REI adventure

For my sister’s 40th birthday, she rallied up some of her favorite gals for a hiking trip in Bryce Canyon National Park through REI adventures. I was on the fence about going along, because well, I was afraid of sleeping in a tent outside in the middle of nowhere. Also, I was afraid of having an anxiety attack on top of a cliff. I decided to just go for it, because YOLO. However, when I called to register, the trip was FULL. I put my name on a waiting list and left it up to fate.

Just one week before the trip, REI called me and said that they were willing to open up a spot for me to go on the trip! I scrambled to order some hiking essentials on Amazon, and also asked some friends to borrow their gear. I wanted to surprise my sister, so I didn’t let her in on the news. But then, SURPRISE! Fate stepped in.

Just one day before I was supposed to fly out to Utah, my plans were derailed. Bay tested positive for Covid, so I needed to stay back and make sure that she recovered well, be here in case the boys became sick too, and just make sure I wasn’t also contagious. I was so bummed! But, being the big believer in fate that I am, I was at peace with it all.

What I was most bummed about was not to be able to document the trip. I had upgraded my phone and invested in a stabilizer to film the hikes! As the next best thing, my little sister agreed to do her best to film the trip, and I would piece whatever I could together to commemorate my sister’s 40th birthday. Sifting through the photos and video was such a treat for me, and made me feel like I didn’t miss out at all. I was there in spirit for sure. And now, there’s this video, to forever capture the boldness and beauty of my sister. I’m so proud of her for getting out there and exploring the Earth!