Erin Curlett

“The scenic route is the only route. Life is short. Stay awake for it.”

Yesterday I was surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins, all tied together by blood and history and promises. Looking in their eyes I could see my grandpa, my grandma, and the kids my dad and his siblings once were.

It was a special kind of magic, to remember the good and the crazy and the befuddling, and in the midst of the memories, also celebrate what’s to come: two weddings, new jobs, beautiful homes.

There are decades of family memories in this place, in the foothills of the mountains. I have traveled so much in my lifetime I often forget how many places I can actually call home. 

Maybe the path back to the start of things is more winding for some than for others. It’s been that way for me. 

But here’s what I know: I want to be awake for it. I want to pay attention. And I want to grab tight to those people who know what it’s like to inhabit this skin—more than I ever realized—and never let go. 

Love you, Denver. Love you, Thompson family. And thank you for reminding me of who and whose I am. ❤️