Flying Solo

Hmm...  Where to start?  I have been reflecting on being alone.  I have done a lot of things on my own.  I travelled through Europe for seven weeks by myself.  (The picture above was a self-portrait taken in Kotor, Montenegro.)  I have eaten at restaurants by myself.  I recently attended a concert by myself.  And I have attended numerous weddings by myself.  Numerous.  Ones where I haven't known anyone.  Ones where I have.  Even one on my birthday.  (Don't get me wrong, occasionally, I have had a date.  I am not that pathetic. :)  Sometimes this is by choice and other times it is out of necessity.  Sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is lonely, and oftentimes it is both.  I am currently flying solo at a wedding 30 miles south of Tok, Alaska.  Read:  In the boonies.  Really in the boonies.  We are in the middle of the Yukon. 

I took this picture on my evening walk.  Consider it my own Walden Pond.  So... I was thinking about what it means to fly solo at weddings and in general.  Oftentimes, I have traveled to weddings alone, because I didn't have anyone I wanted to invite.  Currently, I have a lovely boyfriend who just happens to be unavailable for most of wedding season, because he is farming.  I have someone I love in my life, but much of our time is spent apart.  I think alone with nobody is different than alone with somebody.  I have not yet decided which is more challenging in social settings and at weddings.

Tomorrow, I will attend the wedding I travelled to the middle of nowhere for, because I want to support my dear friend.  I will watch her get married, in her hometown, to the man she loves.  I will insert myself into other's people conversations.  I will make "friends," drink wine, and be mildly uncomfortable, because I don't have a partner to make small talk with.  People won't know it, because I am outgoing and "social."  Whatever that means.  It is funny how people assume you are comfortable, because you are good at asking questions and making up crap to talk about.  I am not comfortable attending events alone.  I feel like I am imposing on everyone around me.  But I do it, because staying home would be dull.  I will take uncomfortable over dull anyday.

I guess there must be safety in numbers.  It is amazing how comforting just sitting next to someone can be.  At dinner tonight, the other guests at the lodge were surprised to hear I am travelling alone.  The way people interact with a female travelling alone is much different than a couple.  This is magnified at weddings, because many people feel sorry for you for some reason.  Travelling alone builds character.  I like my character, but sometimes I would like the opportunity to NOT have to make conversation with people I don't know, purely because I am the girl who is alone.  Sometimes, I would like to fill a 14 hour travel day with interesting conversations and shared meals, rather than isolated reflection and Lara bars.  Sometimes, I don't want to be strong and independent and alone.  Sometimes, being alone kind of sucks.

But, the grass is always greener, right?  Had I traveled all of this way with my spouse or loved one, I could have bickered with them the whole trip.  I could long for quiet reflection.  If I had someone by my side, I may have missed an opportunity to interact with someone amazing, because I wouldn't have "needed" to make conversation with anyone new.  If I had been married for 10 years and had three kids in tow, I would be begging for a solo trip.  The lesson is clear.

Lucky me.  Being alone in the Alaskan wilderness is something people dream of.  It is beautiful and serene.  It is the perfect place for quiet reflection.  (I had some great business ideas today.)  I get to witness a wonderful woman tie the knot.   I am going to work on enjoying my solitude and setting aside what I perceive as reactions of pity or imposition when those around me discover I'm alone.  I am gong to remember that for half of the year, my lover is quite available and we get to spend lots of time together.  And then I am going to sing in the shower, stop whenever I want, talk or not talk.  Just because I can.  Because I am all alone  Woo hoo!  

Great Falls, Montana is Electric

{Us in the photo booth at the part-ay mentioned below.

Clearly, Great Falls is fun.}

6 Par Farmer hails from Great Falls, Montana and therefore, I find myself spending quite a bit of my time here.  Amongst Montanans (and out-of-towners alike), Great Falls doesn't always have the most glowing reputation.  10th Avenue is filled with chain stores and casinos, the dining options are pretty limited, the demographics aren't friendly to "bachelors on the frontier," and it doesn't border Glacier National Park or Yellowstone...  Because of all of these things, some people have given up on The Electric City.

{Love brick}

But I think the electricity is just below the surface and is starting to rise  (And they have always had FABULOUS people.)  I am making it my new mission to shed some light on all Great Falls has to offer.  Downtown Great Falls has SOOO much going on and should be the focal point of the town:  Historic brick buildings, solid anchor businesses, the Civic Center, and lots of opportunities for new businesses to move in.  The cost of living in Great Falls is very low too.  Are you getting ready to move here yet?

{The Blue Rose}

Right on Central you will find The Blue Rose which is one of my favorite shoppes in Montana.  (Up there with The Village Shop in Whitefish.)  Tracy, the personable, down-to-earth owner, has a great eye and carries stylish pieces for all ages.  (3J Workshop, Hudson, Nicole Miller, etc.)  She even has free shipping, so you can shop from wherever you are.  Last week I went to a party just down the street from The Blue Rose at The Living Room (by far, the most fabulous, chic spa and salon in GF) and Cindy Cieulich Photography.

{Gush.  I have a girl crush on Cindy.  

She is talented, sweet, and so cute.}

{Gratuitous dog photo Cindy 

took of Dolce's friend Baxter. Love.}

{Boutonniere}

At the party, there were fabulous apps from Bert and Ernies.  They have new owners and are making some big changes. (It was not run-of-the-mill, boring stuff either; think salmon panko balls.).  We also enjoyed tasty brews from Bowser Brewing Company, lots of beautiful wedding hair and makeup on the ladies of The Living Room, and flowers from My Viola, which is a great place to find modern, simple flowers.  (I hear they teach fun classes too!)  

{THE cover.}

Katalin Green from Bozeman, the publisher of Montana Bride put the whole shindig together to celebrate Cindy's cover photo on the mag, and I have to say, I was quite impressed. Tres chic ladies!  Way to make Great Falls shine.  

{Yum!}

Oh!  I almost forgot the best part.  The macaroons from Crooked Tree!  I am a macaroon snob (Le Panier in Seattle and Ladurée in Paris/NYC are a couple favs.)  The pistachio macaroons from Crooked Tree are top notch.  Delish!  Go buy some.  You can thank me later.  

This is just a sampling of great things in 
GF.  More next time.  The River's Edge Trail...
Eddie's... The list goes on.   

The Electric City. Come. You'll like it.  

Something Tasty: La Mamounia

How delicious does La Mamounia in Marrakech, Morocco look? Tasty indeed.



I have longed to go to Morocco for sometime. It might be because I was scheduled to go there on Semester at Sea, but we were rerouted due to the aftermath of 9/11. It might be the bustling markets. It might be the vibrant culture. It might be the abundance of spas. It might be the bright, interesting architecture. I think it is the same reason I loved Istanbul: Morocco is a place where East meets West. Where chaos meets calm. Where beautiful and disgusting swirl together so seamlessly, you don't know where one begins and the other ends. That is my perfect travel destination. There are few places that walk the line without falling off one side. I anticipate Morocco to be one of those places.



My interest in Morocco was renewed when 6 Par Farmer mentioned his friend might be renting a house in Marrakech this winter and that we should come visit. 6 Par Farmer is up for anything, but he would be more likely to consider Maui or Santa Barbara for vacation. When he suggested a trip to Morocco, I was beyond excited. And, as I do the second I hear a whisper about anything good happening, I got super excited and started thinking about all the fun things we could do in Marrakech.



I had read an article about the full overhaul La Mamounia had undergone. I read about those who had enjoyed its beauty generations ago, and those who would soon enjoy it again. If we weren't going to stay there, we were definitely going to need to do some spaing there (spa going should be a verb, don't you think?). The architecture. The pools. The gardens. The views. The spas. I am drooling just thinking about it.



The dates didn't work out to coordinate a trip with 6 Par Farmer's friend, but I haven't given up on a trip to Morocco. And this way, we could stay at La Mamounia... Now that is something tasty. See you in Marrakech.