Never stop pursuing your dreams!

Sometimes Monday mornings are hard.  Especially after an eventful fun weekend that you never want to end.
This is a story about a family that has overcome more than just a Monday morning and what some may think of as an insurmountable obstacle.  I am not a current apple user but want to support this man's creed that he has no limitations in continuing his dream.  Something that I need to be reminded of daily.

Please watch and share if you feel inclined.

Getting Wild

A handful of years ago, my husband and I decided to get a divorce.  The sadness I felt was unimaginable and I was paralyzed with grief.  I knew I needed to find purpose in my life as getting out of bed was a treacherous chore.  In typical Dori fashion I decided that only an excursion along the Pacific Crest Trail would do.  From the Mexicali border all the way to Washington state in the north, I would find a new purpose, with new dreams to conquer in every step of the way. I spent hours researching the needed resources and presented my plans,convincing friends to journey with me on different legs of the trip.  It would take all 2500+ miles to come to peace and close the door on my shattered reality.

I remember sitting at lunch with my brother as the first thoughts of doubt began to creep in.   He and his friend heckled the idea of trekking with me across the Mohave desert and  presented the absurdities of my trip.  For goodness sake I was serious!!  I then learned of two girls killed in Oregon while hiking along the trail, then another.  Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all and the guidebook and paper trail of notes remain on a shelf to this day.

$9.99 on amazon

Recently, while strolling through a store, a byline from a book elevated itself from its cover. From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.  It is about a woman whose mother had died, had gotten divorced and impulsively decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.  Cheryl Strayed had wrote my book!  An Oprah book club selection, a New York times bestseller and stealing the words right off the cover, "a literary and human triumph."  How would I resist reading the book I'd never again have the opportunity to write.


It's easy to place myself in her shoes as she shares her experiences.  The candor of her writing is admirable and sometimes startling as the story unfolds. Wild is a memoir of one woman's amazing journey not only along the PCT, but through her life at the time and the needed journey to redemption.  I have laughed, I have cried and I have cringed as she used the 'F' word yet again in her writing.  She shares intimate details of her broken life and her journey along the trail.  It's exactly what I wanted to do years ago,but didn't.

It's easy to ponder the path my life would have taken if I too had decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail those many years ago.  I would have healed much faster. I would have overcome the pain sooner.... And I never would have ended up pregnant staring divorce in the face prolonging the inevitable painful decision. (The scariest thing I've yet to experience.)  Cheryl and I have many remarkable similarities within our stories but many differences abound.  One being that of the decision we both made that ultimately helped me overcome the sadness I did feel without ever hiking the trail. The opportunity that instantly gave me purpose and the reason to get out of bed.  The journey that would lead me well beyond 2500 miles and give me purpose for more than the expected 18 years.

Go an get Wild.  It is indeed "a literary and human triumph" that may just inspire you to do things you never imagined you could.

Let the countdown begin!

It's December. The holy crap is inferred.  I'm not sure I've quite yet grasped that 'tis the season.  I had a nightmare last night that I had forgotten to buy my son a Christmas gift before he went to his dad's.  It's a hard perdicament I'm in.  I vowed I would never enter a store in December again but yet need to find the Christmas spirit.  Does that sound like Scrooge or plain old good logic in saving sanity this time of year.

However, thank goodness for holiday tradition. Rephrase. Thank goodness for other people's holiday tradition!  And in this case, thank goodness for my brother and his beautiful family. Every year they do a Christmas video in place of their holiday card. Last year's video made me laugh and cry. This years video is helping me get in the mood for the fun and uplifting season before us.  Let's celebrate and sing.  Bryan Setzer is always a good choice for a singing companion.


...and if you are one of those high definition folks click here.  

TGIF.........Need I Say More

It's Friday! Let the Hallelujah chorus begin. No work, No homework for Zoom and I can actually sleep past 5:30 tomorrow morning. After a long and stressful week I am ecstatic for the weekend.  I'm headed to San Diego to discuss a future project in the making.  But it will not be work.......especially when it's with an old friend.

While the words San Diego are relaxing enough, I ran across this photography collection from Antony Spencer.  I was instantly enamored. What amazing moments this man has captured.  I longed to be at each location he has ever shot.  Go to his site and check out his portfolio! If you can't make it to San Diego this weekend, I have a feeling it will transport you to a place with less stress and its a good reminder of how beautiful and amazing this planet is.  

Surf Shack Favorite

My dream car is a 1943 Jeep Willy Wagon. The thought of restoring one and driving it to the supermarket everyday makes me giddy.  Imagine my excitement and inspiration when I came across this post off Remodelista's web site of which is one of my favorite surfing spots for ideas and inspiration.  A restoration of an old 1959 bus! Who needs an airstream when you can toss down 75K on this (no actual knowledge of cost or specifics disclaimer inserted here).  The before and after pictures are worth a peek in you're interested. (click here for details)  The possibilities of my Willy wagon just became even more dreamier.