Tag: living

End: Year Two, Bozeman, Montana

Reflections: 2016. Two years in now. Although my year in Montana has come with more surprises than my year in Minnesota, I’m feeling more adjusted to my “routine of change.” It seems I’m becoming more of a seasonal …

September 28, 2016 – Seattle, Washington

“How do you know when to stop putting everyone else’s needs above your own?” …the gentleman sitting across from me asks, rhetorically. He’s holding both of his arms out, palms up, painting a picture for Miri and I …

September 27, 2016 – Port Townsend, Washington

Well, this is one way to spend a vacation. Cleaning dead rats out of a basement doesn’t exactly meet my ideals of a good time, but when you visit a fellow traveler at their host’s place… It hasn’t …

September 17, 2016 – Wise River, Montana

Well, this was unexpected. Last winter, I worked at Lutsen Resort in Minnesota for a guy named Jim. Quite the adventurous type, he talked a lot about his time in Alaska and Montana. When I told him I …

August 18, 2016 – Bozeman, Montana

…And here I am, left starving. Fighting the intrusive thoughts, trying to focus on the task at hand. It’s my first time pouring concrete, but my mind keeps wandering toward a recent night that ended with much more …

May 18, 2016 – Hungry Horse, Montana

Places I never thought I’d spend a month or more living in: -a pristine guest cabin (Crosslake, Minnesota) -a camper/trailer (Finland, Minnesota) -employee housing at a resort (Lutsen, Minnesota) -a tool shed (Hungry Horse, Montana) But here I …

April 12, 2016 – Helena, Montana

One month isn’t long enough. Or maybe it’s too long. As we sit around the living room, I realize that I could see myself getting attached to this family very easily. My hosts’ son is a man that …

December 29, 2015 – Lutsen, Minnesota

What a beautiful woman. Even if she did just break my six hundred dollar smart phone. Which she will deny. Either way, I’m thankful that the stars aligned in such a way that I was able to have …

October 8, 2015 – Finland, Minnesota

“Let it go, let it go…” I can’t help but laugh out loud as I hear Genavive recite the infamous lines from the highest grossing Disney movie of all time. Should’ve been The Lion King. Amelia says that …

October 5, 2015 – Finland, Minnesota

I can’t believe people do this. I’m being chauffeured up the most ridiculous “road” I’ve ever encountered – an old logging road that hasn’t been maintained in years. My driver is a friend of my new hosts; he …