03/17/2026
🌙 Today I am 36. Old to the young and young to the old. So much time has passed yet I still have a lifetime ahead of me.
Three years ago, I moved to Turtle Valley, not knowing anything about these lands. I found a random ad on Craigslist for a cabin in the mountains and followed a spark - a dream I had about living immersed in the wildness of Mother Nature. When I saw the land, I felt a strong pull and immediately fell in love with the lush grass, the wildflowers, the dancing trees and the wide open air. What I didn’t know was that I was returning to a place I had been before.
During my three years here, I kept uncovering clues - the type of clues that give you full body chills. First, a rumour about hippie sun worshippers in the mountains. Next, an article about a local Turtle Valley artist named Laurie Payne who held summer solstice parties at his studio just down the road every year. Third, my dad’s vague memory of playing a gig with my mom at one of these parties in Summer 1989. Yup, these lands are the lands where I was conceived. Just a tiny seed in the dark, reaching for the light. Funny how my mom used to call me “Sunshine.” 🌞
It feels appropriate to share this story today, on the day of my birth, as I prepare to leave these lands. This winter, it became apparent that our story here is done. It’s time to return home, to the big city Vancouver, to be closer to the very people who brought me into existence. One door closes, another one opens. Whatever I came back to retrieve has been retrieved. Mission complete.
Today I took a break from packing and cleaning and enjoyed cake and treats with my kids. Despite being super chill and lowkey, this birthday feels different. Special. Potent. A gateway to true rebirth. ❤️
