April 9, 2014, would have been my Dad’s 79th birthday. It was also a few months following my Dad’s passing. On that day, I packed up Butters and Bambi and set off to a new life in Seattle. At the time, I told my Mom that I would always take off an adventure on my Dad’s birthday so I can honor his spirit. In the following year, I took a cross-country trip from Seattle to New York City.

Last year, I didn’t keep the promise I made to myself. I juggled both work and my dissertation so there was little time for anything else.

Yesterday, on April 9th, I went out into the woods to think about my next adventure.

What will come my way? How will I handle it? What life lessons will l learn? These are the questions floating through my head, as I sit and watch the trees sway.