I was trying to beat the storm. in the wee hours of the morning when the temps dipped to -13, I wondered if my truck was going to start. I put up a fight and got a flight out of Billings after all as the temps continued to plummet. drove through probably the most terrifying ice storm I’ve lived through yet. cars spinning off to ditches, trucks jack-knifing behind me. I just wanted to get out of this state.

success. two days later I rolled into the marina in the Bahamas where my entirely family was waiting for my arrival into our a massive 46 ft. catamaran. only a day late after all that. we took off and sailed from one island to the next. I drove that massive shoe box into harbor and moored it a couple of times. I was so proud of myself. we swam in the ocean, snorkled a ton. my mom included, I was always amazed at her enthusiasm to put on her gear and take off swimming. we saw turtles, sharks, sting rays, conch shells and tons of bright colored fish. one huge one.

one afternoon we sought a beach on the atlantic side and found massive waves crashing right onto shore. we all held hands and swam in the ocean, trying to stand up in the massive waves that crashed over head. simple pleasures, it was a blast. I loved sharing the cabin with my little teenage sister and sharing late night talks with her. my little super hero. we collected a few conch shells and spent a few days trying to figure out how to get the bastards to come out of it’s shell. eventually we opted for a boil and got them all out. my hermit crab turned out to be a baby lobster that decided to become a hermit crab instead a lobster. I ordered a cake for my mom from the marina where we got our boat. the word “äiti” lost in translation and what we got instead was “a..iti”. hilarious! I was in charge of breakfast most of the mornings, my sister and dad dinner usually.

I love being a tourist with my family. I love my family. I loved spending time with my sisters. I loved every minute of the stellar company of them all. we have our quirks and grievances toward each other, but what family doesn’t?

after an amazing ten days with my family, eventually we had to say good bye again. I cried, all my sisters cried. we all told each other how much we love each other. I was left for another 24 hrs to spend in marsh harbor before my journey home. I walked around, met so many nice folk of the bahamas. may have something to do with being a blond girl in a summer dress. people are quite “loving”. apparently buying fresh conch chevicé from a street vendor is a natural segway into “so how about I pick you up tonight and show you around and take you dancing?”. totally. the taxi driver proposed to me three times in that short taxi ride. ever where I walked it was princes, baby girl… harmless though it seemed, made me  smile. in my meandering found an upscale beach resort. walked to the pool, kicked off my flip flops and ordered from the bar. spent the entire afternoon laying in the sun, reading a good book and taking dips in the pool. what an amazing place, what a way to spend my last day.

I wasn’t quite ready to give up my bikini, summer dress and flip flops. I loved the humidity and salt in the air. I loved the open ocean, the crystal blue waters, the sea spray. the beating sunshine. more than anything I loved jumping into any pool or shower that crossed your path. then throwing my sundress back on and calling it good.

I laughed again cause I sure know how to spoil myself.

got back into montana. drove back from billings in the middle of the night. crashed a few hours in the madison river valley, made it to ennis around 6am. slept until noon, got up, drove to bozeman for a topper for my truck and to spend quality time with Porter. it did the heart good to see him. I know it did both of us good. we spent a solid 24 hours together. got afternoon drunk, passed out early, went for breakfast in the morning. then to crystal bar around 10. ha! Tom and Tim came over and we went bird hunting in Carlston. it’s good to back in mt. at one point he turned to me and told me he’s glad I’m there. I know while I was gone he’d missed me. called Tim to wonder about me and Tim gave me shit that it’s the only time Porter’s called him. to ask about me. aw, so sweet. I was so glad to be there too. I realized when I headed to bozeman knowing I’d get to spend time with him, I found myself with warmth. and by the way he smiled when he saw me, I know he felt the same way. love that guy! everyone we know keeps asking if we’re hooking up. our friendship feels good.

next morning I skied the First fork into the Elbow room with Ted. I love to scare myself. and I am amazed that he trusts me enough to take me on that line. keep your shit focused on that one. tight coular, no fall zone. and so I had another amazing day of skiing.