Psychology of Northern Arizona University

Day 2 THURSDAY
Location: Hilltop Town Homes
Entertainment: Winter Olympics (thanks Sochi), nail painting (OPI and Essie) and high-altitude brownie making (extra flour)
Weather: Snowing and 28ºF (-2.22222222222222ºC)

Sitting here in the kitchen with three ladies waiting for this bottle of wine to be opened, I finally have time to reflect on the past day and a half of my "new era" trip.

This morning I woke up ten minutes from the strip of Las Vegas in a house with three gentlemen. My first couchsurfing experience was marvelous- their cat still had balls. But really, they fed me, I made some hot toddys, played ping pong, and listened to them jam.

So, how is it that I ended up in Las Vegas? How is is that I ended up on a road trip? How is it that I ended up quitting my job? How is it that I ended up in North Fork, California?
Well, there are a number of answers to these questions. Perhaps I should start with that moment I felt a new fire ignite within me.

That defining moment can only be pinned to the minute I was left alone in Europe November of 2013; distinctly in Geneva, Switzerland. Stepping out into the cold and very windy weather along the lake I could do nothing but smile. There was this freedom in my body that opened up. Within my life I have tried so hard to control everything around me, but here this was just not happening. I had to jump in and embrace life at that present moment. Coming back to America I was a changed woman! Ha.

So I carried on through the end of 2013 meeting new people that influenced my life for the better, and as they did I realized my life could no longer follow the same monotonous path. In January I chose to quit my comfortable job and decided to take off on this road trip destined for New Orleans. Day one began with a beautiful Brazilian named Luiza whom I met a week ago. Considering we were embarking on our journeys the same day we decided to take off together. Hence the drive to North Fork- where the town was filled with Bukowski like fellas and chain smoking women. After breakfast we drove down road 225 to find the California Vipassana Center where she would be partaking in a ten day silent meditation retreat (less alcohol, more pagodas).

I ran over a squirrel (RIP).
Roadkill to rebirth.
And so, I ended up in Vegas.