Getting Bolder: Change is in the Air
Ginny, SOTF #3537, shares with us all here;
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” e.e.cummings
OLD SCHOOL Sentiments
Remember what it felt like as a child at the end of summer? The air changed. The colors became muted as the end of the growing season hit. Nights became cooler. Locusts began their incessant call as daylight waxed to evening. We stayed outside till the street lights came on...milking every moment of joy we could from each day. School was right around the corner. Maybe we had our new book bag purchased. Maybe we had new shoes. Maybe our moms were busy sewing dresses or knitting sweaters or socks to send us into a new season. Whatever was going on in your individual world, you knew a change was coming. Something new. Something fresh. Something unknown. It was simultaneously exciting and terrifying. And...inevitable.
Change of Season
Thus we have August. The “dog days of summer”. Heat shimmers off the asphalt during the day. Nights hold a velvety warmth for an hour or so before the chill brings you closer to the fire or you grab a wrap for your shoulders. You know your camping days are numbered now. What felt like an endless stretch of time before you turns into a sense of urgency to get out there and get some fun under your belt while you still can.
No Better Time than NOW
I was fortunate to find the Sisters in late spring. When I joined, I had an open calendar, a new camper, and 
unlimited time to spend traveling, meeting new friends, and exploring new places. My husband had just died in March so my time was now my own for the very first time in my life. As a method of coping with his death, I signed up for every event I possibly could and I have to tell you...that was singularly the best thing I ever could have done for myself. I had instant support, yet there wasn’t any of this “hand-wringing pity” you so often are faced with as a grieving widow. Instead, I had empathetic listeners who sat respectfully while I shared my story, reached out and gave me a hug, then immediately said, “Hey, a bunch of us are going hiking in a little bit. Wanna join us?” It was exactly what I needed. Acknowledgement of my pain...encouragement for my healing.
Jump in With Both Feet
The fast paced, frenetic schedule I set up for myself when I first joined soon morphed into a more laidback stretch of time. I relaxed into the comfort that comes when you arrive at an event and recognize someone you met earlier in the year. You get a little time and experience under your belt and before you know it, you start to recognize the newbies. The ones who are currently sitting in the seat you sat in not so long ago. This is one of the very best times to be a Sister...when you can reach back and offer the same love and encouraging support to those coming up the ranks behind you. It gives you such a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment to have learned new skills you can now share.
Growing Up & Growing Confident
Sisters on the Fly has grown so much since its inception nearly two decades ago. There have been growing pains, surely. But the basic premise of the whole endeavor has withstood the test of time. Sisters have come and gone as not every group is the right fit for everyone. I am here to tell you, as a member of five years, you will get out what you put into this organization. If you are looking for someone to cater to your every whim, you are in the wrong place. But if you are willing to roll your sleeves up, pitch in where needed, step out of your comfort zone, and be willing to put yourself out there to meet new people and learn new things, you are going to thrive with these gals.
Take Ownership & Make it Yours
If there aren’t enough events in your area...host some. If there aren’t enough events with your area of interest, create one. The Wranglers in your area are there to answer your questions and to guide you through the website to teach you how to find events. While some Wranglers host events, they can’t be expected to plan, organize, and carry out every event in your area. We Wranglers depend on our area Sisters to step up and be brave and BOLD and schedule the kinds of events you want to go to. We’ll help in anyway we can by answering questions and pointing you in the right direction.
Sisters on the Fly is entirely what YOU make it to be. There are large events all over the country that are often “bucket list” trips to aspire to. There are yearly events that are a bit competitive to get into because so many Sisters want to return year after year. That’s why we have gone “back to basics” and we are encouraging lots more small, free, impromptu gatherings. No muss, no fuss. Just camping, gathering around the campfire, sharing our Sisterhood with other like-minded women. I don’t know about you, but I kind of enjoy the smaller gatherings more anyway. You have the opportunity to really get to know your fellow Sisters on a deeper level. There is more time to bond. There is more time to laugh. There is even more time to nap or read in a hammock or stand in a river. Not every minute has to be planned out to make a SOTF event successful. This isn’t a competition to see who can put on the biggest show. Far from it.
Step in & Step Up
So, we’re winding down the camping season. Why not step in with both feet and start something new? We have recently had a huge surge in new memberships with the video released by The Travel Channel. Take advantage of that uptick in the number of Sisters available to have more fun than anyone with. You will never regret having fun with a bunch of women who have magically become girls again!
With much love,
Ginny
Post contributed by blogger, Positive Aging Expert & Motivational Speaker,
Ginny McKinney, SOTF #3537
Marshmallow Ranch Blog
pastimes while camping are laying in my hammock with a good book, riding my bike and taking long strolls. Another happy place is in my kayak. I love to paddle long and far to wash away all the stress. I have recently acquired a love for yoga and the inner peace it gives me as well as the physical health.
friend who was taking this fascinating trip along the Lewis and Clark trail with a group of women. He said, “You should check it out, Tanya. They are your kind of women!!” He was so right. Joining SOTF has been so fulfilling for me. None of my local friends like to camp, so finding a group of women who love it as much as I do has been so exciting. While joining a fellow Sister on her maiden voyage in her newly purchased camper, my 18 hours with her was eye-opening. That's when I learned how glorious it was to camp without my family! 
break to visit my son and attend the SOTF event Wonderful Women of Waxahachie. At one point my aunt, exasperated with worrying about my cross country wanderings said “you’re just like your grandmother!” I gladly accepted that as a compliment. One of my many highlights on this trip was teaching my 16 year old daughter to tow. Because we were traveling over 1,200 miles I wanted her to know what to do in case of an emergency. She was elated and so proud of herself! I feel it’s something everyone should learn how to do, just like driving a standard transmission. 
small Frolic camper and would take me camping with her. To this day I cherish those memories. She has always taught me women can do anything we put our mind to! My camper is named Lil Viv after my grandmother and a reminder of our times in her little camper.
fabulous group of women pulled together and attacked this event like they knew what they were doing. Never once did anyone get left behind, nor was a snitty remark made and never any hurt feelings. It was just plain ole western manners. Be nice is a SOTF rule and nice we ALL were.
years past would attend. Wrong! A gathering of newbies led by an assertive problem solver, Linda Webb appeared. She bugged and haunted me for answers and we pulled it off. We did have one return person- do you remember the photographs from two years ago, of a beautiful girl with long hair, cuddling a bum lamb? That is Melisse, and this year she was the social director.
beautiful women and eager learners. Two of our regular Wranglers from Kentucky could not attend but Clint, in his southern way, took those girls on like he was made for it. Taught us how to "mug" (which is their word for wrestling calves down), to put tents up and take them down, to brand, and for some, to hold those cattle down for shots, branding and banding. That is all under "bull dogging."
stepping! This was the first year for dance lessons! That went along with sharing moonshine and whiskey, telling stories and tons of laughter. Also Ord took the girls to a secret location to find old Indian seed beads in the ant piles and the girls found about 4 or 5 of them.
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?!
Wide, pea-graveled lanes weave in and out through massive displays of azaleas, rhododendron, camellias, live oak and loblolly pines. Paths lead you along the sound, through a brick walled rose garden, and on to a meticulously groomed formal garden with sculptures, fountains, and exquisitely groomed crepe myrtle and boxwood hedges. It was easy to get lost in thought in such gorgeous surroundings on one of the most pristine spring days North Carolina has had to offer so far this year.
Texas Monthly Magazine Coverage
hand stitched to the quilt. It is stitched on the back. If you ever received & returned a Quilt on the fly, then your patch is included with other patches on that lovely, blessed quilt that has comforted, kept warm, held, cuddled and sopped up endless tears. It has added puppy kisses, kitties, grandchildren’s plucking and friend's hands. All of that love and prayers are held in one quilt.
the mighty storm hit. It turned out to have downgraded from a true tornado, but I haven’t been in many storms that fierce. I was ever so glad I wasn’t sitting in TOW-Wanda under all those trees. I didn’t sleep all night as the storm raged outside. I kept repeating to myself “Be bold in the face of danger!” Morning dawned cold and gray with a steady rain pouring down. I got back to my camper and found it sitting on an island in a lake of water several inches deep. I was exhausted and there was no way I was going to hook up and start hauling in that condition. I went back to the office, signed up for another night, checked the radar and saw the storm would be past in just a few hours with no more threat of tornado activity. I crawled in my cozy bed in my big comfy camper and slept for the next twenty hours!
Northwest Financial Wrangler, Oregon Wrangler, Western Washington Wrangler and National Cabela’s Wrangler. Robin was the hostess for the 2013 Northwest Gathering in Long Beach, WA where just under $45,000 was made via auction and donated to a local charity called Camp Victory.
waited for Robin to catch up. After thoroughly checking weight distribution, loading, weight on the tongue and discussed speed – it was concluded there was no visible reason things weren’t safe. Back on the road, this time Robin (and Cowgirl Hideout) in front of Guy (in the semi) so he could “watch” things. Communicating back and forth – increasing speed, changing lanes, assurances given and best wishes for a safe and fun trip to SoCa – when Robin found herself jerked in her seat, a trailer leaning in her side mirrors, sparks flying behind her and the immediate thought of “he knows I’m in trouble, he can take care of himself” as she pulled in front of the truck and to the side of the road as quickly as possible. Once stopped, Guy ran up to the tow rig only to find her with her head on the steering wheel when he asked “Are you okay? Wow – you did a great job keeping things upright – can I get you anything?” to which Robin responded “maybe a clean pair of pants”. 
sites for 35 years and now spending as much time as possible pulling around a little trailer she knows that accidents happen – and sometimes there is nothing you can do about them BUT………she also knows there is so much more you can do to be safe not only for yourself but others. With this in mind and meeting so many sisters who had never towed a trailer, Robin created a small handout and began conducting “Trailer 101 Safety Classes”. Each class has taken on a different “feel” but the most important thing is that each attendee take away something that contributes to being a little safer on the road. SOTF does have more fun than anyone but Robin teaches “you need to be a woman behind the wheel and a girl in the campground!”