Our Fortnightly Call on Friendship & Friends in Jackson Hole

Since last Christmas my growing-up family (the Eyres) has been trying to have a “fortnightly” zoom call. Something to gather us together to connect our hearts. We take turns deciding on the topic of conversation.

It was my brother Eli’s turn to pick a topic a couple months ago and he wanted us to talk about this:

I wasn’t actually able to join in on the conversation for one thing or another, but I carried what I heard in this video around with me in my heart.

I have so many things wrapped into my heart about connection and friendship these days. Fascinating statistics and studies from The Anxious Generation and so many stories and thoughts and questions from How to Know a Person. And you know what? I agree with Simon and Trevor, we need to cherish and nurture friendships and connection with all we’ve got. Connection is the most powerful thing, and it’s powered by love. Reworking love over and over and over again.

Jackson Hole with Friends

Anyway, this brings me to the point of my post today, I got to hang out with a couple of my high school girlfriends on the beginning cusp of Fall Break.

You see, it was one friend Maureen’s birthday. She is an incredible wildlife photographer and usually spends her birthdays alone camping in Jackson Hole since she adores it up there so much. So my other friend had a grand idea that we should go meet her for her birthday this year.

Now, it just so happened that Dave, Lu and I were going to be heading to Utah for Fall Break anyway a couple days later, so I decided to jump on the chance and go meet up with these friends and headed up a little before them.

A Reunion

I met up with my sisters to hike early morning, then Marie and I made the long (and gorgeous) drive up to surprise Maureen at the base of the Tetons.

It was a grand reunion.

And the three of us basked in that friendship we have cultivated stretching through the years all the way from elementary school.

Every Vantage Point for Tetons

Maureen took us to what felt like 197 vantage points to see the Tetons and we stood there hushed in their glory.

We woke up before sunrise both mornings to take it all in.

…along with every other photographer and their dog.

There was a giant forest fire going on so at times the Tetons were fully covered from the smoke. This was so sad, but also created so much beauty.

Country Dancing

We didn’t actually DO the dancing, but we loved eating chocolate cake and watching all the swing-dancers. Some serious talent there that night I have to say.

Our Hotel

Marie had a business connection to a place called Tammah right there at the base of the mountains, so we stayed in these cool geodesic domes “glamping” right there in all that beauty.

Fall Foliage

We saw pretty incredible Fall foliage despite the smoke.

Maureen knows every back road and every single gorgeous lookout.

It was fun to be with her in “a-day-in-the-life.”

I took HUNDREDS of photos, but I’m trying to do better at carefully selecting photos for the blog as to not overwhelm.

Mormon Row

I do need to put this one in though…because when you happen to see the fastest car in the world right there at Mormon Row…

Ok, and another cool car too:

Ha!

In all my years growing up going to Jackson Hole I didn’t remember ever going to Mormon Row, it was beautiful and full of history….and a rainbow!

Oh how grateful I was for all that beauty.

But the most beautiful thing to me is the connection with these women who have taught me so much through the years, and who have imprinted parts of themselves on my character and thoughts and deeds.

I’m just so grateful for them and precious TIME to be together.

This was not the last time “connection” happened at Jackson Hole those two weeks of Fall Break. We’d be celebrating my Dad’s 80th birthday there too. More on that next week.

Sending out lots of love for the weekend. Go connect with all those people you love, or who need your love! We need each other!