The Art of Epic Birthdays

Summer sun never quits in ALaska

I've been lucky in life. Not everyone gets the opportunity to experience the world like I have and I'm eternally grateful. Some of my good fortune has to do with circumstances aligning in my favor, like internships for school and summers at camp. The other extraordinary events only happened with the dedication and devotion of two amazing individuals: my parents. They wanted my sister and I to explore the world and helped in every way imaginable to make that a reality.  From cowboy camping in diapers on the boardwalks of Yosemite Valley and weekend beach excursions to Wildwood, to private beach camping in the Virgin Islands and spring break trips snowboarding in Quebec, my parents made it happen (Captain).

Denali green camper bus

But among all these incredible memories, I, personally, hold three of these trips close to my heart.

• An 11-year old girl staying wildly at the entrance archway to Zion National Park
• A smiling 13-year old wearing her new dress on the chilly shores of the North Sea, Holland
• A tearful, grateful 30-year old dwarfed by the tallest peak in North America

These moments all have two things in common. My parents made them happen. And each moment occurred on my birthday. It wasn't intentional, I assure you. My parents obviously never planned on having kids with summer birthdays and therefore I can't connect these vacations to my birthday, specifically. But for me, it's been a memento that's begun to impact my future trips.

Denali

As the months sped towards my 30th birthday, I knew I needed that year's 'big day' to be something special. And what began as a solo Denali expedition, turned into a mother-daughter co-birthday adventure. With my mom also celebrating a milestone birthday in 2016 (I won't say which one), it only seemed appropriate that she join me. And her and my dad made it happen.

McKinley Bar near Wonder Lake

Toklat River Bar

I checked another state and national park off my bucket list (although I will be back someday), we saw Denali (which only 10% of visitors get to see), and we met some truly amazing people who helped celebrate our birthdays with beer, cakes, and songs in more languages than I can count. And just like every birthday prior and everyone yet to come, I was surrounded by love and the knowledge that I have parents who still find it a priority to make everyone of my birthdays, epic.

Nick (Alaska), my mom, me, Gabriel (Brazil), Marjolein (Holland)

Scouting Nockamixon

April 17th started out like any ordinary day.  Little did I know that that day would be one of the best of my life.  As I said, it started out like any other...with me hitting the snooze button on my alarm.  Typical really.  Shawn and I were heading out to scout a new kayaking location for my job and I really did not want to get out of bed, let alone kayak.  He let me sleep in a bit before coaxing me out of bed (I'd come to learn that he had already been up for hours).  We eventually made our way out the door and soon found ourselves in the rolling hills of Bucks County beside the vast reservoir of Lake Nockamixon. 

The day shone bright and clear; the beautiful spring day a backdrop to a memory that will last a lifetime.  I went about my mission to scout out this location as a potential site for our adventure programs.  We visited a few different boat ramps around the lake before settling on the perfect spot.  Haycock Boat Ramp sits at the north end of the lake; a bit secluded away from the main marina.  With the spring sunshine warming up the day and the beauty of the lake calling to me, we pushed off from the ramp and kayaked up lake.  

Sundays in mid-April aren't the busiest of times on this lake and the quiet around us was welcome.  Just Shawn and I and the great outdoors.  Wildlife danced along as we paddled across the calm water.  Herons, ducks, and turtles, oh my!  This would be a great spot to bring our adventure groups.  As I was enjoying the leisurely paddle, Shawn was practically buzzing beside me.  

Floating along side each other, basking in the sunlight, we started to chat about the beauty of the lake and the spectacular weather we were blessed with that day.  I smiled over at him and said what a perfect day it was and how happy I was in that moment there with him.  Shawn was wearing the biggest nervous smile I've ever seen on his face and pulled out a small, red box.  How could this moment get any more prefect?  

The words, "Will you marry me?"  Through my tears and happy giggles, I'm sure I managed the word "Yes!"  Shawn had completely and totally surprised me.  I later learned that he had been hiding the ring for a couple weeks, waiting for the perfect moment.  Also, that very day, he had slipped out of bed to meet my parents for breakfast at 4 o'clock in the morning and managed to make it back into bed without me realizing he had left!  He definitely found the most perfect moment.  It doesn't get any better than two people together, enjoying the wonders of nature and each other.  April 17th, 2016 will go down in the books as one of the best days of my life.