Happy birthday, my love. On this milestone birthday, and every day, I am grateful for the life weāve built together. For our kids and our dogs and our home and our adventures. I wouldnāt want to do life with anyone else by my side. Happy 50th. Love you to the moon and back. š
For a little while tonight, the news cycle was replaced by people freaking out over nature doing something cool. It was all over social media, my text threads, the internet. And it was beautiful.
I grew up in Minnesota, where it wasnāt uncommon to see the northern lights, especially way up north at my friendās cabin. But you donāt see them much down in New Mexico, where I live now. So this was very, very neat. Thanks for sharing this moment of joy. Earth is so rad.
The world lost a bit of its sparkle yesterday. Stella Luna will be remembered for her ferocity, snaggletooth, big heart, and loud snores. She was with me for more than a decade and saw me into marriage and motherhood. Dogs are too good; we do not deserve their endless love, but I will love her forever right back. Rest in peace, my very good girl.
UPDATE: In a miraculous turn of events, Stella was not on a forever walkabout as weād thought after missing her for days, but had just gone on a big adventure to who knows where. She showed up at our doorstep this morning. What a rollercoaster.
Rest in peace, my sweet Stell. Thank you for picking me at that shelter a decade ago. Thank you for coming on our many adventuresābackpacking deep into the backcountry of New Mexico and Colorado, kayaking on countless rivers and lakes, and road tripping across the country again and againāeven if we both knew youād much rather be relaxing at home. You shepherded me into motherhood and marriage. You were tough on the outside, but had a heart of gold, and Iāll love you forever. I miss you and your snaggletooth already and hope youāre snoozing in a forever patch of sun. āļø
I donāt think words can really express how grateful I am for my time at Outside. Iāve made lifelong friends and learned so much. I even met my husband during my tenure here. This job completely changed my life. Thank you to everyone who I was lucky enough to collaborate with for keeping my job interesting, for everything you taught me, and for writing and reading the great stories weāve gotten to publish together. Itās been a hell of a run. Live bravely ā¤ļø
Over the weekend, we went camping and Ted disappeared. It was so unlike him. Tedās number one mission was to be as close to me as possible at all times. We searched for him for hours and hours, but were not able to find him. He was deteriorating quickly, so Iād like to think that he said goodbye, trotted off into the woods, and took a nice, long forever nap after 17 years (who knows for sure, but a lot) on this planet.
Ted,
This weekend I had to say goodbye to you, my best friend of so many years. I know it was time, and I know you lived a full and adventurous life, but Iām still heartbroken.
You moved with me all over the country and made lifelong friends everywhere we went. There was never a day that you werenāt absolutely stoked to wake up. You kayaked and rock climbed and ran and camped. You summited 14ers, soaked in hot springs, and frequented dog bars. You were the alpha of our little pack, and were never afraid to boss around dogs ten times your size.
I am so grateful that we found each other in Chicago that afternoon. Youāve made this stretch of my life complete, and I canāt imagine it without you.
I love you forever, bud. Thank you for being the very best good boy,
Mom
