The month of March represents a lot of things for people. For some, it's the time of year when the snow starts to melt and the time changes. Even though we are still slogging thru the slush in Arco we know spring is just around the corner! The days are getting longer and warmer and in just a few weeks we will be in full swing at Mountain View. March is also a time to celebrate all things Irish and St. Patrick's Day. And occasionally Easter even makes an early appearance near the end of the month. But for half the population, March (AKA Women’s History Month) is a time to reflect on women and just how far we have come. As a Gen Xer female its pretty remarkable for me to see just how much things have changed since my late grandmother was a girl. Although she was a strong and independent woman, it would have never crossed her mind to do the things that are just second nature to me....traveling alone, focusing on building a career rather than raising a family, and most recently purchasing and running my own small business.
Before I get too far along I do want to mention my business and life partner (Ryan) that I work with side by side everyday...he is amazing and I couldn't do this without him. But this post is a shout out to some of the other people that got me to this point...a few very unique and amazing women!
My maternal grandmother passed away a few years ago but I still think about her nearly every day. She grew up during the depression, lived thru the second world war, and was married to the love of her lie for over 70 years. Although she never held a formal job, she raised three children , served her community and church thru all forms of volunteer work and was our family's matriarch for almost 90 years. She was beautiful, elegant and graceful. No doubt, truly a person born of The Greatest Generation. I was blessed to grow up close enough to my grandparents that my bother and I could eat dinner with them when we didn't like what mom was cooking! They were a huge part of my childhood...taking me on trips across country and even delivering me to my apartment in Italy when I studied abroad for a semester in college. My grandmother loved to travel and instilled that love in me. She (and my grandfather) made so many things possible for me and there is no way I would be where I am today without all their help, inspiration and love.
I was fortunate enough to be back in North Carolina for the holidays this year. We loaded up the animals and pulled our 5th wheel the 2200 miles back to Charlotte. Other than spending time with my family, one of the biggest highlights of the trip was reuniting with my girlfriends. I can't tell you how much good it did my soul to share a night out with five of my very best friends. I have known these ladies for more than half of my life...meeting Carla, Elizabeth and Beth at Carolina in the late 90' and Jordan and Maureen (Mo) a few years after in Charlotte. We all had houses in the same neighborhood in Charlotte that were in walking distance of each other. We grew into adults together and they are more like family to me that friends. They are all working moms...I do not have children but am in awe of women that manage to work, raise children and give back to their community on a daily basis like they do. They are all different and amazing in their own way. Everyone is busy living their lives, raising children, running house-holds and working but when we get a chance to slow down and reconnect it is truly a blessing!
In a little less than a month I will be headed back to North Carolina again. This time when I return to Idaho I will have a very special person traveling with me...my mom! Without a doubt, the person that has had the most impact on my life is my mother. When I told her we were planning to quit our jobs a few years ago to buy an RV park and move out west I know it was extremely hard for her. But she did what a lot of mothers do where their children are concerned...she held back her fear and became my biggest supporter. She encouraged me to do what made me happy and has continued to support both Ryan and I with our dream. There is no way we would have been able to make this huge life change without her!
Mom and I have always been close but in the last decade she has truly become my best friend. To say I am excited about having her here at the park with us this summer is an understatement! In just a few short weeks, Mom will make her very first cross country trip with me, her two cats and chihuahua. She made leap into RV life with the purchase of her very own Class A at the end of last year. We have a very special site reserved for her this summer and she can't wait to roll up her sleeves and jump into helping us run the park. She came out for a visit in 2021 but since it was in October she wasn't able to see the restaurant open or the park in full swing. I know she is excited to meet all of our guests and their pets as they travel thru this summer. More updates to come as we start our trip west in mid-April!
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