a photographer's journey ...

On June 9th, I took a trip. A trip that was a milestone of sorts in several ways. I met several ladies about 5 years ago in a group online. A group of ladies that shared one major thing in common with me. A LOVE of photography. Sure, we had many other things in common,mainly we were all moms (as we met on Cafemom) , but photography was the glue that bonded us together. Over the years we have listened to each other, now on Facebook, we have guided one another, we have watched each other's families grow, change and been there for each other in times that were sad, times that were happy. We encouraged each other, comforted each other, offered and received advice, this could go on and on. Finally after all of this time, we decided to try to put together a MEET/RETREAT ... Kelley took the reigns with little input from me. She planned and organized a fantastic trip to Jackson Hole, WY. When she posted about it - there was a grand response, but as time grew closer, life happened for some and the group that was confirmed to go grew smaller and smaller. It is hard to get a date and a budget that works for everyone. I had decided long ago that I was gonna make this happen come Hell or High Water for me. I had never gotten the chance in my 1st marriage to do anything for ME. I was going on this trip. I booked my flight for June in March I think , I was instantly excited as soon as I completed that transaction. As I have never flown before, well I take that back, I was only a baby the 1st as the last time I had flown, so NO , I don't remember it at all.
The date grew closer and the confirmed crew going was Niki from CA, Kelley and her daughter, Kayla from ID, and Carolyn with her son Avery from WY... Niki and I were the only one taking to the skies, and realized the day before the trip that we were scheduled for the same flight from Denver to Jackson Hole.
My family was set to drive me to Knoxville to say Goodbye - but that was cancelled due to last min, change for Frankie to work. I was so sad , I wanted my family there to see me off. But I had to do this solo , so on Thursday, June 9th, I set out early AM for Knoxville, the plane was a smaller one which I was surprised by, as the flight from KNOX to Denver was almost 3 hours, on the way I had a window seat , in a single row. I was so glad to not have a "neighbor" - I had to be the biggest nerd on the plane - I was so excited and stared out the window almost the entire flight. It was a good and smooth flight - I was amazed at the beauty of the "patchwork" of land, the fluffy cotton clouds. Sights that I will never forget. Once in Denver I had about an hour to make the next flight, I met up with Niki and we boarded a larger Jet headed to Jackson Hole. Niki convinced a little girl to swap seats with her, so we got to chat the hour and 20 min flight to Jackson Hole. We talked and chatted like the Old Pals that we were, never skipping a beat! Once in Jackson Hole, Kelley and Kayla picked us up at the airport with Dozer, Kayla's sweet playful puppy. The Grand Tetons were right there towering above the land, snow capped and beautiful. We headed back into town to grab a bite to eat before checking into our cabin at Cowboy Village. We got settled in and decided to wait for Carolyn to arrive. Once she arrived with Avery we chatted it up a little longer and decided to head out to see a few sights before Supper. We headed up to the Grand Tetons National Park and found a well photographed place called "The Chapel of Transfiguration" it was cold and rainy the Tetons were not able to be viewed clearly but we still managed to get off several dozen good shots. We saw several Elk and Kayla spotted 2 Elk fighting on tbe ridge. AWESOME! We decided the 1st Full day , Friday would be a perfect day to pack all we could and see all we could see in Yellowstone. THIS was my favorite day. We grabbed some snacks at a local grocery store, and hit the road to Yellowstone. It was an amazing day, we saw the infamous "Old Faithful" erupt, not once but twice, we saw tons of Bison, and Bison calves, the Grand Prismatic Spring (my most fav of all), with all of it's colors of orange, yellow, turquoise, and blue. We saw the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with a spectacular view of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, the Mud Volcano, Sulphur Cauldrons... Jackson and Yellowstone Lakes, as well as a Frozen Lake - I am thinking it was Jenny Lake? I will have to look that one up again. By the time Nightfall came - we realized it was 9:30pm and we were about 2 hours away from food and our cabin - haha. Not only that, but Carolyn got pulled over not once but twice by the cops for a blown headlight / taillight. She took it like a champ, and got by with only warnings - THANK GOD! Carolyn decided that little Avery had had his share of the trip and headed home on Saturday morning. The rest of us were lazy and hung out at the cabin for awhile before deciding to go shopping around town. We headed out then took a Covered Wagon ride/ dinner / show later that night. We thought it started out Cheesy but met some wonderful people - on the ride and at dinner, I met some "neighbors" from Seven Devils, NC and some other nice folks from CA. Kayla got "engaged" to a mountian man (all part of the show) there was a sweet little Japanese man who sang aloud for "She'll be coming round the mountian", there was a real and LEGIT proposal. It was alot of fun. On Sunday Niki left us to head back to CA. Which left Kelley, Kayla and Dozer and I to fend for ourselves. We drove around a little while but it was a poopy rainy day. So that left us nothing better to do but eat and shop! hahaha ... I had Homemade Wild Huckleberry Ice Cream - for the 1st time and BOY was it YUMMY!!!! We shopped around town and made a reservation at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar's Steakhouse. It was YUMMY too. After that we planned on getting a drink at the bar and sitting on the saddle barstools ... but we were TOO FULL! We headed back to the cabin, chatted awhile, and hit the sack. The following morning - Monday ... was my time to say farewell to my friends, and Jackson Hole. I hopped a flight at 7am, and headed for home. I chatted with a local from Jackson Hole on the flight to Denver, then the flight home to Knox I chatted it up with a cop from Los Angeles, CA ... gave him the DL on the mountains of East TN. My luggage took a detour thru Chicago and the airport had to hand deliver it to me late Monday night. All in all it was a WONDERFUL trip with a WONDERFUL bunch of ladies. We made lots of memories and shared alot of laughs. I can't wait til the next trip to a new destination and hope that many of the others will get to come along! Thanks Niki, Kelley, Kayla and Carolyn for a few days of fun and friendships that I will cherish forever! Here are a few of my Fav photos.