories to tell. 
It's only day 3 and we already have tons. We're also ready to have group camp outs- we have room for a few people in the van, a 3 person tent, 2 hammocks, and mats to lay out on the roof if they're really wild haha.
     It's gonna be great. 

     Even though I haven't met you yet, I'm thinkin about ya kid. I'm so excited to sit around a fire with you and your friends one day and tell you all the wild times of my teenage years :)
               I love you always, 
                            Your barefoot runnin nana J :)

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