Paging Dr House

Earlier in the year I decided I was going to LIVE! I set up a plan to enjoy this beautiful corner of the world we live in. Little did I know that life had other plans for me. Ironically enough the year I decided to live was the year my body decided it was going to wage a war... Against itself. 

Last year from summer into fall I noticed I'd come home from a one hour photo session and nap, this was unusual for me. I normally come home, load the photos, cull my session and send out sneak peeks. I thought maybe I was over doing it. Then after it kept happening and my ability to concentrate started to decrease I thought that I was possibly falling into a bought of depression. I always have a hard time when fall and winter come, it made sense. Fast forward to the beginning of February this year. My thighs were bothering me, the muscles felt weak and tired. I was familiar with the feeling, I'd have it every month. Except this time when my cycle ended the discomfort stayed. The last week of February I made an airport run in an awful snow storm, I gripped the steering wheel tight for the long, grueling drive. By the next day my wrists were hurting, I was certain it was from the trip the night before. 

My next cycle turned into five days in bed and a very unhappy body for months to come and still continuing. Day 3 I had an appointment with my Gyno so I brought it up then. I knew they were who helped steer my sister towards the endocrinologist that gave her a diagnosis of Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease where the body believes the thyroid is an invader and attacks itself specifically the thyroid. As much as I wouldn't wish this on anyone I was lucky to know where to start since I was somewhat aware of what my sister has been dealing with (little did I know that I actually had no idea just how bad it was until I started feeling the same way. They say no one gets it until they get it. Ain't that the truth). The only thing they could test me for was basic thyroid levels not the full thyroid panel needed to test for Hashimoto's. I left that appointment and went straight to my GP. He ran a ton of blood work testing me for Hashimoto's and a bunch of other things. 

The only way I can describe it is like having the flu but worse. Joint pain in my hands/knees/hips/elbows/feet. I'd have difficulty doing regular tasks because I had cramping in my hands and I was dropping things. I had muscle pain/weakness in my legs and arms, occasionally my legs would give out on me. My body felt too heavy to carry around. I was beyond tired all the time by this point, fatigued. I'd go to bed knowing I was going to wake up even more exhausted than I already was. I'd need to rest after taking a shower. I had trouble walking across the parking lot at work. Nevermind going up to my third floor apartment! I was getting headaches more often. It hurt to walk on my feet after being off them for a period of time. I was having gi issues. My arms and hands would wake me up frequently in the middle of the night because they would tingle and they hurt. My skin felt like it was burning from the inside out. Yet my feet and hands were freezing cold. I occasionally feel like I'm on drugs feeling dizzy/off balance and disoriented. I developed a rash on my face that comes and goes, I can tell you when I have it because I feel generally unwell - feverish yet I had no fever and my face has that same burning sensation. 

The scariest was the cognitive symptoms. Imagine going out to your car because you have to drop something off to someone, you've been to their house about a dozen times in the past year, you know the name of the road their street is off of, and you know that road well but you can't remember how to get there... In the town you've lived in most of your life. I had to sit in my driveway for a good fifteen minutes trying to remember which way I had to go to get to that road. I eventually figured it out but I'm not going to lie it freaked me out. It also comes in the form of forgetting or using the wrong words mid conversation. Spacing out and the lack of concentration fall under this category too. 

Five days had passed since I had the blood work done. I called my doctors office. He called me back and tells me my white blood count was a little high and my vitamin d was a little low. I asked if that was it. He says "oh. You tested positive for lupus." ... It was like running full speed into a brick wall. I honestly expected him to tell me I had Hashimoto's. (Both are autoimmune and both can effect your organ so not sure why it freaked me out so much) Lupus is where the body thinks your tissue is an invader and attacks the tissue. My doctor instructed me to start taking vitamin d and he referred me to a rheumatologist. That night I had tremors, it wasn't visible but I was having my own personal earthquake inside of my body. I was nauseous. When it stopped about twenty minutes later, I had an awful headache. I thought it was a panic attack, but now I'm not sure. 

By the time I saw the rheumatologist in late March the symptoms were nowhere near how they were the three weeks prior. Now don't get me wrong I have yet to feel great since. My "good" is still tired and in pain but I can function. I went in armed with pictures of my rash (a huge indicator of lupus is a butterfly shape rash across the nose and cheeks). I also had a notebook full of symptoms, personal and family medical history and questions. My Rheumy is really nice. I instantly felt comfortable with her. She spent an hour with me. She listened to me. She asked me questions. We ended the appointment with another set of blood work to be done. She said she wanted to test me for viruses as well as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite my facial rash getting worse in front of her she wasn't convinced it was rheumatological, she was thinking hormonal. Turns out the positive lupus test was not a lupus specific test. It was the ANA that was positive with a speckled pattern. This is an indicator that something is wrong but it doesn't mean anything specifically. It could mean any autoimmune is present, it could mean cancer, it could mean liver disease or it could be a false positive. There are many diseases that present with the same symptoms but many do not show up right away in blood work. It makes the diagnosis process long and tedious. 

It was not long after my March rheumatologist appointment that I noticed my finger and toenails started turning white and blue. I left a message for my rheumatologist asking for blood work results and let them know about the discoloration. That night I was sitting on my couch watching tv and my feet turned blue. I debated going to the er, I stuck them in the tub which helped but they were blue again by morning. This was one of the questions my specialist asked during my initial visit. I decided to go see my gp again since my specialist was away. He turned out to be away as well. The woman covering for him was able to get a copy of my labs, they came back normal except another positive ANA. She told me she believed I was in the beginning stages of autoimmune. She said my feet turning blue was indicative of lupus. 

My rheumatologist reached out to me in response to my message and asked me to come back into the office on April 10th. 

April 9th I went into the ER for chest pain. After an EKG, blood work and a ct scan they determined I was feeling the same inflammation as the rest of my body in the joints of my chest, who even knew those existed!? The next day a nurse from the ER called me a few hours before I was heading to my rheumatologist appointment. She said that my ct scan showed a spot on my lung. She told me that given my age and medical history the spot was literally just under the size they would be concerned about and that I shouldn't worry but she wanted me to be aware. She suggested I follow up with my GP. I had to stop by his office to grab a copy of the most recent labs anyway so I asked to speak to him. I was scared. I still felt sick and now I have a spot on my lung. My mind starts going. A positive ANA could indicate cancer or liver issues. What if I had Cholangiocarcinoma (what my mom passed away from), cancer of the bile ducts that shows no symptoms until it's too late. What if it spread? My doctor thinks I'm insane. He agrees to give me an ultrasound to check my liver (never did get a call with results, assuming it showed nothing) and he agrees to do a repeat ct scan in a year. But before he dismissed me he states that he is not impressed with my blood work and considers my only treatment at this time to be diet and exercise. I left his office in tears. How can I be "fine" when I felt so awful. 

Armed with more pictures I head to my rheumatologist office. She was able to diagnose me with Raynauds. This means that my blood vessels react differently to cold and stress than most people. Instead of opening and closing slowly they do so quickly. This causes the extremities to noticeably change colors; sometimes red, white or blue. As they get warm again it causes pain. When Raynauds developed in your thirties it's a secondary condition to a number of diseases, coincidently all the ones that present the same so I still do not have any firm leads for what I have. She looks over the ct scan results when I mention the day prior in the ER. She tells me she also is not concerned about the spot on my lung, she said it is most likely scar tissue from a bad cough or something. 

My next appointment with her we go over my symptoms. The newest being light sensitivity in my eyes as well as welts due to sun exposure and bug bites. By this visit Ive noticed a trend so I fill her in. The symptoms were worse the week before, during and after my cycle. I would spend anywhere from 2-4 days in bed a month with occasional single bed ridden days thrown in as well.  I'd have one somewhat decent week a month. She tells me she has ruled out a virus by this point due to me still having symptoms. She still thinks it's hormonal based on the link to my cycle. I tell her how my last appointment with my GP went. She assures me that the pain I feel is legitimate. She reminds me that the pain in my upper body could not be due to me being overweight. She also tells me that she has Rheumatoid Arthritis, she too was told her symptoms were due to her weight or stress. It took her ten years to get a diagnosis

I have another appointment and I believe this was when she prescribed me with Diclofenac, an anti inflammatory. It seemed to help but a few days in I started getting stomach pain and a constant severe headache with bloody noses (I get bloody noses all the time since I was a kid so this may be coincidence). I ended up in bed for three more days. My doctor recommended I stop taking it immediately. We had to wait for the drug to be completely out of my system before we could try the next step. At this point I feel as if I've been stranded in the Atlantic flailing my arms to stay afloat but I'm swimming in circles getting nowhere all day long, every single day. Few people knew I felt this bad.  

 At my next appointment in September she prescribed me with Plaquenil, an anti malaria also used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients. She informs me it takes six weeks to start working. I'm willing to try it since my research came up with positive feedback. She mentions that rheumatological autoimmunes can get flare ups due to cycles so I still don't know which category I fall into. Could be both since many people with autoimmunes have overlapping diseases. 

In the weeks following I've started to get more headaches, dry eyes and eye pain. I made a call and was told to try eye drops. A few weeks later, about five weeks after starting the Plaquenil I develop a tremor. I looked like an alcoholic having dt's after a binge. I place another call and they tell me to come in immediately. I also had a few internal tremors since. My Rheumy tells me she believes it's a symptom of the disease but since I just started the medication she wanted to run more labs to check my electrolytes, liver and kidney functions. Guess what? Blood work came back normal. I can't decide if I'm happy my organs are well or upset that nothing is showing up to validate the way I feel and give me answers. 

I am 8 or 9 weeks into Plaquenil and happy to report that I do notice a slight difference. My daily pain is not quite severe, I no longer feel like I am drowning and I can actually concentrate a little longer. However I do still find myself in a flare every month. During a flare my symptoms are heightened pretty severely.  Making it impossible to function on even a low level. 

Some days I can push through, Saturday was a high pain day. Sunday was a mix of pain and fatigue. By this morning I could barely move, my head is pounding, I'm feeling nauseous and needed to lay down pretty quickly after getting up. I'm waving the white flag today, giving in to my body so that I can heal and prepare for the next battle. 

My lesson learned is not to take the good days for granted. To listen to my body, knowing when to push through and when to give in. 

My intentions for this post are not to look for pity or sympathy. I want to give hope even if just to one person. I want people to know that they are not alone! I want to raise awareness. I want my friends and family to know that some days I truly cannot keep up no matter how bad I want to. 

I like to think I handle the situation gracefully, albeit with the occasional meltdown. I still remain undiagnosed and probably will for a long time. Don't they know it's never lupus, except that one episode it actually was...

Some sites I've found helpful: 

Butyoudontlooksick.com

Mollysfund.org 

Instagram has a strong support system within the #spoonie community. 

I Wont Let Another Moment Slip Away

One of my goals for the year is to be more comfortable around myself. I recently saw one of those nice pictures with a quote on it that hit home. It said something along the lines that one cannot be lonely if they like the person they're alone with. I believe this. If you truly like, accept and forgive yourself you won't feel alone. 

One of my favorite musicians was set to perform at Stamford's Alive at Five on Thursday July 9th. I was first introduced to Michael Franti & Spearhead when they opened for, I believe it was, John Mayer many years ago. I saw them again more recently at Toads Place in New Haven with my sister and we also met up with a friend who was there. As soon as I saw he was coming back to Connecticut, for practically nothing, I asked my sister and friend if they wanted to go again. My sister was a no, friend was a yes. I also asked my cousin who was a maybe. Just days before the show my cousin said she wasn't interested in going. The afternoon of the show my friend told me he got stuck working. With the threat of rain and the realization I'd be going alone I was undecided. I really wanted to go though. 

Just an hour before the last train getting me there on time was set to depart I was sitting at my desk mulling over my options, I decided that if I didn't go I'd be taking a step backwards from reaching my goal. And I still really wanted to see the band. So I said f*ck it! Right then and there I made the decision that I was no longer going to refrain from doing what I wanted to do just because no one else wanted to do it with me. So I went solo.  I hopped on the train and made my way. 

The best decision I've made in a while! I was able to do exactly what I wanted to do at any given point in the night. I didn't have to stay where I was or move from where I was unless I wanted to. And I mean no offense to any of my friends when I make this next statement but it was nice not having to be on someone else's bathroom, smoke or beer run schedule. I wasn't on any schedule for that matter, one of the things I'm starting to become a fan of.

They opened with one of my favorites Hey, Hey, Hey. Franti's music is about living life, loving one another and peace. I let the positive music flow through my body. I danced. I sang. I drank a few beers. I thoroughly enjoyed the music, the people and the event itself. I had a blast! 

Being solo helped me obtain another goal. I talked to people I didn't know. At one point in the night I moved over to the other side of the crowd and found a group of guys with incredible energy. These guys were here to enjoy themselves. They knew the music. They danced. They laughed. It was beautiful. My opportunity to say hello came naturally. The photographer in me offered to take the group shot one of their friends was taking so that he could be in it too in return for them to snap my photo for me. We exchanged names. I even got a kiss and hug from one of the guys. I love hugs! 

At another point in the night I offered to snap a photo for a mom and her two kids. I also took part in dancing with a crowd in the street. I had a few hellos in passing, waiting for the bathroom and in line for beer. 

It was roughly 9pm when the rain my sister warned me about hit. I think the clouds kept people away but when the rain came after a few hours of dancing it was welcomed! It just added to the night for me. I personally love the rain, especially on a hot summers night! 

At the end of the show I spotted a guy in the crowd who caught my attention. I couldn't quite place my finger on it until afterwards when everyone was lined up in hopes to meet Franti. I found myself right next to the guy. I complimented him on his dreads and I immediately realized who he was. I said hey is your name (insert a J name that isn't Joshua but I've since forgotten) and he said in a surprised manner "no but my brother is" so he asked me why I asked that and I said "well does he look like you!?" He said no and I managed to say "I think I follow you on Instagram!" So while I am a firm believe that social media has ruined peoples ability to communicate I was reminded that it was intended to and can still bring people together! It was in fact Joshua that I follow and there he was standing in front of me. I was drawn to his account because of his vibe and ironically enough I was drawn to him that night for the very same reason. We chatted briefly then went our separate ways. 

I left the show feeling amazing despite being exhausted and soaked to the bone. I walked back to the train station alone. While waiting on the platform a train pulled up. It was earlier than the train I was due to take towards New Haven and they made no announcement as to which train it was so I waited outside. A minute later a younger kid walked by and asked me if this was the train, not sure I suggested we go talk to the conductor. It ended up being our train so we took a seat together and chatted the whole way home. His name was also Josh. He told me how he was an intern for NBC and how he was working the Alive at Five. It was nice having someone to talk to, especially one that could hold a conversation. As we parted ways I promised I'd stop by his tent to say hello the next show I go to. 

This adventure was me literally not waiting for the storm to pass, it was me dancing in the rain. I have zero regrets on my decision to go solo because I never once felt alone! I'm well on my way to obtaining my goals for personal growth this year and I couldn't be happier! 

Two Thumbs Up

When an awesome opportunity falls into your lap you have to just go with it. You don't ask any questions. You just accept the gift the universe hands you. 

One of the destinations on my list for the year was Philadelphia, surprisingly I had never been. My cousin Erin's best friend lives in Philly and when she asked me if I wanted to go with her for a few days I jumped on the chance. There was absolutely no thinking about it since I knew I wanted to hit up the area and I love hanging out with them. Jamie was kind enough to offer us a place to stay and an extra ticket to the NKOTB, TLC and Nelly concert. (Thanks girl!) 

I picked up Erin on Thursday evening then we grabbed Jamie's Aunt Barb (who I was meeting for the first time) and headed south. We hit the road at the perfect time. There was no traffic, the weather was good. It took us about 4 hours or so to get to Jamie's place but it went by quick since there was good conversation. Her apartment is super cute. We relaxed out on the back porch drinking a couple glasses of wine while shooting the breeze. Now picture this trip: four fun, loving, single, down to earth, low maintenance, INCREDIBLE women - basically unicorns. ;)

Friday morning we slept in, lounged around with some coffee and more chatting then Ubered into the city. We didn't have any set schedule or destination so we let Jamie take the lead. Our first stop was Reading Terminal Market, an indoor  farmers market full of good eats and vendors for shopping. We shared some yummy lunch there then headed to Love Park. 

Next up was drinks at Tir Na Nog, a really cool Irish bar & grill, that someone actually recommended to me so I was glad Jamie brought us. From there we headed to South Street. We stopped in Grace's Tavern, which I was stoked to see they had Two Roads - Road Jam on tap, not because I wanted to have it as I was drinking local but because Two Roads is an awesome brewery local to me! From there we headed down South St in search of a bar Jamie likes only to realize we had already walked past it and never saw it - love it, all part of the journey and we got to see more of the city! We turned and headed back. We stopped in at Ten Stone, the bar Jamie wanted to bring us to. They had great music playing at a volume that allows you to hear the people you're talking to, good beer on tap and more yummy food. This is where we shared steak & cheese egg rolls because who doesn't have steak and cheese while in Philly!? We also split a tuna steak wraps. Everything was delicious. The waitress offered us free samples of this ginger beer and vodka drink too, nice and refreshing! We may now have very similar cups of our own... Maybe. 

After dinner we took another Uber to the show. Now one of my goals this year is to be more comfortable in a social setting. Essentially I want to be more outgoing. So I offer to sit in the front this drive so that I can chat to our driver. Of course when he arrives he doesn't speak much English so that backfired. But he was nice. We even offered him the extra ticket Jamie had for the concert but he wasn't interested. Pretty sure he actually couldn't wait to drop us off since we made him blast TLC - No Creeps on the way as we sang along. We were late so we missed Nelly and TLC. New Kids were disappointing yet we still managed to have a great time. One thing I truly believe is that you can make a fun time out of most situations, it's all what you make of it! Good company helps too! 

(Random dude we found at the concert) 

After the show we couldn't get Uber to load properly so we hopped in a cab. We all agreed this cabbie was probably the greatest cab driver any of us had ever had. He was really cool, he even shared his gum with us. From there we headed back to South St to meet up with one of Jamie's friends from school who was out with his son and his friend for his sons birthday - good people! We hit up a few places with them and just had an all around great time. We convinced the guys to go back to Love Park so we could swim in the fountain. 

(One of my favorites from the weekend, crappy quality but I love that someone captured us laughing!) 

From there we Ubered back home. I'm in the back seat again. This driver was our favorite out of the three we had from Uber that day, she was awesome! What a great concept, Uber is my new favorite thing. I don't know why but it feels like a more personable experience than a cab ride. 

Saturday morning we slept in again. Jamie and Aunt Barb headed back to Connecticut together in Jamie's car. Erin and I headed back in my car. 

(Hahaha get it?)

But first we had a mission. My friend asked me to grab him a 12 pack of assorted beer from the area for us to sample when I got back. Apparently in PA you can't just buy beer like you can in CT. You either have to buy a case from the beer store or buy "to go" from a bar. Erin and I have no clue where to go so we drove around pretty aimlessly. We ended up Googling and found a drive thru place and decided we'd split a case. Now I've heard of this before but I automatically assumed it was a drive up window like at McDs... I had no idea you literally drive through the freaking place! That was fun! 

From there the GPS said we had 3 hours ahead of us. Neither of us has any idea what happened to the two and a half extra hours it took us to get home! We only made a couple pit stops and hit a little traffic at the GW - I'm assuming because they would randomly shut down a lane at the toll full of traffic. Everyone would cut into the lane next to it then that lane would shut down while the other reopened. What the heck!? Pure chaos but we finally got home. 

Philadelphia was gorgeous. For a big city it was clean, you were able to move through the sidewalks easily, the people were friendly. The properties are maintained in the heart of the city as well as the outskirts. The architecture was beautiful. There is so much history in the city and we barely touched any of it, I will definitely be going back. I honestly like Philadelphia more than New York!

This trip although short was just what my soul needed. A weekend FULL of laughter, great company, good conversation. There were no worries, drama or schedule to stick to. It was relaxing yet a ton fun at the same time. This was one of the best weekends I have ever had. Thank you Erin, Jamie and Aunt Barb, I love you ladies! 

The lesson I took away from this weekend is that you just need to jump into the fountain of life not worrying about what anyone around you thinks of you. If they don't like it it's their problem, not yours! It's your life to live - love the life you've been given and just be happy. 

Oh and... where's Barb?  :D

Move a Muscle, Change a Thought

I picked today as a date for one of my adventures weeks ago. I picked it because it's Mothers Day. I lost my mom three years ago to Cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile ducts. I also do not have any human children of my own. Needless to say it's not the happiest of holidays. 

I wasn't sure where I was going to go. I didn't have any extra money this week so I knew it had to be somewhere I could get to on the 3/4 tank of gas I had. I also knew I wanted my Kona to join me, since it is Mothers Day and she is my fur baby. One of the places on my list is Walkway Over the Hudson, which came recommended by a friend. After talking to her yesterday I decided this was going to be our destination. So I packed some healthy snacks, grabbed my camera and my pup and we headed to Poughkeepsie, NY. 

The weather was perfect. Sunny and warm. With all four windows down and the music up we headed to route 34 West. I don't take it often, I forgot how beautiful the drive could be along Lake Zoar. The drive starts from 34W to 84W to the Taconic State Parkway N then route 55W. There was no traffic which was great. I rocked out to Culture Club, Time. Great road trip music. :) I also heard Walking in Memphis which reminds me of my mom. I don't know if she ever liked the song but I remember when my cousin Nicole came home right after my mom passed I met her at the cemetery. When we left I stopped at McDonalds. I remember sitting in the parking lot listening to the song and how it reminded me of her because of Elvis. (My mom didn't really love Elvis. She liked him but not to the point we joked she did. Whole other story that involves Nicole too lol) anyway my phone rings and it's Nicole. She was also listening to the song. It reminded her of my mom too because of Elvis and the fact we used to live on Union Avenue at one point. Hearing it was my sign that my mom was with me. Also my friend who recommended the walkway texted to tell me she saw a cardinal this morning and she thought of my mom.

It took us about an hour and forty-five minutes to reach the walkway. Kona gets nervous in the car so she was already tired when we got there. I was pretty tired myself so we took our time and truly enjoyed our surroundings. The shining sun, the fresh air, the cool breeze. It was perfect. There was a little boy, maybe about 8 years old who asked to pet Kona. He gave her the last little bit of his water. He was so sweet! We walked from one side to the other. I watched the longest freight train pass through alongside the Hudson on the Highland side. There's something about old, rusty, graffiti filled train cars. I love the character. We turned around and headed back. Again taking our time, living in the moment. We stopped every so often to enjoy the view. I stopped to take a selfie with Kona when a teenage girl and her brother (Assumption based.) were coming by on scooters. She offered to take a picture for us. You could tell she is a kind soul. The interactions between her and the boy who was close in age to her, made me think that she looks out for him which made me smile. Kona was awesome today. She didn't pull, she didn't stop every five feet. When I stopped to look at the view she did the same. Wind blowing her ears back. She was happy. I was happy. 

We got back to the car and enjoyed some water and snacks. I wanted to stick around for sunset but it was still about an hour or so away. Kona and I were pooped and it was HOT! Plus I didn't want to get home too late so we decided to head home instead. The drive home was just as good as the drive there. Sun shining, music playing and no traffic. 

All in all it was an awesome day. I got some natural vitamin d, I got to breath some fresh air, I got to see a view I've never seen before and I got to spend it with Ko. I did it all without spending any money, other than the gas and food I already had. And I kept my cell phone in my pocket except to take a few pictures. I lived in the moment, something I'm trying to do more of. My mind goes constantly so it was nice to have some peace. It was nice not to dwell. I turned what could have been a depressing day into just the opposite. 

Kona and I wish you all a Happy Mothers Day! 

Then she whispered I love you

I didn't have to go far to learn probably the most valuable lesson this journey will give me. A few posts back I mentioned how I didn't love myself. I retract that statement. I need work, but honestly who doesn't? Isn't that what life's really about? Learning new things about yourself and growing as a person. 

I think I always have loved myself, I just never realized it. An old friend would constantly ask if I was going on a date anytime I didn't have plans with them. I always found this odd but never could place my finger on why until now. I don't need to be with anyone other than myself to be happy. I truly am 100% comfortable being in my own company. Of course I get lonely once in a while, that's natural. But I don't need to search for someone else to be happy. I think that's a lesson many people need to learn for themselves. 

So as I sit wrapped in a blanket, feet in the sand, salt water in the air, listening to waves crash on the beach, looking up at the stars I feel completely at peace.... All by myself. 

I Should've Ordered Pancakes...

I've been couped up in the house for far too long between this brutal winter and not feeling well. I'm still not feeling well but the sun was shining and the temps were up so I forced myself out of the house. With the windows open and the music up, I hit the road around 11:30am. It was 37 degrees, warm and sunny day! I headed North from I95 to I91 then East on I84 from there I jumped on CT-74. The playlist on the way to my destination consisted of Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti, Ray Lamontagne and Van Morrison. The air smelled of a wood fire burning. I was starting to get hungry about an hour into the trip so I was happy to see a diner as soon as I got to CT-74. The Track Nine Diner, located right next to the train tracks was packed, a good sign. I pulled into the lot and headed in. As I walked in I immediately felt awkward. You could tell it was a local hot spot and here was this stranger walking in, all alone for lunch... Well breakfast. I ordered an egg, home fries, toast and a side of bacon with an OJ. All eyes were on me, the girl who hates being center of attention. I eventually got over the awkwardness and enjoyed my meal. The food was good as was the service, I'm glad I stopped! 

I left with a full belly and a good feeling. Aside from the brief moment of panic when I thought I locked the keys in the car as it was running. I was grabbing something from the trunk to put in the passenger side, I swear I hit the unlock button before I closed my drivers side door but the passenger side was locked! I automatically think I hit lock instead... An hour away from the spare key. That part wasn't too much fun. There was a huge wave of relieve when the drivers side opened. 

Fifteen minutes later I was at my destination, Rivers Edge Sugar House, located at 326 Mansfield Rd (Route 89) in Ashford, Connecticut. As I pull up I notice a sign saying they are boiling today, which I'm glad I'll get to see the process and fully enjoy the experience. 

I've come to the conclusion that the best places are kept at the end of a long, winding, narrow driveway. As soon as I parked and stepped out of the car there was the faint scent of maple syrup. You walk into the storefront where they sell their syrup and honey, go through the doorway and into another small room with a doorway into yet another room. You can see the steam and smell the syrup right away. I walked into the room and the aroma was heavenly! Sweet, but not sickening. I love maple candy. Which is what I immediately thought of. The steam filled the area where the machine was, rising up to the roof which was open to let the steam out. As soon as I came into the room the woman handed me a sample of the syrup. Nice and warm.  So delicious and sweet! 

The owners Amy & Bill were such nice people! Amy told me some details about the machine and the process. I learned that they rent trees from land about five miles away. They have around 2,000 taps. The fee to rent the trees is a certain percentage in cash or final product, she said mostly people take the product... I don't blame them! The sap is actually clear in color and the consistency of water. Not at all what I expected. I don't remember all of the details but the syrup goes into the machine where it is boiled by a fire underneath to evaporate the water. Once Bill opens the door to throw more wood on the fire the syrup stops bubbling and becomes still. As he closes the door it starts to bubble and foam again. He puts a few drops of a clear liquid in to stop it from foaming over which would not only make a mess but also cost them syrup. The syrup has to reach 7 degrees above the boiling point of water, as soon as the temperature hits that seven degrees they can start pouring the syrup. After this process it goes through filtration. 

I learned that the season typically starts around Presidents' Day and ends around March 24th. I also learned that the process is highly dependent on the weather. It needs to be below freezing temps at night and above during the day.  This years winter was so cold that they were unable to start until March. Amy was saying they lost time at the beginning of the season but she doesn't think they will make it up at the end. 

I asked if their product was sold elsewhere. They sell from the sugar house, online, to a local restaurant, UCONN and Yale. They were in a Whole Foods until they had a slow year a couple years back where they couldn't keep up with the demand. They hope to get back in there again this year. Amy said they get really busy around the holidays since people like to give their product for gifts. 

They have to snow shoe out where the trees are to dig out the lines and collect the sap after the snow storms. The lines stay out all year round however the taps come out at the end of the season so that the trees can heal. Then the fire wood needs to be chopped during the off season. There is an area out back right next to the open doorway by the machine where the wood is kept so that it can easily be put into the fire. I have no clue the size but it was full when the season started just a few weeks ago and there isn't much left. At one point they would go through five times that in a season until Bill started using reverse osmosis which speeds up the process and saves firewood. 

I asked about the honey they produce as well. Bill thinks this will be a harder year. He mentioned he went into the winter feeding them a lot but that it wasn't fattening them up. He said he has to get down there to check out the hives after the syrup season. I also asked out of curiosity, if he sees the difference in the declining number of bees which is a huge issue and sadly he has. We can't live without honey bees, literally can't live. Scary thought. 

Bill told me it all started with a lasagna pan in the garage... Now twenty-two years later he has grown to having machinery where he can use reverse osmosis with two thousand taps in the trees. Incredibly inspiring story! 

The drive home was still sunny, the temperature hit 47 degrees, the windows were open wider and three of my favorite songs came on: The Mamas and The Papas - California Dreaming, The Zombies - Time of the Season and The Band- The Weight. Perfect road tripping scenario!

If you're looking for something different to do I highly recommend you check out a sugar house next season. If you can make it to Rivers Edge Sugar House even better. Such a comfortable, warm and friendly atmosphere! 

Much peace & love

   - Marie