Where have I been?! Part One.

Right now, I am sitting in one of Baltimore’s most well known coffee houses: The Daily Grind. I came here because I needed to write. It has been far too long. My inner voice has been telling me to sit down and write for some time now. Life kept getting in the way. Where have I been? Some would say finding myself. Others, redefining myself. A few may even say I’ve lost my mind. I say I’ve been busy - learning, exploring, and discovering. Learning what really matters. Exploring the world around me. Discovering myself. It feels good to find myself blogging again. I know so many of my readers have missed my presence in the blog world. Even to this day, I receive e-mails and comments inquiring about me. That amazes me. Out of all the bloggers one can discover, I have somehow touched so many people by sharing myself openly and honestly. People who don’t blog can never understand the connection you can make with others through a computer screen. My regular readers have been an important source of encouragement and support. That is real. Thank you. So, inquiring minds want to know: What has Brea been up to? Wow. You know me, a lot can happen in just a week. But it has been months since I’ve blogged. I’ll give you the abridged version, but get comfortable, there is a lot to tell.... Last time I blogged, I had just returned from the National Rainbow Gathering in Colorado - without my camera. I worked my little butt off and bought a new one a week later. Still, the photos from my first cross country road trip were gone. Such is life. My trip was amazing. I went with two friends: Randy and Nick. We left Maryland in the middle of the night and drove to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We took our time, rotated four hour driving shifts, and stopped when we felt like it. It took us 34 hours to get there. It was my first time in Colorado and it was absolutely breathtaking. Picture montains, trees, streams and lakes bathed in sunshine and surrounded by crisp air. We camped for a week at the Rainbow Gathering where we met really cool people from all over the country. Imagine a tent community full of hippies and hipsters. That is how I spent my week. We were completely isolated from what is normal society and surrounded by nature. The whole trip gave me time to reflect on many things. I spent a week away from the stress and pressure of everyday life. I didn't have a cell phone or even a watch. The sun rose and the sun set. Amazing. I felt completely free and totally safe. I experienced the strongest sense of community I have ever felt. I became as close to nature and myself as I have ever been. It was amazing. It was the catalyst to a lot of change in my life. More on that later . . . . I'm in the middle of tranferring data (most importantly, my pictures) to a new laptop. I figure my narrative is always more interesting with pics. I'll have the transfer complete by Sunday and I'll be back to share what Brea has been up to these many months. Stay tuned. I'm looking forward to getting caught up with all the blogs I used to frequent. It feels good to be back! :)