These anecdotes are my truth, but my memory is that Dan and I flipping killed it that day and from Seattle to Eugene, Oregon we saw everything on our travel list. We laughed and ate a sandwich from a Seattle deli around the Oregon/Washington border. We created more dorky memories for us to treasure.

Everything about the eatery was perfect, and everything about me that day was falling apart. I was dealing with major in the moment fear of missing out anxiety. That terrible, anxious feeling I get where I question my experience while I am experiencing it, wondering if I'm having enough fun - when that question alone takes all the fun out of it.

We had planned to go hiking at Smith Rock that day, but I knew that with how much pain I was in, it would be impossible. Yet, we still wanted to see the beautiful Smith Rock park, so Bowerbird drove us in that direction while I slept in the passenger seat. I think I was asleep for 2 hours before I woke up while we happened to drive past an Alpaca farm.

The Northern California coastline is like no other, especially in the morning when the low clouds and mist of the waves combine to create an ethereal landscape. The soft pastel colors of the sun rise is accented by a pearlescent lining above the sea foam.Seeing deer signs are not uncommon while on a road trip, but seeing a deer grazing by the road can be unique. When we came upon an Elk sign we figured it was the same thing, until we noticed dozens of Elk all around us, munching on their breakfast right along the road.