Sister Spotlight: New Member Sister #13405

Author and long-distance horse rider Bernice Ende stands with her stalwart companions from earlier rides: Honor and Claire Dog.

I truly look forward to meeting Bernice at some point in the near future, I hope it is sooner rather than later!

You have had many adventures since you started long riding. Why did you choose to join Sisters on the Fly?
"I've always been a solo traveler, one reason being that I ride 10-30 miles a day, and don't know exactly where I will camp each night, which is often on open public land. Another reason, is that I'd really never heard much of SOTF until Sarah Wilson was telling me about you. Again, I thought I wasn't a "fit." Then this year on my book tour, driving my pickup and trailer, camping in the trailer itself, and needing to find those kinds of compatible camping places each night, I felt like maybe I had more in common. But now I am very excited about all the possibilities, meeting Sisters at my talks, but also that Sisters are inviting me to join "events" when my travels meet up with them. One of the reasons I ride is to encourage women leadership. I love independent women!"

What one piece of advice can you offer to another member that is hesitant about "getting out there" alone for the first time?
Fear, the single most definitive reason why most do not "get out there" is a heady thing. And truly it is all in ones head. To proceed with out fear is freedom. Replacing fear with caution, attentiveness and skill is my personal way. The very act of BEING PREPARED will usually in and of itself set one in motion, make the wheels turn. But to be clearly attached to the vision you have set for ones self is also very important be very clear about what and where and why you are going. THEN, prepare. Embrace uncertainty, surprise, mystery."

I love to ride, my horse Andy is almost 20 so we don't go very far or very long. At this time in my life I don't believe I will get another horse. For those that don't ride or have never ridden but would like to....what would you say to encourage them to do so?
Actually I do not encourage women who have never ridden or who have not ridden for many years to go off on rides and or to purchase a horse. It's far to dangerous. As we age we lose our response skills, agility nor we do not bounce as we once did.

I do however, encourage older women whose riding skills have faded or have never existed to take riding lessons in a safe environment, on safe horses, with an instructor in an arena with sand!

If you would like to see what Bernice is up to at this very moment, click here: https://www.endeofthetrail.com

By: Debra Nordberg, Sister # 1878, Membership Coordinator

Why do you renew YOUR SOTF membership each year?

A current member recently posed this question on Sister's on the fly Members' Facebook page on the eve of renewing her annual membership ($70 annual dues) and the answers were very insightful. Here are some of those-

Carol M- I love meeting new sisters and I love my friends I’ve met before. I love how supportive this group of women are and how warm and welcome I feel when I’m with them. I hope you can experience the same.

Pat D- I saw an article in a magazine years ago about SOTF and thought "how cool is that?" I put it in the back corner of my mind, but never forgot. I was talking to a friend one say about getting a little trailer, and she started sending me all kinds of pictures. Then, I met a gal at a craft show and we started talking about trailers and both ended up joining and have consecutive Sister numbers! I had bought a beat up trailer and had started working on it before I joined. I found out about an event in McKinney, and Tammie, the hostess convinced me to come, even though I was't finished with it. Before the McKinney event, there was a sister event in Fort Worth at the Cowgirl Museum. I went over on the Friday when they had a public event and realized I had found my "tribe." I met Tammie face to face that night, and she nearly squeezed all the air out of my lungs. Joining SOTF is the most empowering thing I have ever done. I LOVE towing my trailer. It is one of those "happy places."

Ann F- I love meeting all the sisters and enjoy time with woman that are so nice and welcoming. It is fun to travel to places you wouldn’t get to without this organization.

Susan B- If it weren’t for SOTF I’d never have herded cattle on a Wyoming ranch, swam with the Manatees in FL, wandered Custer State Park again, kayaked Lake Superior or been going to New England. I feel sisters support and encouragement in everything I do.

Julie B- Adventures, getting me back to my home state of CA... I wouldn’t be going back without my sister trips. Wouldn’t be a sister if I didn’t do trips. You can find lots of groups on Meetup for lunch and movies but this group is for the travel/camping.

Bette P- I’ve camped since I was a kid, love to fish (hubs doesn't) and I use to own and show horses (urban cowgirl) and I’m a little crazy. When I saw a segment on Travel Channel years ago and knew someday I’d be a Sister. Joined last month Sister #10371?. Presently restoring my little trailer and can’t wait for my first event.

Kristin M- I’m Sister #29. Oh, the stories I have and the fun... Oh my. The friends I’ve made....priceless.

Kathy W- Just one reason..... The sisters I've met are amazing. I would have never met them without SOTF.

Nancy E- I enjoy the friendships I have made, the memories. I wouldn't have met these women had it not been for SOTF! SO looking forward to meeting and having fun with many more! To me, its well worth the money!

Lugene W- SOTF is made up of some of the most kind-hearted, vibrant, FUN, brilliant, talented, welcoming gals in the world. Nuff said! #3333.

Vicki B- The last 6 or so years of my life, I've gone through major life changes. 1) Major surgery with the potential for cancer, but thankfully, no cancer 2) Move away from my *peeps* & support system 3) Daughter off the rails 4) Loss of Mom and Dad 5) Cleaning & packing up parents' & childhood home. About halfway through all this, I joined SOTF and have so much enjoyed, needed and am thankful for the support, friendship and simple hugs I've gotten.

Kris B- Omg....where do I start??? Life changing, fun, challenging, amazing, one of the best things I have ever done for myself and SOTF has brought some of the most amazing people into my life....and did I say FUN? It has brought me laughter, tears, amazement and joy..... Many of my friends and family live through my eyes and adventures...SOTF is a gift to myself.

JoAnn S- So I don't have to travel alone. My husband doesn't like to travel so I probably won't go without my sister's. And oh the places I've seen!!!

Becki F- I've met some of my closest friends in this group. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. As women, everything is our responsibility. Trips with the girls become my time to take care of me. Unwind, laugh, cut up, do nothing, do something, whatever I feel like. These ladies are my tribe and I'll autorenew until I die.

Ginny McK- I lost my husband five years ago. The Sisters showed me HE died, I did not. I love the sense of community SOTF provides!

Kathy C- Sister support

Let Freedom Ring, Sisters

“Freedom lies in BEING BOLD.” Robert Frost

Independence Day! July is the month to celebrate our many freedoms. Sure, there are the barbecues and the fireworks to celebrate our nation’s independence. But, it’s so much more than that. Our personal freedoms have grown exponentially since that fateful day in 1776. We are blessed with the freedom to go where we want, do what we want, say what we want, and believe what we want. And we, as Sisters on the Fly, exemplify that better than most.

What is Your freedom?

I have never felt so free as I did the day I sold my house, bought a 30’ travel trailer and an F-150 and hit the open road. I came out from under a mortgage that wouldn’t have been paid off till I was 90 years old! When I bought that travel trailer, I felt this enormous burden lifted off of me. I knew that if worse came to worse, I would have a place to live that was paid for and that offered me freedom. I spent much of the following two years traveling back and forth across the country...from South Dakota to South Carolina and all parts in between...living and loving the RV lifestyle.

Sister Freedom

Sisters on the Fly was created out of a freedom that many women couldn’t even fathom. The original Sisters, Maurrie and Becky, were taught by the best...the original Sister. Their mother Mazie was a remarkable women who taught her girls the freedom of the great outdoors at a very young age. They fished, hiked, boated, camped, rode horses, and traveled extensively and learned to be brave and bold. There are certainly like-minded women in this group who were raised that way and were looking for others to share in the fun. But, if you are like me, these were skills learned much later in life. I only camped a handful of times in my whole life before I found the Sisters. I, like many of you, came here after losing my husband.

Ch-ch-changes

Loss creates opportunities. Not that you wish for losses to change you, but you can choose in your loss to learn and grow and expand into this “new normal”. Learning new skills, meeting new people, exploring new territories gives you not only new experiences, but new tools for your coping toolbox. There are so many losses that have brought us here...divorce, death, empty nests, retirement, illnesses. The common ground is sisterhood and personal growth and that is a freedom in and of itself.

Freedom to be who we are. When I was raised in the ‘60s and ‘70s, even though we were in a social revolution of sorts, I was stuck in a time warp. Growing up “country” in West Virginia was a conservative, naive, innocent time where the women in my family were taught to type and marry young so you could start those babies coming. I remember riding my bike as a young girl and fantasizing I was traveling cross-country and up into Canada. I would pretend I had panniers on my bike at a time when I didn’t know what panniers were. I planned out my food and lodging and how I would get there. I envisioned sleeping in a small tent along streams where I would fish. I may not have ever had the opportunity to camp, but camping was in my blood. My favorite book was The Boxcar Children. Then the adolescent indoctrination began and I was bombarded with speech after speech on the importance of getting married and raising babies. And my dreams of the long, long bike ride got stuffed way down inside.

Dreams & Changes

These dreams surfaced on occasion during my life. That first marriage was a starter marriage and gave me my older daughter. As a single mom, I bought a used bike with a child seat on the back and rode around with her. The long bike ride bubbled up a little. My second marriage was spent putting my husband through medical school and residency. There wasn’t time to think about much more than survival. I got closer to touching those dreams when he was establishing a practice and time was more flexible. We had a second child. We backpacked once. We hiked. We rode bikes. We even camped in a small dome tent a couple of times. We had a very brief stint with a VW Vanagon camper in the early ‘80s but the money from its sale was needed for a down payment on a house. That was the end of that and the dream went into hiding.

When that marriage ended and several years later I met Hubby #3, I was hopeful. He seemed to embrace the idea of camping...if there was a good golf course nearby. We went on a three week road trip for our honeymoon and I bought a tent that hooked onto the back of our SUV. It stayed in the box the entire trip. As a matter of fact...it’s still in the box! The closest we came to camping was staying in a cabin in Jackson Hole. He was a South Philly city boy. Camping just wasn’t his thing.

After his untimely death, I bought that camper I had long dreamed of and the freedom of the open road called me to be brave and go. I did things I have never done before...alone. I went into the wilderness and backroads of Colorado. I traveled to Mexico...not by camper, but by plane. The freedom to cross borders and go where I wanted was alluring. The freedom to be who I want to be was life altering. The Sisters showed me that HE died...I did not. I had this great big world to explore and the freedom to do it.

July is about so much more than s’mores and fireworks, beer and brats, and saluting the flag. It’s about letting freedom ring. YOUR freedom. Be brave! Be BOLD! Go outside and play...and, have more fun than anyone!

With much love,
Ginny

Post contributed by blogger, Positive Aging Expert & Motivational Speaker,
Ginny McKinney, SOTF #3537
Marshmallow Ranch Blog

Getting BOLDER & Letting It Shine!

Go Camping, naturally!

June is National Camping Month and can you think of anything more wonderful to do than getting yourself out in nature during the perfect month of the year?

School is out so the kids and grandkids can enjoy learning new skills and follow in your camping footsteps. They may not seem terribly enthusiastic, but you’re planting a seed...and that’s a good thing. As with most of these “National Holidays”, National Camping Month was the marketing brainchild of The North Face, makers of excellent camping gear. That’s not to say observing this “holiday” is without merit.

Amazing Outdoor Events R Us!

Sisters on the fly members love joining up with other Sisters and finding something wonderful to do and the summer months are prime camping season. Just take one look at the June calendar on the Sisters on the Fly event page for members and you’ll find some pretty amazing opportunities for gathering around that campfire and enjoying yourself. (Be logged into the SOTF member portal and view all events HERE.)

How about the Annual "Sister Swarm" Event held in conjunction with the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY? There are many things to do in the area besides the Fair, but if you’ve never been to one, you really should try to attend. Seriously, it’s like walking into the pages of Country Living Magazine.

Or, you could go to the Synchronized Fireflies SOTF event in the Great Smoky Mountains. This is certainly on MY bucket list. There are only a handful of places where these synchronous fireflies can be seen. Normally, you can find fireflies (more commonly referred to as lightning bugs) all over the mid-Atlantic states from late May through June. They seem to twinkle...one here, another there...giving fields and woods a sparkling look just after sunset. Synchronous fireflies, as their name implies, light up “en masse”...all on, all off. It is a sight to see!

We are A-OK with OK! and in a KOA

Oklahoma is where you’ll find Sisters gathering for the Trailer Trash III at Natural Falls State Park in West Siloam Springs. This event offers campers the opportunity to spend some time out on the water at the Kayak Park. You can bring your vintage wares to sell or barter, too. Who can pass up a good tag sale when you’re looking for that perfect tchotchke for your vintage camper? Can you say “Plaid” or “Pyrex”?

One of the BIG bucket list trips you might be yearning for is held at Willow Creek Ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming. The 3rd Annual Cowgirl College Rendezvous is being held in June. This is a "GO Sister" Trip where you can learn cowgirling skills on a working ranch. And, work you will do! Riding, roping, wrangling...whatever needs to be done, you’ll be pitching in and doing it. They work hard and play hard and I hear it’s not to be missed. One word of caution, however. This event is for horse riders that are intermediate or above and limited to ten Sisters plus Maurrie and Becky, so it is something you need to plan for well in advance.

The annual Buckeye Bash Event is being held at the KOA in Dayton, Ohio at the end of the month. As is the Northwest Gathering, celebrating their Lucky #13 this year! So, as you can see there’s plenty to do. The larger events are already full by this time of the year, but careful planning for next year could see you starting a new tradition. In the meantime, there are still plenty of events open in the month of June and beyond.

If you aren’t finding what you would like to do, or if there aren’t any events scheduled near you, plan your own! It doesn’t have to be elaborate. You can do a fee free gathering at a local campground or camp in your own backyard if you have the room. The possibilities are endless!

There were three in the bed & the little one said... ROLL OVER

I didn’t camp as a child. My first camping experience was when I was seventeen. I went with my first boyfriend and his family. We slept in a musty-smelling canvas hunting tent with side walls in North Bend State Park in West Virginia. His dad had an elaborate, homemade camp kitchen cabinet that intrigued me. His mom slept on the cot between my boyfriend and me to keep things...appropriate. It was my first taste of the good life in the great outdoors.

It was many years before I had the opportunity to camp again, but at that point, if my daughter couldn’t plug in her blow dryer, she wasn’t interested. I took my second child a couple of times when she was younger, but she never really liked it either.

I didn’t really get into camping on a regular basis until I became a widow five years ago. Now, it’s my happy place. You all know the feeling...when you can’t camp, you sleep in your camper in the driveway. I actually lived in my camper pretty much full time for about three years after I lost my husband and that was the very best thing I could have done for myself.

Shine On, Summer Sunshine

Summer Solstice occurs at 6:07am on Thursday, June 21st this summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the day... the perfect day for camping. The most hours of daylight gives you ample opportunity to cram in as many activities as you can... or float in an inner tube down a lazy river... or lie in a hammock under a shade tree with a good book sipping sweet tea. Whatever floats your boat, get out there this month and have a blast. Save up all that sunshine and all those memories so you can sit inside in January and look at the pictures. Make new friends. Meet up with old ones. And... Have more fun than anyone!

With much love,
Ginny

Post contributed by blogger, Positive Aging Expert & Motivational Speaker,
Ginny McKinney, SOTF #3537
Marshmallow Ranch Blog

Sister Spotlight: "Ladies, DON'T hold back!"

Straight from the heart in this Sister Spotlight from Janie Miller, Sister #8333

“Live life, be passionate and don't hold back!”, that’s my motto!

Seizing Big Moments in Life

I think back and "seizing the moment" is how I met my future to-be husband although neither of us knew it at the time! At age 23, we met over the phone working as dispatcher and freight broker in our respective businesses, flirting and so forth. Two months later I moved from Maine to Washington state and met him in person for the first-time and never left! I had already sublet my apartment and shipped my belongings; I never looked back! 31 years later, we are still so very passionate about our life together! We eventually moved back to Maine in 1994 to be closer to my family.

I joined Sisters on the Fly in February 2017, #8333, and by June of the same year I was so floored and honored to be asked to take on the NE region Wrangler role. So, I said... I’ll figure it out as I go! I guess about now you might get an idea already of my ‘jump in with both feet’ personality, right?!

The Warm Blanket of This Sisterhood

I’m not one to rely on destiny but instead I have created my own way. Like many of my SOTF Sisters, I feel very strongly about this organization and sisterhood... has been a godsend to me. Ever feel like mid-life kind of just jumped out at you all of a sudden and smacked you full-in-the-face and you wonder, what the hell?! I’m a pretty tough cookie, but dang, Mother Nature likes to take a wack once in a while! It’s been the warm blanket of sisterhood that enveloped me with love, friendship, excitement, adventure... with such Kindred Souls, that truly has brought me back to life! I instantly connected and bonded with women from all over the country, who understand and accept ‘we are who we are’ and help empower each other.

Glamping Camping Passion. Just Breathe!

I have many passions... but glamping out a camper takes the prize! I’ve been solo camping for decades starting with paddling out to remote wilderness sites on lakes and streams, so getting up off the ground and finding creature comforts was heaven!! I found my first camper in 2006, a 1990 Fleetwood pop-up. My second camper was also a Fleetwood pop-up, but this one bigger and I Glamped her out entirely, christening her MyZen for all the comforting moments she provided; I/she was even featured on PopUpPrincess.com! I fell in love with discovering textiles, glampy accessories, and making all my own fabric coverings and curtains!

In 2016, I sold MyZen and bought a 24' FunFinder 215wsk TT, naming her “Stella” (my husband’s nickname for me). Yes, it was intimidating a little bit, but I love her. I only couldn’t see behind me. Who cares?! And now I had to rely on my mirrors solely. Okay! So with both feet, I jumped behind the wheel and just figured it out with a little helpful guidance along the way. Yes, bigger and two axles is easier! The best advice I can give to any Sister starting out with a trailer for the first time... BREATHE and don’t let some anxiety or a little intimidation hold you back! When you run into a problem – stop, breathe, and try again! This is how I got comfortable backing her up my 250’ driveway! So the tire tracks looks like a snake’s path at first; who cares?!

From Here to There... to Where?

I have been so very fortunate to live in WA and ID states, and still miss them both. I really more consider myself a Western girl, even though I was born/raised here in Maine. I've lived on a 120-head horse ranch, raising, training and showing absolutely stunning Arabian horses, (I was even an Equine Midwife and breeder!). Lots of different experiences. I’ve owned three motorcycles and still love to feel the wind in my face and hair. I’m a tomboy and a yet girlie girl... I’m a Libra!

Where do I go from here? I’m looking forward to retirement in another 6 yrs so I can become a Gypsy! My plan for Winter 17-18?.. taking Stella to the Southwest for 2 months of snow-birding for the first time (with my hubs, Murphy our Border Collie, and Tinsel my loving feline appendage) and look forward to hooking up with my SW Sisters! Who knows where life will take us, but I know I’ll always have my SOTF Sisters with me.

peace n luv ~
Janie, SOTF #8333

Where (and who) is Tiffany?

Wonderful Women in Waxahachie

Sister #1, SOTF Founder Maurrie Sussman and I had the pleasure to represent our Sisterhood at this event within an event. The big event being the Crossroads Film & Music Festival put on by the Waxahachie Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Texas Draw

It was an over the top event and drew so many "Wonderful Women" campers & attendees to it. I fell in love with the Texas Sisters I met, the locals, the town, the history and local tastes and color. The blue bells were still in bloom for us and the weather was kind of classic for Texas- gorgeous until the flash flood downpour hit! If my husband's ex wasn't from Texas, I would've make a seriously hard pitch to relocate from Boise there and may have had a chance! C'est la vie, y'all...

The Stories

There are so many great stories to tell from this event but there was a first-time camper there who tells hers so well and when we asked if we could share her blog article about her experience this was her reply:

"Thank you. I wish I had more time to spend with everyone as well. I hope our paths cross again and we get a chance to camp out or hangout. I enjoyed my time hanging out with so many likeminded people. I walked away with a whole new perspective and love for camping. Yes, please share. I created the blog to inspire, encourage and give hope to those that dream of traveling or traveling solo. Thank you for reading my story. Part 2 will be up on May 13."

Her Story

Tiffany attended this event as a tent camper having not camped much and wanting a sense of what women campers were all about. Here is the link to Tiffany's blog article. Enjoy her story and her amazing photos:

BEST FIRST CAMPING TRIP EVER

A Final Frontier

Ginny McKinney, SOTF #3537, contributed this post:

I’d be willing to bet we can all remember our first outing with Sisters on the Fly. We remember where we went, what we did, and if we don’t remember every single Sister that attended, there are certainly some you will never forget...especially that “First Sister”. You know...the one who greeted you first, maybe took you under her wing and showed you the ropes. She was probably more seasoned. She’d been to lots of events. Maybe she was the Wrangler for the area. Or, the event hostess. Or just a long time Sister. Either way, if you’re like me, it was an instant bond.

My “First Sister” was Diane Smith #16. I had purchased my little camper maybe six weeks before the Altona Grange gathering. I had joined SOTF and bought the book and joined the Facebook page. The logical next step was to sign up for an event. I searched Meetup and found one nearby. I signed up and paid my fee. Then I sat back and started reading the comments. It seemed like everyone knew everyone and I was jumping in the middle of a party that had already begun. What if I couldn’t pull the camper? What if I couldn’t find the group? What if I made a fool of myself because I had never backed up or set up camp before? Honesty has always been the best approach, so I just put it out there. I was scared.

Diane was the first to jump in and reassure me. She told me not to worry...I’d be a pro in no time. She was so comforting and I really felt a sense of encouragement for the first time since my husband had died. When I pulled in, there she was...just like she promised. Her sense of calm power was palpable. I took one look at her and wanted to be just like her. She was fun and funny and absolutely no nonsense. She taught me so much.

After that initial gathering, I had the great pleasure to camp with Diane several times. When I moved to West Virginia the year after my husband died, I didn’t get to camp much with my Colorado Sisters, but when I was back for a visit, Diane went out of her way to meet a few of us for lunch. In one such meeting, she told me her cancer was back. She faced it with such strength. Then, about a month ago, she sent me an e-mail. She wanted me to write her story...about how she came to get pancreatic cancer. She thought it might be of interest to others. I told her I would love to. In typical Diane fashion, she did not say “time is of the essence” and I waited till the next week to call her. By then...it was too late. She was under hospice care. She was sleeping much of the time. In a last ditch effort, Peggy Burns tried to connect us while she was visiting, but it wasn’t meant to be. In order to fulfill her request, I’ll tell you what Diane told me. The rest I will fill in with research from the internet. And she was right...I think you will find it interesting.

Diane Erickson married Terry Smith in April of 1962. They moved to Beatty, Nevada shortly after they were married and in July of that year, Diane was exposed to radiation dust from the detonation of bombs at the Nevada Test Site. She and Terry lived about 50 miles from the site and are considered...”Downwinders”. RECA, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990, is an Act to provide jurisdiction and procedures for compassionate payments for injuries due to exposure to radiation from nuclear testing enacted by the 101st United States Congress, effective October 15, 1990. There is a list of cancers as long as your arm that are compensable under RECA, among them...Primary Cancer of the Pancreas.

So, in Diane’s words, “this gnarly little critter called cancer has been with me since I was 23! Just sitting there throughout my life.” She went through the extensive “proof process” to qualify for and receive $50,000 compensation. To her, it wasn’t so much about the money as it was a form of apology.

Diane faced cancer head on, like she faced everything else...with grace and determination. When it got to the point where she was too tired to talk on the phone, Peggy asked if I could just send the story to her and she would read it to Diane. I didn’t feel qualified to write a tribute to her life because I didn’t know her deeply, personally. I felt there were others who knew and loved her for far longer than I did who would do a much better job. I was touched when I read the beautiful words Maurrie posted on 3/15 to tell us our girl was gone. I still felt an obligation to let you know “the rest of the story.” Instead of writing this and sending it for Peggy to read, I sent the following letter as I felt it expressed my feelings more. I knew I would get to the part about her radiation exposure later.

* * * * *

“Dewar Di #16

That’s how I first met you. I was so fresh and new on my grief journey. I had just purchased my first little trailer and joined the Sisters. I knew nothing about camping, or hooking up and towing a camper. When the event was arranged, I wrote on the Meetup page that I was scared. You came right back and said you totally understood that, but you would be waiting for me at the entrance and not to worry.

When I arrived, this woman with wild, silver hair and big glasses and an electric smile greeted me. I immediately felt at ease.

Diane, you took me under your wing. You taught me so much. How to back into a spot on a dime and have a nickel left over. How to unhook and hookup a camper. How to make friends when your heart lies in pieces on the ground. You taught me that just because my husband died, it didn’t mean I did. You taught me how to fly. You’re the one who told me to just get out there and engage and tell my story. I came away from that event a little bit braver, a little more grounded, and a lot more hopeful.

I wish we could have spent more time together. I wish we could have camped beside each other a hundred times. You are the Iron Maiden...so strong and confident and brave. I was going to write your story for after you are gone. There are others who knew you more personally and much longer who would undoubtedly do a better job of that. What I want to do is give you this letter and tell you I love you. You have changed my life, just as you have changed the lives of countless others...from the children in your career to your family and friends and to all the Sisters who were so fortunate as to meet you and call you theirs.

I hate that you are leaving us so soon. My heart is broken that I won’t see you again in this life. However, I have every confidence that when we meet in Heaven someday, we will sit around the campfire and catch up. Do me a favor, will you? When you get up there, look up this really handsome man named Dan McKinney. Tall, silver hair, gorgeous blue eyes. Watch out, he’s a charmer! Tell him I love him and I’m ok and I’ll see him one of these days. On Monday 3/12 he will be gone five years. Please give him a big hug from his sweetheart. Thanks.”

* * * * *

As I sat and meditated on this piece, I decided...what better way to honor the memory of our dear Sister than to be BOLD? BE that Sister...the one who greets new Sisters and welcomes them in...the one who shares her knowledge selflessly...the one who gets involved and steps up and plans events and takes a leadership role in this wonderful organization that empowers women to be all they can be. To be girls again. To have more fun than anyone. To be the “Dewar Di’s” that everyone needs in their life. To be BOLDER. I will miss her so much, but there’s ice tinkling in a glass somewhere among the stars and Heaven is a little bit brighter.

Raise your glass, dear Sisters, for a toast...
Happy Trails, Diane!
With Much Love...
❤️
Ginny

Post contributed by blogger, Positive Aging Expert & Motivational Speaker,
Ginny McKinney, SOTF #3537
Marshmallow Ranch Blog

Sister Spotlight on #2348

“As soon as I found out that there were thousands of other dress-up lovin,’ party-going,
vintage trailer lovin’ women doing it solo like I did, I knew I had to join!”In 2011, while living in Australia and working on her magazine, Vintage Caravan Magazine, Lisa Mora heard about our fun loving Sister on the fly group and quickly became Sister #2348. After meeting and becoming friends with several Sisters on her travels to the US, she watched her US subscriber base grow so she started producing a US version called Vintage Trailer Magazine.

Lisa acts mostly as a one-woman show and exudes so much energy. She writes, edits, photographs, designs… you name it. Sisters on the fly has been lucky enough to be featured, along with many of our members, in several of her magazine's issues.

Traveling runs deep in Lisa’s veins. Her Australian mother and American father introduced her to an "on the fly" lifestyle and between the ages of 2 and 18, Lisa found herself living in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Holland, Sweden,
Morocco and Spain, and visited many others in between.

In 2014 Lisa moved from Australia to the US and settled in the state of Oregon. A year later, she was diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid Disease and was incredibly ill and nearly crippled for almost two years. After many unsuccessful treatments, she finally found a medication routine that gave her strength and mobility back.

These days you can find Lisa back behind the wheel of her beloved Hudson pulling "Rosie," her trailer. Lisa explains, “I get a feeling of absolute joy whenever I take my old Hudson “Doc” and “Rosie” the 1949 Crown bobbing along behind me down the road! I love the changing scenery; I love the photos I get, the people I meet, the vintage trailers I see and the stories I hear. I love my rolling tiny home. I love living simply and plotting my own course. It’s the best life ever out there on the road. Most of all I love being able to share that passion with my readers through my Vintage Trailer Magazine.”

When asked about her setbacks and the trials life has thrown at her, Lisa says, “I am
determined to overcome any hurdles and get the most out of my life. I experience setbacks, challenges, doubts, breakdowns (the car and me!) fears; you name it! But the positives always far outweigh the negative. There is a lot more of America I want to explore yet and a whole bunch of fun-loving, confident, kind, caring and empowered women I call sisters and friends out there who have got my back, so I’m gonna keep rollin’ on!”

(This blog post article was contributed by Nicole C, Sister # 5578.)

On Age & Attitude

“She’s aging gracefully.”

This is a phrase I have heard so many times and until recently was always a goal of mine. It conjured up the image of Maureen O’Hara in the original ‘Parent Trap’ movie. She had it all going on over her younger rival, Vickie. She accepted the physical aging process, embraced her curves and laugh lines. She was not going to submit to brow lifts and tummy tucks. She would look good for her ‘stage in life’. That is what I always supposed the phrase to mean. I would be a woman who did that. I would stick to a skin care regime and religiously moisturize and exfoliate but I would accept that I was a woman of a ‘certain age’.

Lately, I have been thinking that there is an unaddressed subtext in this phrase that I bought into with full consent. Full consent because it was of my own creation. I assumed I would spend my empty nest years doing useful things for my community. I would join the church fundraising committee and attend all the meetings. I would be on standby at home in case any of the kids or grandkids got sick and I needed to pick someone up from school or run and fill a prescription. I would also, of course, dress and behave in an age appropriate manner befitting my station in life.

This is the life that I spent imagining for myself for all the years that I was busy raising my family. I imagined with delicious anticipation that there would be pockets in my day in which I could have lunch with a friend, go to the library sale or even jump on a plane and spend a long weekend with my mom. That was almost too decadent to say out loud though. I kept that one under wraps. It was the trashy novel of my imagined post nest years. I wouldn’t want my church friends to know I would actually leave my family and responsibilities for fun.

It’s not a bad life and I wouldn’t want anyone reading it to think that they had somehow settled and were missing out on something. I just began to think that maybe “aging gracefully” could mean something more. Maybe it could mean that it’s okay to take emotional care of yourself and be first for the first time in a long time? Maybe it could mean getting together for a weekend with your college roommates because you’ve only been talking about it for 30 years now? Maybe I could be a Girl Camper and a community servant? Maybe the “community” is not in my neighborhood? Maybe “aging gracefully” means finding that sweet spot of loving your family and honoring yourself. Being respondent without guilt to your inner inclinations and flights of fancy?

I decided on the new and revised version of “aging gracefully”. I know that if one of my children has a baby or a crisis I am a flight or days drive away. I don’t have to live in my kitchen waiting for the phone to ring. I’m not the Mom ‘doctor on call’ anymore. I don’t think my kids want me to do that either. The goal is to raise adults. Check! Now I get to go and be a kid. I want to pack up my trailer and meet my new friend Linda in the foothills of the Ozarks and see the Milky Way with her. I am going to stop and meet my new Facebook friend Debra on the way and talk her into joining us. I want to float on the Kern River with the Sisters on the Fly and go to Burning Man and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival and the Grand Canyon. I want to travel a piece of the Oregon Trail and imagine the women who traveled it with all of their hopes and dreams packed in their Prairie Schooners. In my own little prairie schooner, my 1966 Go Tag Along, I want to trace their steps and honor their courage. It probably won’t look very graceful though. Three-day-old hair in a baseball cap and jeans that haven’t been washed in two weeks usually doesn’t read as graceful but, it will be true. It will be a time for me to let my mind unfurl and learn to live in that moment and practice an appreciation for all that God has given me. I am ready to “age gracefully.” Let's hit the road!

Janine Pettit is a ten-year member of Sisters on the Fly, her favorite Girl Camping group! She is the host of the podcast, Girl Camper on Itunes and Stitcher and a writer for Go RVing. She writes a blog at www.girlcamper.com where she encourages women to join the Girl Camping movement.

On Age & Attitude: Part 7

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” - Mark Twain

What? Of course we mind! Aging men seem to get all the breaks. Aging woman? Not as much!

Twain’s big old overgrown fuzzy mustache is now iconic. Sam Elliot, Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds seem to wear crazy bushy eyebrows like a badge of honor. Us gals? Forget it!

My friends and I have resorted to attacking those unwanted facial hairs with electrolysis, waxing and laser hair removal. We all know society has a double standard when it comes to aging. Goldie Hawn, Meg Ryan and Melanie Griffith have learned the hard way!

Several years ago, my pre-teen son rode in on his high horse one day and declared that my dying my hair and putting on makeup was “lying.” I said, “Honey, you can’t handle the truth!”

I don’t want to totally go to seed, physically, so I do what I can - within reason of course. When it comes to my body, I’m not trying to be a hero. And the rest of it? Well, that all seems to come down to finances. Go figure!

Instead of throwing out the bank, I choose to channel Georgia O’Keeffe, Judi Dench, and Julia Child. It helps me justify it. My wrinkles and sags bother me but I try to look beyond them. Knowing that my friends do see beyond them is a genuine help.

Here’s the truth about aging: it doesn’t matter how much cosmetic stuff a woman does to her body and face, you can still ALWAYS tell her age. It’s in her eyes, her hands, her walk, her mouth, her voice, her stamina and her knowledge of trending technology.

The real beauty is in acknowledging that you DO mind and are instead doing things that matter to you. Stay active, get outside, hike, camp, swim, sing, walk the dog, garden, plan a trip, go to the gym. Get and keep a sparkle in your eyes. Laugh at yourself or laugh at Donald Trump! Act young and silly and goofy. Figure out how to be happy. Keep the love alive. Make a change. Entertain. Learn the guitar. Download a new phone app. Buy sexy underwear. Wax a new place!

I couldn’t get through the aging process without good girlfriends to compare notes. We do keep aging. We do mind. But we don’t let it consume us. We do things that matter instead. The lovely flowers we all were once are slowly going to seed. But we are perennials. We will keep growing.

Ceci Bennett, Sister #127

Ceci Bennet is step-mom & adoptive-mom to 3 boys; step-grandmother to 5 kiddos; and has been married for 25 years. She was a clothing designer for Ralph Lauren, Nautica, North Face and other design firms back in the day. Ceci currently works with SOTF as the "Website Wrangler" and for her husband's real estate group in Boise ID. At 56, she is learning guitar and getting back into tennis. She is passionate about fly fishing, hiking and doing creative things.