My birthday is always past Labor Day, so I usually stay with my friends and children outside in nature for a few days. It’s my preferred condition. But I’m not going to lie that I feel 46 is way older than 45. futurethe future. We’ve grown up this year (with help). We finally got the proper will/trust (so annoying, but so glad we went down). We both do extensive preventive blood tests (functional health – mixed review TBH) and now we are starting statins (genetically high, poorly persistent cholesterol) and in some cases HRT. I have inflamed and have low white blood cells around my heart, but I have no symptoms. This was quite enlightening/scary. We feel our health investment is good, but our first colonoscopy is a few weeks and it doesn’t sound like it’s not that interesting. And whenever I think about increasing my work, doing bigger things, growing up in the world of design/media, I remember spending six and eight more years at home with my kids and exploring the career I want in the next few decades. I often listen to Daniel PinkThe power of regret) and Arthur C. Brooks (From strength to strength). Everything is “opportunity cost” and the opportunity to hang out with my family by trying to explore my career has been winning the next 6-8 years while they are at home (which turns out to be obviously a privilege). Anyway, this summer was all about family, connections and nature. The PNW is glorious and we try to stack it all up (including many long chutes while we have very beautiful natural light). So here is what we did:
June: Only Brian and I will be traveling to New York
Brian and I realized that this summer was our 25th “date anniversary” and that it’s not what he’s laughing at. I absolutely disagree. I think we’ll be celebrating because it’s special to love/love each other in just 25 years. The kids flew to Sacramento to stay with Brian’s parents for a week (really a gift). Brian and I enjoyed our 5 nights in New York and our 20s and we both enjoyed ourselves. Brian planned everything full of food, three Broadway plays and a trip down Memory Lane.
We visited the studio apartment in East Village where we lived in in 2001 and had a drink at the same bar (wild!).
We were lucky enough to see Cole Escola on their last weekend Ah, Mary (I’m speechless, very cheerful) Outsiders (So many tween/teen boys in the audience, that made me cry!) Probably a happy ending (Amazing, Brian and I both cried – incredibly moving).
The highlights of the restaurant were the Guild (stylish and tasty) LaMercely, Corner Store (super scene in a fun way, delicious), Cafe Mado (worthy of a Brooklyn trip), and Kabawa (blown at all restaurants in New York).
Also, I had a restaurant mistake and couldn’t sleep very well (I’m not used to the sounds of the city). We had an incredible trip, but at the end it was so withered and excited to be home with our kids. I love the city and hope that our kids want to live there in their 20s, but once they leave, it’s hard to imagine your life again (in good ways and in bad ways). I’m very excited to bring my kids when I’m a teenager. It’s really exciting.
Whitefish, Montana
Honestly, there’s no need to leave PNW in the summer (people come from all over the world to come here to come), but we had an hour flight to Whitefish, Montana for a 6 night stay, hoping for a change in view/atmosphere.
We hiked Lake Avalanche in Glacier National Park (there were no parking on the guided hike, but no parking). The final reward was great, but the six miles were plenty for the kids.
We zipped in a ski resort (very fun), the paddle boarded the river (serene), we went for white water rafting (not finishing the day, 1/2 was long enough/sufficient), and rock climbing (with guide). We made some planning mistakes (it was a bit disappointing that we stayed). I think I overwhelmed our days and spent too much time driving to the glacier (staying at the lodge has rad). We moved to the lodge last night on the water and had a great time reading/pooling day. Everything loved the town and the atmosphere, had great food and explored a lot in nature. Next time I’ll be taking the train from Portland. It’s so much fun. Montana is really special.
Lots of BBQ, Pickle Ball Ball, Family/Neighborhood Hang Time
The summer felt like we had passed, but we had a lot of weekends. There we planned a really big Saturday for Saturday.
The weather here (mainly the 70s and 80s) collides and it is difficult to explore so many waters.
The kids had lots of free reins with friends (thank you, Jonathan Hyde), most of them were playing outside until 3pm with friends (downtime – i.e. screen).
5 Night Cycling Tour in the San Juan Islands
While Brian was planning for New York, I was busy planning my first “lightly supported” cycling trip in August while my kids were in a sleep-resistant camp. I was able to write many pages on why this was so amazing (I’m happy to answer any questions in the comments!), but I checked almost every box for us. We stayed in Anacortez one night, took the ferry to the port on Friday, 75 miles in San Juan for two days (the south and north loop), then 18 miles on Lopez Island (so beautiful and calm), 30 miles of Orcas (but we rented an e-bike that day. We spent our last night in La Connor (adorable – I want to go back with the kids). Screams to an incredible vintage store – Smörgåsbord At Orcas – I bought 10 things I didn’t need.
I have almost good reviews about the programs we went to (lifecycle – self-guide), routes, customer service, guide tom and apps (I didn’t like the first bed and breakfast as much as I’d hoped for at the price). Again, there was support as needed (so it was just two of us ourselves. They helped us move all our luggage and arrange reservations). However, if you don’t mind shrepping your own (with your bike or backpack) and researching and booking in advance, you don’t need to do the program. I was delighted that we were the first to do the program because we actually forced it to do it (haha, it was expensive and non-refundable), but next time we will try to do it ourselves, as we know our limits/skills.
We’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s great to have a guide to ask questions, and we were able to better understand the perfect miles for us (20-30) and how many days we want to do next time in a row (we had no downdays for four consecutive days). We met so many people later in life, saw the world on our bikes, and honestly looked so happy and young (E-bikes really open up this world in such an incredible way).
I am on sale on cycling trips every summer in the future, and I look forward to seeing my kids go to college. It felt so rich, fulfilling and healthy – and when you were all dirty and sweating with your partner, that first icy draft beer was pretty magical. And yes, we wore padded crotch and all-in-one bib shorts 🙂
We also went on a beautiful wedding weekend of Brian’s brothers in Tahoe (very beautiful) and stayed for 3 nights with friends from school (the best three days of summer for our kids). Horse Tail Falls, Scammania, Sugar Pine, Dahlia Festival – We’ll see you all this weekend.
I wrote a very long, rambling essay. Officially, I feel it is my feelings about medieval, career anxiety, external and internal age, and my feelings about my children getting older. Maybe one day I will formulate it into a clear essay that is brave enough to publish it 🙂 As we all know, there is no perfect life, perfect marriage, perfect school or place to live. But the boy is very grateful to be still here. You can spend time with all of you, my team, my 19-year-old husband, and my two favorite kids on Earth. This is 46. I’m so happy I’m still here (in every way). You are here 🙂 I am truly, more than I know how to express.
Source: Emily Henderson – stylebyemilyhenderson.com
