Ma: I never knew a Honda Element was sometimes called a toaster. It makes sense now that I look at it. This particular toaster belongs to my 23 year old daughter Lucy and they were both waiting for me in Portland Oregon after a long flight from the east coast. Lucy had been traveling for about a month driving out here from our home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with her girlfriend Kat and now Kat has returned to Australia and tomorrow we would embark on a mother daughter journey back home. We awoke to rain and after a quick breakfast, wasted no time throwing our bags in the brave little toaster, settling in and setting our sights on today's destination-The Carmelite Monastery of Reno Nevada. We chose a parallel route to I-5, the Willamette Highway which led us through mountains of ancient pine and birch national forests winding to an elevation of 5000 ft. where vistas were breathtaking and seemingly never ending. Although warning signs for elk crossings were everywhere we never did see any, but we did see buffalo, sheep, cattle and swooping black birds. Most of the time we felt like we were the only ones on the road. The 9 hours of travel were relaxing and went by quickly and soon we found ourselves pulling up in front of a beautiful chapel and monastery perched high above the city lights of Reno. After tentatively approaching the door and ringing the bell we were greeted by the warm and welcoming smile of my dads sister, Aunt Carol who is a Carmelite nun.
I have memories of visiting her with my family back when nuns of the Carmelite order were cloistered and we had to talk to her through a barrier. Now, most of the nuns in the Carmelite Order live a life of contemplation, prayer and service. Their website states thy are "Open to the times and the needs of the world"
My Aunt Carol seems open to anything.
Lu: After Kat left the weather seemed to drastically head to a consistent gray and dumping rain, telling me to get outta town and fast. I was grateful to know that after 2 days of a dramatic transition my mom would be arriving in Portland with a smile and an eager desire to make everything of the adventure we are about to embark on. I've been on the road for a little over a month now, it gets a little bit exhausting but I've yet to come across a bad experience. It'll be different on the way home for a few different reasons. My mom and I will be traveling to different places that Kat and didn't hit on the way out, and if I ever run out of money I know Momma's got a credit card ;) haha but I won't let that happen. Though I my heart is working through an emotional transition I am thankful to spending this time with my mom, and also loving our first stop at the nunnery. This trip couldn't start off in a more interesting way. Its been nice to be surrounded by open hearted and minded nuns here in Nevada, and having our own space to relax in. I'm excited to see what's ahead.
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