KABOOM!

kronda:

Lot of this is pretty close to home. Great video. Wake up homophobes! 

lindseykirkbride:

Welp, I’m crying. This is beautiful.

thedailywhat:

PSA of the Day: Nonpartisan pro-accountability “grass-roots community advocacy organisation” GetUp! says it’s time to end marriage discrimination in Australia.

After watching this short PSA, hopefully you’ll agree it’s time to end marriage discrimination all over the world.

[towleroad.]

(Source: thedailywhat)

What’s on the menu? A chicken cacciatore-type thing…

My auntie is visiting so that means…cocktails!

My pick for “most adorable puppy.” All the cutest dogs were out en masse today at PIR.

Speaking of classy airport fare, Stanfords is really bringing it. Margherita pesto flatbread (yum)

My fave pre-travel ritual: lovely glass of King Estate Pinot Gris at Stanfords. You stay classy, PDX Airport.

Holy bed head! Spending the better part of my morning cleaning up this hot mess.

Pearls of wisdom.

Um, yeah…street art.

Into the Valley

“It’s a bunch of rocks,” said my husband. “Big deal.”

We stood on the quintessential lookout point, eyes pointed toward the horizon, the stars and brightly lit moon illuminating the valley. We chuckled at Jamie’s obviously feigned insouciance.

Yosemite was a quiet, vivid dream I had twenty-two years ago, and I had finally returned to settle some unfinished family business.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

My grandfather, Albert Leopold Jones, was born in Yosemite Valley. His father, a chauffeur, had the esteemed pleasure of transporting the valley’s most esteemed visitor the day of his birth: Prince Albert.

Hence the name.

Albert was a good man. A stoic quaker, he valued peace, kindness, acceptance, and hard work. He was a man of strong constitution.

He died in November of 2010.

When I looked around the dinner table this weekend, I saw his legacy. Three generations of Jonses, gathered together over food and drink in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

I know he was proud of his great-grandchildren, Hannah and Matthew. My cousin Jake said that when he found out he was going to be a father, Albert was the first one he told. I could see that. Albert was, above all, a proud family man who helped raise all of us. He left his imprint on us in ways we can’t even describe.

He was our backbone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We returned to the Valley, all of us together, to celebrate a long, meaningful life worth living. My father, aunt, and uncle lay Albert to rest in an unnamed place in the land of his birth.

Life came full circle.