🥂 Alaska, You Were Absolutely Fabulous

Breathtaking views, beautiful weather, fantastic friendships—and another reminder to live life now.

There are some trips you enjoy, some trips you remember, and then there are those trips that become part of your story.

My cruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage was one of those trips.

As I sit here thinking about everything we experienced, I keep coming back to one word:

Grateful.

Grateful for the scenery. Grateful for the almost unbelievably beautiful weather. Grateful for the laughter. And most of all, grateful for the friendships that made an already incredible adventure even more special.

Alaska Has a Way of Making You Stop and Look

There were moments when I simply stood there and took it all in.

Mountains rising from the water. Glaciers that almost didn't look real. Endless stretches of wilderness. Eagles. Little towns tucked between the mountains and the sea.

And that magnificent Inside Passage.

Pictures are wonderful—and goodness knows I took plenty!—but there is something different about actually being there.

Standing on the deck with that cool Alaska air on my face reminded me how enormous this world is and how much of it I still want to experience.

At 68, that thought doesn't intimidate me.

It excites me.

There are places I haven't seen yet. People I haven't met yet. Things I haven't tried yet.

And I intend to change that.

We Hit the Weather Jackpot

We packed for Alaska, so naturally we were prepared for cold, rain, wind and whatever else Mother Nature decided to throw our way.

Instead, Alaska treated us beautifully.

It was chilly enough for my coat and scarf—which, naturally, needed a little Champagne Girlie® pink—but we enjoyed absolutely gorgeous weather.

And honestly, standing outside bundled up with mountains surrounding you isn't exactly a hardship. 😂

I'll take that kind of chilly day anytime.

But the Best Part Was the Friendship

Beautiful destinations make wonderful photographs.

Good friends make wonderful memories.

That's the part of this trip I'll treasure most.

The conversations. The laughter. Getting dressed for dinner. Exploring together. Sharing meals. Taking pictures. Seeing something spectacular and immediately turning to someone beside you as if to say, Are you seeing this too?

Those ordinary little moments between the big sightseeing moments are often the ones that stay with us.

And somewhere along the way, there may have been a Champagne Girlie® glass or two raised in celebration. 🥂

Because sometimes you don't need a special occasion to celebrate.

Being there is the occasion.

This Is What “Why Not Now?” Means to Me

A few years ago, I couldn't have pictured exactly what my life would look like today.

I knew one chapter was ending.

I didn't yet know what the next one would become.

Now I do.

It's becoming a life filled with choices.

My choices.

I'm traveling. I'm learning. I'm creating. I'm building Champagne Girlie®. I'm strengthening friendships. I'm trying things I've never tried before. And I'm becoming increasingly comfortable saying yes to the things that make me happy—and no to the things that don't.

That doesn't mean every day is some fabulous vacation.

Of course it isn't.

Real life is laundry, appointments, errands, work, responsibilities and all the ordinary things in between.

But I've learned something important:

An extraordinary life isn't necessarily made from extraordinary days. It's made by noticing and celebrating the extraordinary moments hidden inside ordinary life.

Alaska gave me plenty of those moments.

Life Is Better With Good Friends

One of my favorite things about getting older is realizing that friendship doesn't have to be complicated.

The right people don't require you to perform.

You can laugh until your stomach hurts. Sit quietly together looking at a view. Dress up for dinner. Wander through a little Alaska town. Be silly. Be serious. Talk about life.

And simply enjoy one another.

Those friendships are worth celebrating.

So here's to the women who travel with us, laugh with us, encourage us, check on us, listen to us and remind us that we don't have to navigate every chapter alone.

Girls really do walk farther together. 💕

And speaking of walking farther together...stay tuned.

Champagne Girlie® has a little something coming on October 1st. 👟🥂😉

What's Next?

That's one of my favorite questions these days.

Not, What did I lose?

Not, What should have happened?

Not even, What if?

But...

What's next?

I don't have every answer.

And for perhaps the first time in my life, I don't need to.

I just know I'm going to keep showing up.

Keep traveling.

Keep learning.

Keep building.

Keep surrounding myself with good people.

Keep collecting Champagne Moments.

And keep asking myself the question that has become such an important part of this chapter of my life:

Why Not Now?

Alaska, thank you for the spectacular views, the beautiful weather and memories I'll carry with me long after the suitcases are unpacked.

And to the friends who shared this adventure with me:

You made a beautiful trip unforgettable.

Here's to friendship, adventure, new chapters and whatever comes next. 🥂

Fabulous. Fearless. Finally Me.

With love,
Ginny
Founder, Champagne Girlie®

Life is better with good friends. 🥂💕