I haven been down many roads in my life. Some shortcuts, some dead ends, some scenic routes and some roads with many potholes. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been on the road forever.

Am I ever going to get there? Probably not - but I am declaring the journey the reward and I am trying to live my life to the fullest while I’m on it.

Here are a few roads I’ve been on so far:

1. Road to revolution

According to my mother, I was a difficult child. My father actually always suspected that I would end up living under a bridge for sure (sorry to disappoint you, Dad). He believed that people like me, who don’t fit in because they always have to question anything and anybody, are doomed to failure. It’s not that I was against anything - I just always wanted to know why EXACTLY - and I still drive people crazy with that.

2. Road to independence

When I was 19 I left home and moved to the U.S.A.; Boulder, CO to be exact. I wasn’t completely alone (I’ll get to that in #7), but I learned a great deal during that time about what it means to make your own decisions and take full responsibility for them. I still like to do that as well.

3. Road to education

Part of my running away from Germany was that I never finished High School there. I was a grade A student and it didn’t take long to want to check out University life (really, who can live in Boulder, CO, the awesomest place to go to college in and not want to go to CU???). So I went and got a High School diploma, blew the enrollment department away with my English skills and enrolled in CU without having to take the TOEFL test.

4. Road to partying

So then there was the partying, after all, it was CU Boulder! Good times. Good times. And I got a tattoo. And wasn’t wearing underwear pretty much during my whole last semester there. Good times. Good times.

5. Road to nature

I have always loved the mountains more than the ocean, but living in the Rocky Mountains definitely sealed the deal. I love the sound of a roaring mountain stream, the stillness of a moss covered tree and the feel of a walk through the woods. And then there was this one time when nature almost killed me, because lightning struck only a few feet away from me while I was hiking - but no hard feelings.

6. Road to friendship

Out of all the roads I have been on, this has been one of the smoothest rides. I was never one to have many friends (probably due to being difficult, like my parents said), but I have one friend that means everything to me. I met her while I lived in Boulder, over 20 years ago, and she has been my best friend ever since. You know that feeling when you didn’t talk to someone in a long time and then you do and it’s just like she’s always been right next to you because she just knows - yeah, that.

7. Road to marriage(s)

Number one was not a road, more a racetrack, which took me to Colorado and ended after two years. Number two was a scenic drive, but was lacking the excitement of a few bumps and curves here and there. Number three sometimes gets me motion sick and sometimes pissed off, because I am not a good passenger and then I drive for a while and it’s good. I’ve been driving on road number three for almost 12 years now and the road is in pretty good shape.

8. Road to motherhood

You can read all about my driving attempts on the road of motherhood, which is really more like a roller coaster, in this blog… You can also read about it here, on the Parent Du Jour website.

9. Road to writing

My favourite road. It’s been a mixture of uphill, downhill, motion sickness, boredom, bumpy, smooth, gravel, slick - and I can write about all the other roads while I’m on it. I have written stories, blogs and two books - and I’m getting ready to write a third one. After my second book I vowed to not write another one - but I just have so much to say. Of course I like to say it EXACTLY how it is.

10. Road to ???

Hopefully there are a few kilometers of road left for me to drive - I can’t wait to get out on the road again and see where it takes me next.