Have you ever let your stress build up just a little too much? I certainly have, and I let it all go on this adventure! I’m usually a two or three drink, good-to-go person, but I overindulged at our family reunion. I had some company, though, and James, who has only seen me drunk two other times in our 12 years together, recorded some of the Friday night drinking and dancing. LOL

Let me backtrack just a little. We have all experienced stress with the outbreak of Covid-19. Over the last two years, my attention has been focused on three things… keeping my high-risk parents (who live with us) safe, finding dedicated alone time with my husband, and working productively in the home office. Overall, I managed very well but left out time for self-care.

Make time for Yourself!

I know the nation is divided on vaccinations, so for those who don’t know, it was a real bitch trying to get appointments for the jab. Our household was on board from the beginning, and I was in charge of making it happen. By the time we went to the family reunion, we were all fully vaccinated, so my constant worry had started to ease. However, just before vaccinations, my mom lost her last sibling in December of 2020. You could say he was a victim of the isolation caused by the pandemic, along with the opioid epidemic that clenches down once in its grip. Todd changed our lives forever when he took his own life. It is so hard to come to terms with.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

Our family postponed Todd’s Celebration of Life until summertime so that we could have a safe outdoor gathering. A date was set for the weekend before the St Joe family campout at the beginning of our vacation. I helped my cousins organize the event and helped my mom get through her grief. Dad was physically ill with high blood pressure and nausea, so I kept him hydrated and out of the hospital.

I also worried about James, who had to stay home that weekend plus miss two days of vacation for an emergency at work. Thankfully I got what my heart needed most that day, seeing my two cousins, who I hadn’t been able to to see or hug when their father died. HUGS HELP HEAL!

Monday morning, mom woke up with an abscessed tooth, so I got her in for an emergency dental appt in Deer Park. They pulled two teeth then she rested for the next two days. She made a quick recovery and didn’t complain at all. So glad this happened while the three of us stayed with my dad’s brother and not while out camping!

On Wednesday, James hooked up Truedat (our toy hauler), then met mom and me in St Maries, Idaho. Dad & the dogs stayed in Spokane with his sister to spend time with her and his brothers. It was good for me to let him take care of himself… after his heart failure a few years ago, I tend to watch and worry over him excessively. I felt a bit of weight lifted away we set up camp.

I also felt relieved to be away from work. I’d been emotional saying goodbye to multiple colleagues I’d been with for over 20 years, who either quit or retired, and I was under entirely new management. Nice not to think about it for a week!

On Thursday, James and I took our little raft out on the St Joe river and left all of our worries on the shore. We finally had time alone on a hot summer day with nothing to do. Right then, we heard thunder and saw lightning coming our way. We were an hour from camp, so we rowed ourselves under some bushes and laughed together as the storm passed up by. Sometimes that is the only way to survive! Here is our JACT YouTube video from the weekend:

So now you know some of the load I let go of Friday night. I’d started the day riding in the back of a pick-up as the family caravanned up the river road to begin our float. We spent a few hours together drifting, laughing, relaxing, and sipping margaritas. Back at camp, we ate some dinner and then started the party! Complete with Bluetooth speaker, neon lights, and Duckfarts! The camp host joined us at some point, and I tried to teach a line dance!

The following day didn’t go so well for me when I tried to get out of bed. I’m not sure what all I drank the night before, but it sure was fun at the time. My body didn’t think it was fun at 4am when I spent the next 5 hours between the bed and the toilet. Couldn’t even defend my trophy in the corn hole tournament! That was good for Danny and young Brad since they claimed it this year. I made it out to my camp chair to watch and cheer, but I’ll be back to claim it next year!

Each year we gather, we make beautiful memories. We hear and share stories, we laugh, we bitch, we keep the tradition of gathering together that the Sullivans handed down to us. We wear our team shirts with pride and love to honor a generation no longer with us. We remember them, they stay in our hearts, and they live through us.

I also remember my Uncle Todd, and it hurts that he’s no longer here and making his smart-ass jokes at our reunions. I miss him, Aunt Sharon, Uncle Don, and my Grandma Effie. By making the most of my life and adventures, part of them live through me, and one day, we will all be united again. For now, I treasure the pictures I’ve taken and the memories made.

I encourage you to take photos at all your family gatherings. You’ll be glad you did. I gathered all the images I could of Todd to make a slide show then I posted it on Facebook on his birthday. Each year it will come up in memories, and I can take time to just remember what a significant part of my life he was. If you are interested, you can watch it below. Take care, plan an adventure and GO DO IT! #JACTventures