Solo, but never alone

I have started this blog post in my head so many times over the last month, time to sit down and share what the last month has brought in my journey. In a nutshell, I have had a month of jam packed weeks with travel and connections with dear friends. All of this travel has been on my own, but at each destination, I was able to spend time with people I haven’t seen in quite some time. So while I am traveling solo, I have never felt alone. I will admit that when I first started travelling again this year, there was a moment of distinct sadness each time the plane would land. That was when I would have texted Obie to say that I had arrived. It was a feeling of being unanchored at first but over the last month, I have found the efficiencies in travelling alone. I decide on when I want to be at the airport (which is at least 30 minutes later than would have been acceptable to Mr. A.) I have yet to have a stressful moment where I thought I would be late for a flight, so I feel a bit vindicated in my constant question of “why do we have to get there THAT early?” I have also taken every opportunity to explore the destinations and feel so enriched by the amazing places I’ve been able to experience. We may look back at this particular blog post and mark the transition from describing my mental and physical journey through grief and loss to being a blog about the physical journeys I will be taking. So for the sake of sharing, here’s where I’ve been and what I’ve been able to see for your travel planning purposes!

Washington DC: Obie was honored by his professional society, the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) with a resolution of respect. I was so fortunate to have our dear friends, Barry and Phyllis Merrill, join me. We had a great night honoring Obie and were able to grab dinner at Old Ebbett Grill, which was one of his favorites. There were moments of sadness when I saw places that had special meaning for us, but I guess that’s to be expected. I stayed at the Mayflower Hotel which was where he always stayed while in DC. No surprise that I did not have the luxurious suites that he would get with his Marriott status. I did not eat a single dinner alone while there and had amazing meals with former colleagues who are now friends.

Phyllis, Barry and I at Old Ebbett Grill in DC.

While in DC, I took full advantage of the capitol sights. I HIGHLY recommend the National Museum of African American History and Culture, it is a must see for any American. It is so well represented and I walked away a changed person with broader understanding and empathy. I also thoroughly enjoyed my time at the National Gallery of Art and would go back in a heartbeat. Probably my favorite thing that I did was a run through the national mall, going from around the Capitol Building, to the Supreme Court, then down the mall to the Washington Monument, continuing to the Lincoln Memorial, then circling around the lake to visit the monuments for MLK, FDR and Jefferson. I had never been to the FDR monument and while at first it comes across as unimpressive, the farther you explore, the more personal it becomes. I am always going to be a fan of a monument that includes the dog and wife! It ended up being over six miles but it flew by.

Ketchum, ID: I flew out of Boise to go to DC because I was already scheduled to be in Ketchum/Sun Valley for my favorite cycling event of the year, Rebecca’s Private Idaho. It was a long travel day from DC to Idaho but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to reconnect with my RPI/Be Good family. This year was a bit different because I did not even bring a bike. I stayed in a beautiful hotel using a gift certificate I won in an fundraising auction last year. I spent most of my time volunteering for Be Good Foundation because I believe in their mission. Plus I absolutely adore the executive director, Aerah Hardin. I have only been coming to this event for four years, but every year I deepen friendships and build new ones. It feels like a gravel family reunion and I always drive away with a full heart. I picked up an unwanted bonus while in Idaho, I learned once I was home that I had contracted Covid for the first time. I had worn my “never had Covid” badge with pride but I guess it was only a matter of time. Luckily, since I have kept up on my vaccinations, my symptoms were like heavy allergies. The unfortunate part was that I had to skip the wedding of someone near and dear to my heart.

Being sandwiched by two inspiring athletes: Rebecca Rusch and Dr. Meg Fisher

Las Vegas: In addition to serving as a board member for our local Boys & Girls Club, I also hold a volunteer role at the national level as a member of the National Area Council Committee. Twice a year, we have in person meetings to discuss governance within the movement aligned with the national conference and one rotating regional conference. Our fall meeting coincided with the Pacific Leadership conference which was held at Caesars. I’ve never stayed there so it was fun to explore a new property. In addition to the conference and meetings, I was able to visit the Princess Diana exhibit, ARTE Museum, Wizard of Oz at the Sphere and O at the Bellagio. Due to budget constraints at our local club, our CEO Brian Ace was the only person from our team to attend the conference. It was a good thing we were able to convince him to go because he received the Blue Spirit Award from Jim Clark, the CEO of BGCA. He was completely surprised by the recognition but as usual, handled it with grace and dignity. We have a tradition at conferences that I take the team out to dinner. Since it was only the two of us, I was able to get a reservation at Guy Savoy, which is a Michelin star restaurant. Words cannot describe the experience we had, I lost track of the courses at twelve and tried so many new things (yes, I ate a lot of seafood!) The restaurant was unusually quiet so our waiter (scratch that, captain) showed us the kitchen as we were leaving. It was a once in a lifetime experience. The next night I was so happy to have another delicious seafood dinner (who am I?) with my dear friend Suzanne who came to the strip to meet me. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by these amazing women who are so smart and so fun to be around.

Brian Ace, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties with his well deserved award.

Seattle: I made a quick day trip to Seattle for an appointment with my aesthetician who is helping me get my skin in order. After a quick stop to say hi to Lauren and Janio, I headed to U village for Sarah to work her magic. That evening, I had a delicious dinner with my makeup friends who I haven’t seen in years. Such a joy being around their energy!

Three gorgeous ladies who know how to take a picture, and me….

Los Angeles: One perk of my national role with BGCA was scoring an invite to the National Youth of the Year event held on the Fox Studio lot. The happy hour was held in the backlot with simulated a New York street and the dinner was held in Sound Stage 14. The event was hosted by Alex Rodriguez and there were many big names there, but the stars of the nights were the Youth of Year finalists from across the country. The best part of the night was spending time with Ann and Kelly, laughing. There is a direct flight to LA which leaves early and returns late so I ended up with a fair amount of free time while there. I rented a car and was able to connect with a few of my triathlon friends who live in Orange County. It was a blessing to reconnect with them. I was staying at the Fairmont Century City and was able to spend some time in the spa, highly recommend. Before my late flight home, I headed out to see some of the museums in the area. I could be called a museum speed walker, I like to look at the art and if something grabs my eye, I will read the information. Given this approach, I was able to visit the Museum of the Academy Awards, LACMA, Getty Villa and the Getty Center. It is safe to say that I have seen more priceless art in the last month than I have in my lifetime.

Ann Farrell (a fellow NACC member) and I with the BGCA VP of the Pacific Region, Kelly Reynolds on the Fox Studio Lot.

So I guess I could sum up the last month as nourishment of the body, heart and soul. In the midst of all of this travel, I’ve been working to wrap up a 32 year career at PNNL. My last day is this Thursday and it has been surreal working through the exit process. There have been moments during the last month where the nuances of the decisions were stressful, but with the support of smart people, I am comfortable with my path forward and am ready to start a new chapter. It has been a joy supporting another of my dearest friends, Deb Gracio, as she was named our new Laboratory Director. I cannot think of a better way to wrap up my time at PNNL than drafting a transition plan for her. Stay tuned for more details on the next chapter…

I went to campus today to donate blood and return some equipment. As I walked the halls, I took the time to poke my head into offices of people that I have enjoyed working with over the last three decades. It was so great to connect with so many people and get so many hugs! I will miss the amazing people at PNNL, but I don’t think I’m going to miss working full time.

As the summer comes to a close here, I have my sights set for Arizona. The fifth wheel will be picked up next Monday and I will fly to Phoenix to meet the driver and get it set up. I will return home for a week to get all the appointments done and then the dogs and I will head out on an epic road trip. So the journey continues, thanks for everyone who has supported me as I have found my way over the last 8 months. I am ready for what the future holds!