Hiking: it's good for the soul!

Today I hiked a part of the Appalachian Trail to Dragons Tooth, a beautiful, rocky overlook. For me, hiking is such a release. It's a way to get away from it all. To clear your mind. To leave the daily rumblings of life. To be one with nature. I think just being outside in the fresh air, far from technology and the pressures of the "real world", can be the best medicine.

To most people, I'm sure hiking wouldn't be considered among the most exciting things you could do. It's the work you put into it that makes it so amazing. You're pushing yourself. Working to reach a goal. Letting go of your stresses. Embracing the beauty all around you. It's incredible. My happiest place is on the top of a mountain. Plus, you get to stop and appreciate so many little things along the way. Whether it's pretty flowers, a neat looking insect, or even this cool dude I passed today.

Dragons Tooth is about 5 miles long out and back. For the most part, it's fairly easy. Well, if hiking a 1,505 foot incline over 2.4 miles can really be considered easy. The last mile is where it really starts to get tricky...and your fears are set in stone when you come across this:

The rest of the hike consists of rock climbing, scaling the mountain, and a lot of praying you don't fall. It's tough, but when you get up to the top it's worth it! At the top, there are two large rock faces. One resembles a dagger tooth. Now, I could be wrong, but I think that may be how it got its name. Once to the top, and after climbing on rocks for the past mile, naturally the only thing you want to do is climb some more.

Some people decide to keep climbing because it's fun. Which was part of the reason I did as well. Climbing up even higher just makes the view that much more spectacular.

The top: the whole reason for the hike. The thing you worked your tail off for. Suspense for the view just continues to grow more and more with each step you take. Every rock you climb just brings you that much closer to what you're waiting for.  When you finally get there, you're able to look out onto something so spectacular. Something so much bigger than yourself. It really puts everything into perspective.

The views from the top can be truly breathtaking!

Oh! And I forgot to mention, I had the best company alongside me today. So lucky to have such a great hiking partner :) 

(please excuse what a sweaty mess we are)

My Sweet Fritzi

On May 15, 2014, I made a decision that would, unknowingly, change my life in so many ways. I accepted a job offer to work as a caregiver for a 92 year old woman. I had no idea what I was getting myself into or what to expect. All I knew, was that my new job description consisted of helping her around the house, helping her with general mobility, reminding her to take her medication, and other general assistance.

Now, before I even begin to go into the impact this job had on me over the past year, I think it's important to tell you a little bit about her. Elfriede Duynstee, or "Fritzi" as everyone called her, was 92 years old when I met her. She was born in Berlin, Germany, where she lived until she was in her later 20's. So, she was in Berlin throughout World War II. I can't even begin to tell you about some of the stories she told me. To say she has experienced it all would still be an understatement. She moved to America with her first husband, who was an officer in the Army. She had one son with him and then they divorced. She was married and divorced one more time shortly after that. On June 23, 2015, at the age of 93, after having outlived all of her family including her son, she passed away.

But, that's enough about the hardships of her life. To truly understand her charisma, you would have to meet her. No words of mine could ever do her justice. Throughout her life she was always a ray of sunshine in the lives of everyone around her. She cooked for everyone, and taught so many others how to cook as well. She was always the life of the party and her energy was so contagious. The whole town of Blacksburg knew her for her incredible work as a seamstress. Whenever there was an important event, all of the women would go to her to have their gowns made. Her work was incredible.

From day one, she treated me with such kindness. I remember walking up to her house on that first day, nervous, with so many thoughts racing through my head: Had a made the right decision? What was I getting myself into? Am I really cut out for this type of work? The second I walked through the door, all of my worries were put to ease. The very first thing she did was ask me my name, my full name. She asked me where I was from, what I was studying in school, if I had a boyfriend, about my family, and the list goes on. She was so genuinely interested. Not only did she always check to make sure I was happy and healthy, she was always checking to make sure others in my life were as well. Every day she would ask me about Cody. How he was doing in school, how his work was, how his family was. She would ask about my family, how they were. She always wanted to make sure others were being taken care of.

From the beginning, she assured me that we could cook together often. That was a promise she more than lived up to. I will always cherish the moments we spent together cooking and the many wonderful recipes she shared with me. My fondest cooking memories are from the many time we made her famous cheesecake. After we were all done, and it was in the oven, she always insisted on sitting there and licking every speck of the mix out of the bowl. Most of the time she would end up getting it everywhere. And when it was finished baking, she always made sure all of her neighbors got a piece of the cheesecake.

While it's still hard at times, I know my life is better because I had the pleasure of knowing her. It just goes to show that sometimes things happen, people come into your life, and it changes your life in ways you can never imagine. It's amazing how paths cross and how much one person can impact your life unexpectedly. I can't really explain how something that was supposed to be "just a job" came to be so much more than that. For now, all I can do is remember her fondly and maintain my gratitude for all she was able to teach me.

We cooked. We baked. We took walks. We went swimming. We got our nails done. We talked. We laughed. Sometimes, we cried. She shared stories from her past, and always encouraged me to live the fullest life I could. She had one of the most beautiful souls out there. I only wish you all could have had the pleasure of meeting her.

May your soul rest in paradise, my sweet Fritzi. You are, and always will be, missed.

What is this "Blog" you speak of?

Not long ago I got a text message from my cousin, and lifelong friend, Alicia with a link to a website. I wasn't sure where I was going to be brought, but I clicked away. To my surprise, this is what popped up...

Naturally, my initial thought was "oh dear lord...why would that picture ever exist" I took a second to get past the shock (you know, the one everyone gets when faced with embarrassing pictures from their past) and then decided to actually read what was in front of me. It only took a couple seconds for me to have another "Oh My Gosh" moment. Only this time, it was more like "Oh my goodness...I had a blog?!" 

So, I decided to go back to my blog and remember what it was all about. It has been almost 3 years since I last posted. I can't even say I ever gave blogging an honest effort. I mean, what did I have, like, 6 posts? 

I started thinking about why I ever had a blog in the first place. Who is going to want to read my random ramblings? Honestly...not many people. Then I realized blogging is less for the people who may read my "random ramblings" and more for me. A way to get it all out. Somewhere to come back to when I need help remembering. 

To say a lot has happened over the last 3 years while I've been away would be an understatement. Let's just get a quick run-down:

• I am about to start my senior year in college (WHAT? How can that possible be?)
• I have had a full-time job
• I lost friends, made new ones, reconnected with old ones
• I met and started dating my best friend (cheesy, I know)
• Last year I worked for the most incredible woman, who recently passed away (you can expect a post all about her)

The list could go on and on and on. So, I won't bore you with all the details. 

I'd like to say I'm going to give this whole blogging thing another shot and be better at it this time, but I don't know if that's a promise I will be able to keep. So...we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out :)