I’ve never read your column before, and I always will now. This is so beautiful and so inspiring it brought me to tears at the end. Congratulations on your epic journey! What an accomplishment for you and your family. We also struggle with some of the same feelings with our Tasty Postcards here on Substack. With all the insanity going on in the US and around the world, how do we reconcile being committed to living our lives to the fullest and inspiring others through sharing our joy of adventure and exploration? At times it seems frivolous, and at the same time, we all need to find the places of joy in our lives to inspire us to carry on and fight wherever necessary. You have addressed this so beautifully and the metaphor of climbing a very tall mountain is certainly appropriate. So yes = let’s keep putting one foot in front of the other in our commitment to freedom and democracy too! Blessings on this beautiful summer day.
Congratulations to you and your sister and especially your mother. I am from Austria 🇦🇹 and love skiing in South Tyrol, but I have never attempted to climb these impressive mountain peaks, I can ski down easily as I was carried up by cable cars. What an accomplishment! What a great time to take another perspective of your home country. It’s people like you, who bring back a different spirit through having traveled, spoken another language, found comfort and company outside their realm, that will make a difference in the USA. Love Andrea 😍
Venice? I didn't know attended a certain wedding... :-) Welcome back though!
To quote Brad Lander, good f'ing riddance to Andrew Cuomo. I never liked New York's king nepo baby, he's an openly corrupt bully whose claim to fame was appearing somewhat competent during a deadly pandemic when his administration was covering up the deaths of old people. And it appears he's only running for mayor as some sort of revenge thing, and that's not good!
As a Republican, I don't agree with Mamdani on anything and I think his policies are in for a rude awakening if he becomes mayor, but he genuinely seems like he wants to make New Yorkers lives better and I respect that and was rooting for him.
Plus, as a cinephile, I gasped when I saw who his mom is. Who knew Mississippi Masala would one day change the face of New York City.
Your journey gives me something to aspire to! Right now, I am very literally trying to put one foot in front of the other, having broken my ankle in a fall while hiking in Mexico. Three surgeries, two casts, a boot, and five months later, I had my own “Independence Day” on July 3, when my surgeon told me I could now attempt walking at home with a cane and street shoes. I didn’t fully realize how daunting this would be; it really is learning how to walk all over again. I’m thinking now of the memorable day if hiking I spent on the Inca trail, up to the Sun Gate and down into Machu Picchu, just two years ago—I remember that feeling of tenderness toward my own body, for helping me accomplish such a feat at age 61. As I continue through this most challenging phase of healing I will now carry a mental picture of those beautiful Dolomite trails, and that tiny wildflower emerging from the rubble. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience.
Beautiful photos Amber. It's funny we have to be continually reminded that one foot in front of the other is how any formidable challenge is conquered. Did you know, during WWII the French Resistance used the Dolomite trails to rescue downed pilots and exposed resistance members by hiking, often during winter, from France to Italy? btw, in the first photo, you look exactly like your mom. {{heart}}
You have brilliantly expressed how the dolomite journey empowered us all. Your parallels to our political struggles offer us great strength to find and navigate as we did when we together hiked to our mountain tops.
Thanks for sharing this for everyone’s inspiration. And thanks to Morgan and Gavin who guided us to new heights in several different ways. A true gift.
I love all you guys and we can do this for our country at home. One step at a time to reach each goal as they come our way.
DANGIT, you’ve got me again, right in DA FEELZ!!😘🥰💕💕 Missed ya much, and this is astonishing.
My take away? We NEED to let go of our damn self-imposed limitations (limiting myself is REEEAAAL) and realize…no, FREAKING OWN…that we not only ARE that beauty growing in the hard(est) places, but also that we had and have the Herculean strength to poke our gorgeous heads out from that rock. 🪨 That’s you, too, girl! (Just to drive home what you already realized 😊)
Love to you and the LITD Fam!❤️ Let’s go conquer mountains. 🏔️
Thanks for the travelogue. It looks like you had a wonderful time and did some amazing things. I love that your 78-year-old mother went with you. I said "good riddance" to my old TV. Brought a new one, same size and everything. Different brand.
Beautiful and inspiring! When your mom made it and you hugged her, so proud, it brought me to tears. My mother died when she was only 53, and I was 29. You are blessed, and it’s obvious you are very aware of this, to have your mom and also what sounds like a wonderful relationship. One step in front of the other . . . so true for everything, especially now.
I felt as if I were with you, so well do you describe this incredible journey. Your analogy with our battle at home against very dark forces is apt and motivational.
I’ve never read your column before, and I always will now. This is so beautiful and so inspiring it brought me to tears at the end. Congratulations on your epic journey! What an accomplishment for you and your family. We also struggle with some of the same feelings with our Tasty Postcards here on Substack. With all the insanity going on in the US and around the world, how do we reconcile being committed to living our lives to the fullest and inspiring others through sharing our joy of adventure and exploration? At times it seems frivolous, and at the same time, we all need to find the places of joy in our lives to inspire us to carry on and fight wherever necessary. You have addressed this so beautifully and the metaphor of climbing a very tall mountain is certainly appropriate. So yes = let’s keep putting one foot in front of the other in our commitment to freedom and democracy too! Blessings on this beautiful summer day.
Beautiful Mary Anne and we’re so happy to have you here! 🙏🏻
Congratulations to you and your sister and especially your mother. I am from Austria 🇦🇹 and love skiing in South Tyrol, but I have never attempted to climb these impressive mountain peaks, I can ski down easily as I was carried up by cable cars. What an accomplishment! What a great time to take another perspective of your home country. It’s people like you, who bring back a different spirit through having traveled, spoken another language, found comfort and company outside their realm, that will make a difference in the USA. Love Andrea 😍
Venice? I didn't know attended a certain wedding... :-) Welcome back though!
To quote Brad Lander, good f'ing riddance to Andrew Cuomo. I never liked New York's king nepo baby, he's an openly corrupt bully whose claim to fame was appearing somewhat competent during a deadly pandemic when his administration was covering up the deaths of old people. And it appears he's only running for mayor as some sort of revenge thing, and that's not good!
As a Republican, I don't agree with Mamdani on anything and I think his policies are in for a rude awakening if he becomes mayor, but he genuinely seems like he wants to make New Yorkers lives better and I respect that and was rooting for him.
Plus, as a cinephile, I gasped when I saw who his mom is. Who knew Mississippi Masala would one day change the face of New York City.
Lol hi Sam ♥️♥️
And this is an EXCELLENT good riddance ✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻 to Cuomo and the politics of division. I’m very, very done with it.
::sees the NYTimes article::
Oh motherfu-
Go away! Anything else I want to say is just too mean
I love this post! One foot in front of the other we will prevail. Aprill
Exactly April! ♥️♥️♥️
Your journey gives me something to aspire to! Right now, I am very literally trying to put one foot in front of the other, having broken my ankle in a fall while hiking in Mexico. Three surgeries, two casts, a boot, and five months later, I had my own “Independence Day” on July 3, when my surgeon told me I could now attempt walking at home with a cane and street shoes. I didn’t fully realize how daunting this would be; it really is learning how to walk all over again. I’m thinking now of the memorable day if hiking I spent on the Inca trail, up to the Sun Gate and down into Machu Picchu, just two years ago—I remember that feeling of tenderness toward my own body, for helping me accomplish such a feat at age 61. As I continue through this most challenging phase of healing I will now carry a mental picture of those beautiful Dolomite trails, and that tiny wildflower emerging from the rubble. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience.
Oof that sounds intense Shelley— happy healing to you and your body, it sounds like you’re taking good care of yourself ♥️
Beautiful photos Amber. It's funny we have to be continually reminded that one foot in front of the other is how any formidable challenge is conquered. Did you know, during WWII the French Resistance used the Dolomite trails to rescue downed pilots and exposed resistance members by hiking, often during winter, from France to Italy? btw, in the first photo, you look exactly like your mom. {{heart}}
Thank you so much Patricia and what a compliment to say I look like mama 🥰
Amber
You have brilliantly expressed how the dolomite journey empowered us all. Your parallels to our political struggles offer us great strength to find and navigate as we did when we together hiked to our mountain tops.
Thanks for sharing this for everyone’s inspiration. And thanks to Morgan and Gavin who guided us to new heights in several different ways. A true gift.
I love all you guys and we can do this for our country at home. One step at a time to reach each goal as they come our way.
Love you Katherine!
DANGIT, you’ve got me again, right in DA FEELZ!!😘🥰💕💕 Missed ya much, and this is astonishing.
My take away? We NEED to let go of our damn self-imposed limitations (limiting myself is REEEAAAL) and realize…no, FREAKING OWN…that we not only ARE that beauty growing in the hard(est) places, but also that we had and have the Herculean strength to poke our gorgeous heads out from that rock. 🪨 That’s you, too, girl! (Just to drive home what you already realized 😊)
Love to you and the LITD Fam!❤️ Let’s go conquer mountains. 🏔️
♥️♥️♥️🩷🩷🩷
Amber, that was beautiful and just what I needed! Thanks!
Thanks for the travelogue. It looks like you had a wonderful time and did some amazing things. I love that your 78-year-old mother went with you. I said "good riddance" to my old TV. Brought a new one, same size and everything. Different brand.
Great let go Kent!
Nice work!
How inspiring!
Beautiful and inspiring! When your mom made it and you hugged her, so proud, it brought me to tears. My mother died when she was only 53, and I was 29. You are blessed, and it’s obvious you are very aware of this, to have your mom and also what sounds like a wonderful relationship. One step in front of the other . . . so true for everything, especially now.
Thank you for sharing Susan 🩷
As mentioned, I have to put one foot in the other BUT remind myself to keep looking forward not down.
PS I’m 78 too! Brava to your mama!
I felt as if I were with you, so well do you describe this incredible journey. Your analogy with our battle at home against very dark forces is apt and motivational.
🥹🥹🙏🏻♥️