“In the end, she became more than what she expected. She became the journey, and like all journeys, she did not end, she just simply changed directions and kept going.” – r.m. drake
Well, folks, we’ve reached it. The end of another year. Can you believe it? 2022 flew by. Is time speeding up? I think I actually read about that somewhere.
I made a fun recap video on Instagram of my “2022 Greatest Hits” in photos. You can watch it here…warning, it moves fast and may cause motion sickness.
Despite all the difficulties and a few losses of people I love, I was pleasantly surprised when looking back through my photos at what a truly fun and eventful year I had. Sometimes, we, meaning I, tend to dwell on the negative or sad moments, so this was a good project for me – to reminisce about the good times.
Here are some of my favorites.
HAWAII: In January, my friend Linda invited me to visit her in Maui for a week. It was my first time in Hawaii and I loved it! I will definitely be back. We had a blast…not to mention I scored a super cheap roundtrip flight at the last minute – which always makes the trip more fun. We saw whales, sea turtles, and rainbows from the balcony. We watched stunning sunsets from the beach and Haleakala Crater. We ate lots of pineapple and white chocolate, macadamia nut pancakes – to.die.for. And I loved the local coffee (Smithy isn’t a coffee drinker), so much so that I brought several canisters home with me. We hit the Road To Hana – which we survived but didn’t buy the t-shirt to tell about it. I went snorkeling several times and hopped on an incredible whale-watching tour (shown in the video above). Being that close to nature makes you realize just how tiny you are. And we relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine. It was one of the best trips of my life. I’m so grateful to Linda for inviting me.
THE J: After I returned from Hawaii, I realized I definitely needed to join a gym for swimsuit season and that is where I found The Community I Never Knew I Needed. I wrote about The Jewish Community Center a few months ago when I left KC for Italy because they made such an impact on me. Off of a recommendation from my friend, Bob, I met some of the most influential people I’d meet in 2022. You wouldn’t think that the gym is where you would meet such people, but The J isn’t like any other fitness center.
I either swam or did yoga/pilates seven days a week because I loved the people so much. They inspired me and made me want to get up every day and be a better version of myself. Plus, the free coffee at the “coffee nook” and the people who are the “regulars” there was a double bonus for me. And then getting the opportunity to participate with the fighters (these people are the real champions in life) in the Rock Steady Boxing program for Parkinson’s patients put this experience over the top as one of the highlights of 2022. If you are in Kansas City and want a fun place to work out and make new friends (if you’re looking for that), definitely check out The J. Just tell Bobby in registration that I sent you…I need a free month when I return…ha!
UTAH: After a few months of a routine of working out and trying to figure out my next steps, I needed a fix. My drug of choice…hiking. In April, I set off on a solo hiking adventure around the entire state of Utah with a few stops in Kansas & Colorado. I made a weekend stop in Concordia, KS to see my best friend and her family to celebrate her niece going to prom (hey, it’s a big deal for a high schooler) and then a quick visit for the night to see another friend’s parents in Marysville, KS (home of the black squirrels – a must-see local attraction) and then to my best friend’s, Squint, house in Colorado.
After those couple of visits, I hit the long road to Utah over the Rockie Mountains. I stayed in Moab for a few nights and hiked Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park (an absolutely awful name for a hiking spot). I made my way down to Durango, Colorado to soak in the Hot Springs – definitely add this place to your bucket list. Then over to Kanab, Utah because of a recommendation from some friends I met on the Camino last year. They told me about The Wave, which is an amazing park but you have to win the lottery to get in…sadly, I did not. But I did some amazing slot canyon hiking and met an incredible guy named Ben who was walking across America to raise awareness about mental health. Sadly, his ex-girlfriend died by suicide and I think this was his way of honoring her and grieving his loss. I noticed him walking on the side of the road so I turned around and went back. A pilgrim always goes to check on another pilgrim. I asked him if he needed anything and he said he would love something sweet, and since I was not available, I gave him some chocolate and basically all the food I had in the car – popcorn, grapes, candy suckers, etc. After I said goodbye to Ben, I made a quick stop at Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park…lovely little place…and bought a handmade vase for a friend. Once I made my way into Kanab, I booked a room for a week at the Red Canyon Cabins (the perfect little place) to do some more hiking in the area including Zion National Park. As any of you who have been there, know, it’s amazing!
Next, I headed off to St. George, Utah in the bottom SW corner of the State and I went to a random art festival that was happening and stayed in a (NERD ALERT) Howard Johnson (one of the last ones in existence – and no, sadly, it didn’t have a restaurant – that’s the first question I get every time I mention it). It was so cute and clean and just like I’d seen in an episode of Mad Men. Be still my heart.
After St. Geroge, I made the long trek up to Wendover, Utah (although most of the drive was in Nevada) to the Bonneville Salt Flats. I’ve been obsessed with seeing this place since I watched the movie, The World’s Fastest Indian with Anthony Hopkins. It was a cool place to see but probably better when the races are happening. The two cities, Wendover and West Wendover, huddling the state line are funny little places…one side is full of casinos and the other is not. Ha! Sinners vs. Saints! Finally, I made my way through Salt Lake City with a stop at the lake, which is devastatingly low, on my way back to Colorado and ultimately Kansas City. I loved their marketing campaign when I was a kid – “We may stink, but you won’t sink.”
I think this might be the first solo trip I’ve done throughout America. I’ve traveled to Europe many times and Australia alone but never in the US. It was a great experience for me and something I hope to do again. I learned a lot about myself; I don’t get bored and I like spending time alone – I actually enjoy my own company.
EL CAMINO DEL NORTE: The next highlight is a big one for me. There is not enough space in this blog for all the photos and videos I would love to include. In May and June, for 41 days, I hiked the El Camino del Norte across Spain. It’s the Northern route to the original way of the El Camino de Santiago. I’ve hiked the original Camino, referred to as the Frances, twice in 2018 & 2021. This route was physically and mentally challenging for me. I had a knee injury from falling off of a bike in Sept 2021 and then participated in the New York City Marathon in November of that same year. So the hiking in Utah was a little test drive to see if I could do it. I could, but not very well. I was in pain for many days but I made it to the end. I’m really proud of myself for finishing this one because I wanted to give up so many times. Thankfully, I had some amazing hiking partners who encouraged me and kept me going. I experienced the full range of being human; I laughed and cried. I got angry and grieved. I found joy in the simplest little things like watching a bee gather pollen and eating the wild berries growing on the side of the road. I discovered the value of resting and became a power napper (bucket list – check)! I made some incredible new friendships with people from all over the world. I ate my first grilled sardine straight out of the ocean. And I really lived. The Camino is such a sacred place to me and I always feel more alive and connected when I walk them. The Camino is ultimately my favorite place on Earth. So to get to do another one this year was the cherry on top!
If you are interested, I wrote a post every day of the hike and a few extras. All the posts are in the archives starting in August 2022 – October 2022. Here is the very first of the posts.
I made a wrap-up video of my experience as well. Check it out here.
To piggyback off the Camino – I spent a couple of weeks in Portugal after the hike to unwind and relax. All I can say is Portugal is a must-visit country. The food, the wine, the people, the sites, the tiles, the sardines…all of it is amazing! I fell in love with Porto and really enjoyed my time in Lisbon.
THE WONDERING WANDERER: In August of this year, I started my own business, The Wondering Wander. I filed paperwork with the State of Kansas and everything. It’s official. I have to pay taxes on it so you know it’s legit.
After years of sharing stories of my adventures in emails and on the phone with friends and family, and listening to them tell me, “you should write a book,” I finally took a baby step and started this blog. We all have fears and mine is vulnerability. When I write, I’m sharing bits and pieces of myself that are sometimes hard for me to put into words let alone on “paper”. I’m also a terrible speller and have zero sense of grammar rules – thank goodness for the Grammarly app, my public education wasn’t the best – so I’m nervous about sharing my stories in the written word. But I do have a big heart and a passion for the world around me so that’s got to count for something.
I’m not sure how this new adventure is going to go in the future but I’m giving it my all. My subscriptions aren’t exactly where I would like them to be but as a former marketer, I know it takes time to build a base. You all are a small but loyal bunch – thank you. So I’m going to keep writing and I hope you’ll keep reading…and maybe share the link with a friend or two who might be amused by my tall-tales and wanna sign up! You can also follow along at the following social media outlets.
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thewonderingwanderer.fb
Instagram: @thewonderingwanderer.insta
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@thewonderingwanderer22
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmlwddgxuGTvSZWpSyE8hg
MY DAD’S VISIT TO ITALY: My dad came to visit me (and meet Luca) in Florence in November. I documented most of our adventures on the blog – just search the archives and you’ll find them. It was a wonderful trip and I’m so glad he pushed himself out of his comfort zone to come here. I was proud of him for trying to embrace the culture which can cause a little shellshock on arrival. He even tried his first-ever Italian macchiato. It was his first time outside of the US and I’m thrilled he chose Italy as his first destination (of many more to come, I hope) since it holds such a special place in my heart. We made many memories and had some good father-daughter bonding time. I will cherish our time together, always. Again, I have so many photos and videos to share but not enough space. (((sad face)))
LUCA & ITALY: I’ve been able to spend about 4-5 months this year in July & Aug & now Oct-Jan, visiting Luca in Italy. We’ve had a lot of fun and a few challenges along the way…which is probably normal when you are getting to know someone. Like the business (and anything really) I don’t know what the future will bring but I’m so happy our paths have crossed. He’s really been good for me and I hope I have been for him as well. He challenges me and already knows how to push some of my buttons but he also really supports and encourages me to “go for it” and to be my most authentic self. We’ve had some fun adventures since meeting on the Camino. We’ve taken a cooking class, celebrated a couple of holidays, and traveled around Italy a little bit, plus, he got to meet my dad – one of the most important people in my life.
I’m glad we’ve had a chance to spend time together in Italy and I’ve enjoyed learning more about his culture. I’m also really happy I took a language class this year and stretched my brain in an entirely new direction. It feels like I accomplished something. I know I’m not fluent but I was able to communicate effectively in Italian with a taxi driver today! Point for me.
So, all in all, this has been a fantastic year. I know I’ve had some serious heartache moments and been down in the dumps a time or two but on the bright side, I’ve picked myself up and kept going. I’ve traveled to new and favorite places. I’ve made new friends and kept in touch with friends who I’ve known for years. I’ve learned a few new skills and started a new business. And most importantly, I learned more about myself through all of these experiences and I really like myself. I feel more comfortable in my own skin…and that is the best thing about 2022.
Thank you, 2022. 🙏❤️
Goodnight and much love from Florence, Italy. 🇮🇹
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2023! Onward and upward, dear friends. 🥂