One of my closest friends was in a horrible hit-and-run car accident this weekend. Fortunately, she and her dad are okay, but it was still traumatic and they’re extremely lucky to be alive. Bethany has been through numerous hardships over these past couple of years, and I feel deeply sad that this happened (on top of everything else). I’m grateful that she’s okay and that other things are starting to look up in her life 💛
July was full of spontaneity, love and laughter. Here are some of my favorite moments from last month:
-my teammates are excited to meet me, and have been giving me pointers on where to live in the city
-good phone calls with great friends, and my favorite cousin
-going to an indoor party for the first time since February 2020
-exploring downtown Detroit; admiring the architecture and fireworks while Linley kept running into things with a big smile on his face
-hanging out on the lake with my best friend and her family (+fast boat rides!)
-overcoming family bullying and past trauma
-finally meeting my former coworkers and spending a lovely weekend with them in Asheville
-a lovely evening stroll through a local riverwalk with Juan and Linley
-my supervisors asking how the move is going and expressing their excitement to meet me in September
-spending the entire morning floating and drinking on the Huron River with one of my best friends
-long conversations with old friends
-taking Linley on spontaneous adventures
-becoming closer with coworkers
-Linley’s kiss attacks!
-laughing and catching up with my home girl Donna on a weekly basis (never a dull moment!)
-when a friend can turn a terrible day into a phenomenal one
-productive mornings
-Linley made an appearance on a company Zoom photo collage
-Linley trying to earn treats simply for being cute on a hot day (and sitting by Sommer and his treat bag on the bench!)
-spending time with the three sweetest kiddos who call me “Aunt Cate”
-Jaclyn saying “well, you’re my sister, so…” ☺️
-girls nights with a best friend in Ann Arbor (strong drinks in new places with old friends!)
-tolerating less bullshit
-a lovely day with Juan and Linley, full of walks and relaxation
-knowing that I will always overcome what’s ahead
I’ve realized that the majority of my evenings have been consumed by river walks with Linley, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! There’s a beautiful park near our neighborhood which allows us to mix up our walking routine every now and then. How have you been changing things up throughout this year and last?
Photos taken Sunday, July 25, 2021
When people say “it’s the little things in life,” they aren’t wrong. A simple, easy stroll with my husband and pup was just what I needed yesterday evening. After a highly stressful day full of unexpected drama, unwinding by the river with two of my favorite fellas meant the world to me. I hope the three of us can have more spontaneous, relaxing walks together – before and after we move.
Photos taken Tuesday, July 20, 2021
I felt like F. Scott Fitzgerald this morning as I meandered along the babbling brook at the Grove Park Inn. Asheville, North Carolina is known for its breathtaking views and enchanting scenery – a wonderful place in which to be immersed in nature. Reading my book and sipping my dirty chai latte was the perfect way to start my day 🙂
One of the most difficult, heartbreaking parts of moving away means saying goodbye (or ta ta for now!) to loved ones. Aniya, my Little Sister of seven years in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, is probably my hardest goodbye.
Entering BBBS, I had no idea what to expect. I knew that I would become a ‘mentor’ for a young child or teen, but didn’t know what to anticipate aside from that generality. At age 20, I was matched with the sweetest, funniest, most adventurous 10 year old I’ve ever known, and am blessed to call her my friend and sister today. I’m not going far, but it still hurts because she has truly taught me more than I could ever teach her. Aniya is my best friend, and I’m going to miss her more than any words can express ❤️
Here are some of our many cherished moments we’ve shared over the years. I’m so proud of the young woman she’s become, and am grateful that Aniya will always be in my life, as my Sister 🥲
As we begin a new month, I’ve been reflecting on my best friends who love travel as much as me. Here are some photos of my favorite adventurers ☺️
There’s nothing better than a Michigan summer evening on the lake! One of my best friends, Donna, invited me out on her dad’s boat and we had the best time together. Her family has become a second family to me, and we enjoyed an evening speeding on the lake and floating with the best view of the sunset. Nothing feels better than this ☺️
In continuation of my monthly reflections, here’s a random compilation of moments that made me smile this month ☺️
-my former teammates planning an entire weekend for me in Asheville, NC – which will go down in July
-the homeless man at the corner smiling at Linley in the car right after he got groomed (bow tie and all!)
-my new teammates laughing when I said “I’m a Phoebe in my personal life, but a Monica in my professional life”
-hanging out at the pub in my hometown with one of my best friends, and running into some familiar faces
-planning an amazing vacation with one of my best friends on the entire planet
-having people show up for me unconditionally through these difficult times
-learning to accept the things I cannot change, and learning to defend myself in challenging situations
-making progress on my tattoo with the most talented, friendliest artist I’ve had the joy of working with (who has become a lifelong friend)
-Linley gently playing with a five-pound, five-month-old puppy at the dog park
-spending the day in one of my favorite cities with one of my favorite people
-having another two-hour long Skype session and planning an adventure with one of my dearest friends
-spending one-on-one quality time with friends, even throughout the week
-taking a three-hour walk with one of my best friends and our dogs
-eating pub food and strolling a downtown river walk with my dad
-singing karaoke with one of my best friends and her three kids
-having one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time with a great friend
-trying new, creative vegetarian food in Detroit
-baby birds and bunnies frolicking in our backyard
After some much-needed beach time in Empire, Michigan, our little fam visited Traverse City and explored downtown. We enjoyed some food truck eats – which obviously included some ice cream for the pup!
My favorite part about walking around downtown was that Linley and I had been there the evening before, yet he was so excited and acted like everything was brand new. Linley was smiling, pulling and panting the whole time! It’s the little things he does that bring me so much joy ☺️
The three of us enjoyed one last sunset on Grand Traverse Bay, for now at least. This was our last up north trip in Michigan for the summer, and I appreciated our time snuggling on the beach more than ever. We listened to the waves crash against the shore, watched an air balloon travel past us and saw the sky change from blue to orange before heading home.
Photos taken on Saturday, June 19, 2021
Dogs beaches are a pain in the butt to find in southeast Michigan – mainly because there aren’t any. I’ve ‘broken the rules’ by taking Linley to a few beaches in the Detroit area before, but I would rather hit up the west side of the state for the best views (and to avoid the risk of getting in trouble!).
For three years in the row, either with my husband or with my mom, we’ve taken Linley hiking on the Empire Bluff Trail followed by lounging at Empire Beach. The beach is smaller and the water is choppier, but it never impacts the amount of fun that we have here. And yes, the water was freezing – which never stops me from swimming underwater (so exhilarating!) It also doesn’t stop Linley from trying to eat the waves 😂
Photos taken on Saturday, June 19, 2021
Last weekend, Linley and I hiked Empire Bluff Trail (a woodland trail to amazing views of Lake Michigan) for the third year in a row. Pulling up to the parking lot with Juan and Linley hit me pretty hard this year, because the last time I visited was with my mom. All of our memories together flooded through my mind – which left me feeling both grateful and depressed during my nostalgia. We no longer had the relationship we once did and as badly as my heart is breaking, I wanted to return to the bluffs once more before the summer ends.
Linley was smiling, panting and pulling his way uphill on the trail. All the passersby were awestruck by his cuteness! Linley was kicking back in the dirt once he marked plants and trees, mostly on Juan and myself. He was refusing to act tired in the woods, but plopped down in the sand as soon as we got there. I smiled and laughed more at his shenanigans than I have in a long time! No words can express how much joy this 15-pound pup brings me ☺️
The three of us lounged in the sand as we enjoyed the breeze, sunshine and incredible views before heading to the beach.
Here are some videos of Linley getting comfortable in the sand 😂
Traveling with the Traceys 